History

Our program has been training physicians in our field since 1950s after Samuel Feinberg, MD, started the Allergy and Immunology Division at Northwestern University Department of Medicine. Feinberg was the first president of the now-named American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the largest society in our subspecialty in the world. 

In 1959, Roy Patterson, MD, joined the division. He was the division chief from 1967 to 2002. He was also chair of the Department of Medicine from 1973 to 1990. Patterson established the fellowship in 1960. After the ACGME was created, our fellowship became accredited in 1977 (ACGME ID#0201631016). Under Patterson’s leadership, our division became world renowned for its clinical research, creating clinical diagnoses and management protocols for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, severe asthma, drug allergies, radiocontrast anaphylactic reactions and anaphylaxis.  

Robert Schleimer, PhD, was recruited to head our division from 2004 through 2021. Under his leadership, we expanded our basic, translational and clinical research programs. In 2022, Stephanie Eisenbarth, MD, PhD, assumed the role of division chief to build on the division’s tradition of strong clinical, training and research missions as well as openings Northwestern’s Center for Human Immunobiology 

On the pediatric side, James Herman was the chief of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology from 1979 to 1983, then Anita Gewurz, MD, from 1983 to 87. Richard Evans III, MD, led the division from 1987 to 1999 and was a prominent asthma scientist. He spearheaded the creation of the NIAID Inner City Asthma Consortium, which we have been part of since its inception in 1991. Between 1999 and 2021, Jacqueline Pongracic, MD, was the division chief. Under her leadership, we have expanded our pediatric faculty and clinical activities as well as our pediatric clinical and translational research programs. Rajesh Kumar, MD now leads the division, continuing to deliver excellence in clinical care, training and research. 

The accomplishments of our faculty and alumni are numerous. Since 1960, we have trained over 200 fellows. Our trainees and faculty have achieved national and international recognition, including six presidents of AAAAI, two presidents of ACAAI, five division chiefs at other institutions and one chief of staff at Chicago VA Hospital. Our faculty members edit reference books widely utilized by specialists in our field, such as the Patterson’s Allergic Diseases, Drug Allergy and Protocols for Management of Drug Allergies, the Northwestern University Allergy-Immunology Syllabus for Residents and Students and the Primer on Sinonasal Diseases from the Am J of Rhinol and Allergy.