Episode 055
Food Allergy and EoE: Smarter Diagnosis for Better Care (ft. Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, PhD)
Episode summary
In this episode, we invite Dr. Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, a leading researcher in food allergy and Director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Division at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to help unpack the core clinical challenge of distinguishing true food allergy from sensitization, and discuss practical approaches to history-directed testing, component-resolved diagnostics, baked milk and egg tolerance, oral immunotherapy, and eosinophilic esophagitis recognition in atopic patients. We also highlight how primary care can help identify higher-risk patients earlier, improve referral decisions, and support more precise management using evolving diagnostic tools. For clinicians caring for children and adults with allergy, this conversation offers actionable insights for diagnosis, risk stratification, and day-to-day management.
Guest spotlight
Anna Nowak-Wegrzyn, MD, PhD
Dr. Nowak-Wegrzyn is an internationally recognized leader in pediatric allergy and immunology and serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Division at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She’s widely known for her groundbreaking work in food allergy — particularly in oral immunotherapy and in advancing our understanding of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome, or FPIES. Her research has helped shape how we diagnose, manage, and even treat food allergies around the world.
Episode resources
Find the resources mentioned in this episode
Lab Ordering Guide
Looking for allergy diagnostic codes from the labs you already use?
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- AAAAI/ACAAI JTF Atopic Dermatitis Guideline Panel; Chu DK et al. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) guidelines: 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters GRADE- and Institute of Medicine-based recommendations. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Mar;132(3):274-312.
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- Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Berin MC, Mehr S. Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jan;8(1):24-35.
- Chan KR, et al. Prevalence of atopic dermatitis in the United States from 2021 to 2024: Data from the National Health Interview Survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2026 Feb;94(2):633-635.
- Arroliga, Mercedes. “Are Allergies Genetic? How Family History Impacts Your Health.” Baylor Scott & White Health, 2025, https://www.bswhealth.com/blog/are-allergies-genetic
- Davis EC, Monaco CL, Insel R, Järvinen KM. Gut microbiome in the first 1000 days and risk for childhood food allergy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Sep;133(3):252-261.
- Goktas P, Damadoglu E. Future of allergy and immunology: Is artificial intelligence the key in the digital era? Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2025 Apr;134(4):396-407.e2.
