ABAI Certification

A certified specialist in allergy and immunology is a physician who previously has passed the certification examination of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and/or the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) with additional certification by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI), a Conjoint Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics.

Therefore by training, allergy/immunology subspecialist diplomates of the ABAI are also certified primary care providers. The conjoint status of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (parent boards are the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics) requires that diplomates be qualified in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals of all ages. Diplomates of the ABAI have detailed knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology and the method of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, urticaria, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, atopic and contact dermatitis and allergic gastrointestinal disorders as well as comparable clinical problems without an apparent allergic etiology or component such as vasomotor rhinitis, non-allergic asthma and idiopathic and/or hereditary forms of urticaria and/or angioedema. Diplomates also have expertise in the management of pulmonary complications of certain of these diseases.

Diplomates of the ABAI also possess advanced understanding of immunochemistry, immunobiology and pharmacology and experience in the application of this knowledge to the diagnosis, management and therapy of immunologic diseases. This includes inborn or acquired defects of host resistance, autoimmune diseases, bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, gene replacement therapy, adverse drug reactions and related conditions. Diplomates have demonstrated to the satisfaction of their peers that they possess the general qualifications specified and are ethical and humanistic practitioners of medicine.

(Source: American Board of Allergy and Immunology, www.abai.org, (accessed December 2007)