by Paul B. Keiser, MD, Senior FIT Representative to the ACAAI Board of Regents

What better place to discuss bean allergies, the probiotic effects of “Dirty Water,” and other hot Allergy/Immunology topics than Boston?  The 2011 ACAAI Annual Meeting was a great success, attended by 282 fellows-in-training, of which 219 received travel grants. Thanks to all who donated time and money to enable FITs to attend and learn.

Twenty-seven teams took part in the 20th Annual FIT Bowl competition, supported by Sanofi US. Questions were fielded on basic science, allergy and regional trivia. The jocularity was intense. Wilford Hall Medical Center, yet again, took first place. 

Out-going FIT rep, John Seyerle, MD, chaired the FIT business meeting.  The FITs were addressed by ACAAI President Stanley Fineman, MD, FACAAI; Board of Regents members Kevin McGrath, MD, FACAAI and Bryan Martin, DO, FACAAI;  Prof. Sarah Nelson of the ACAAI Alliance; and JCAAI President James Sublett, MD, FACAAI.  In addition, Joseph Bellanti, MD, FACAAI, discussed the latest (fourth) edition of his textbook, Immunology IV: Clinical Applications in Health and Disease.

Meagan Shepherd, MD, Ohio State, was elected to serve as junior FIT rep to the ACAAI Board of Regents.  In addition,  Katie Convers, MD, (Saint Louis University), David Scott, MD, (Scripps Clinic) and Wayne Wolverton, MD, (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center) were added to the roster of regional FIT reps. A complete list of regional reps and other resources are available on the FIT page of the ACAAI member website at www.acaai.org. 

Opportunities for participation and leadership for FIT’s abound in the ACAAI!  Contact your regional representative or me (paul.keiser@us.army.mil) for more information or with any questions or concerns.