ALLERGISTS FOR ISRAEL

Dear AFI Members and Friends:

This is a big year for AFI and the IAACI as the WAO, WISC meeting will take place in Jerusalem,December 6–9 at the convention center. The details of the meeting and the scientific curriculumwill be available soon. The goal is to attract over 1,500 physicians to the meeting. This will be aonce in a lifetime experience and I guarantee you will have a great academic and socialexperience. It is critical that we collectively show our support for Israel today more than ever.What better way to do this than to showcase our specialty to the world in Eretz Yisrael.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone this year at the AFI Kiddush Welcome ReceptionFriday night which begins at 6 p.m. and the Gala event on Sunday which this year will be at the Crocker Club, whichhas a unique ambiance featuring a 1920 bank vault and a Ghost Bar. This year our speaker will be Brian Rosenzweig,a partner of JANVEST, who speaks on behalf of JNF and will discuss Israel’s Technology Impact on the US HealthcareMarket. I will present a brief talk entitled, Caveats on Rhinitis and Asthma Management: An Update. As always, we arevery grateful to our Corporate sponsor, TEVA, for their continued generous support of AFI. Their unwavering supportof our organization has allowed AFI to successfully achieve our mission to foster research, education and collegialitywith our Allergy/Immunology colleagues in Israel and around the world. We would also like to thank MEDA for being aSilver sponsor once again this year. Special thanks to Beth Goldfarb and her husband Richie who have been steadfastin their support of AFI. Beth’s personal touch makes all of our events at the AAAAI and ACAAI very warm and invitingand Richie is always there to support her. I also want to thank our board of directors for their support of AFI.

This past year, AFI has had high visibility, presenting educational sessions at the SLAAI in Buenos Aires and at the WAO in South Korea. Both sessions were very well attended and well received. Thank you to our ambassadorspeakers Leonard Bielory, Edgardo Jares, Menachem Rottem, David Lang, Mario Sanchez Borges and WilliamSilver. This year AFI will participate in the educational program for the INTERASMA WCA meeting in Madrid in March and at the World Immunopathology Organization (WIPO) IX World Asthma, Allergy and COPD Forum in St.Petersburg in July. In 2015, AFI sponsored Liron Grossman, an Israel medical student, to participate in an allergyrotation with Jonathan Spergel at CHOP and Paul Greenberger spoke at the national JNF meeting in Chicago as anAFI representative in October. Andrew Weinstein spoke on behalf of AFI at the December IAACI Annual Conference.AFI also sponsored the Welcome Reception for the IAACI annual meeting. Earlier in the year I had an opportunity totravel to Israel where I met with the IAACI Board of Directors. I also had the good fortune to meet with 25 of ourIsraeli Allergists friends for dinner in Tel Aviv. Special thanks to Liat Nachshon for making the arrangements.

This past year we lost two beloved AFI members who were stalwart figures in Allergy, Israel Glazer and SheldonSpector. Israel was a founder of the IAACI and an organizer of the first WAO meeting in Israel. He was always verysupportive of AFI and was the Israeli ambassador for Allergy around the world. Sheldon, will always be rememberedas a very intelligent, warm, witty and insightful individual very committed the specialty of Allergy who loved Israel. In2014 he traveled to Israel on behalf of AFI to give a series of talks which were very well received. Although they willboth be missed, they will always be in our mind, heart and spirit.

As always our organization is only as strong as its membership. I am pleased to report we have increased ourdues paying members this past year and many have made substantial contributions to our organization. Thank you to all of our old and new members for your support. For those who have been thinking on whether or not theywant to get more involved in AFI by becoming a member there is no better time than this year to join and attend our2016 functions at the AAAAI and ACAAI and at the WAO/IAACI meeting in Jerusalem. To join AFI or renew yourmembership, simply go on-line to our website, www.allergists4israel.org and submit your dues for 2016. Everyyear we recognize that there are many competing functions on Sunday but we welcome everyone to attend even if you can’t stay the entire time due to other obligations.

Each year we provide support for the IAACI meeting and continue to provide support for travel grants, mini-fellowships, mini-grants and lectureships. Please contact Beth or myself at jonathan.bernstein@uc.eduif you are interested in being a host institution for a mini-fellowship.

Finally, a congratulations to Yuval Tal for being awarded this year’s Bernard Siegel award. Mazel tov Yuval. On behalf of the AFI board of directors and staff, we sincerely thank you for your continued support. We lookforward to seeing you all at the AAAAI meeting in LA.

Shalom,

Jonathan A. Bernstein, M.D.Chairman, Allergists for Israel

Vol 13, Number 1 – March 2016

Allergistsfor Israelwww.allergists4israel.org

AAAAI 2016Annual Meeting

Los Angeles, CAMarch 4–7, 2016

AFI Annual Gala Dinner EventSunday, March 6

6:30–9:30 p.m.The Crocker Club

453 South Spring Street

Guest Speakers:Jonathan Bernstein, M.D.

Caveats of Rhinitis and AsthmaManagement: A Brief Update

Brian RosenzweigIsrael’s Technology Impact on

the U.S. Healthcare Market

Support provided by Teva Respiratory

and MEDA

n n n n n n n

AFI Religious ServicesThe following events

take place at the JW Marriott – Los Angeles

Kiddush ReceptionFriday, March 4

6:00 p.m.Diamond Ballroom, Salon 10

Shabbat ServicesFriday, March 4 5:35 p.m. Mincha

followed by Kabbalat ShabbatKiddush with the Friday reception

Diamond Ballroom, Salon 9Saturday, March 56:00 a.m. Shacharit

Gold Ballroom, Salon 35:30 p.m. Mincha

followed by Seudah Shlishit,Maariv and Havdalah

at 6:30 p.m.Diamond Ballroom, Salon 9

Weekday ServicesSunday, March 6

6:15 a.m. Shacharit Gold Ballroom, Salon 3

Monday, March 7 6:15 a.m. Shacharit

Gold Ballroom, Salon 3

Mission/Vision of Allergists for Israel

Allergists for Israel was founded in 1984 and the evolving vision of our group is to:

1. Develop camaraderie by the gathering (nationally and internationally) ofAllergists/Immunologists and other supporters of allergy in Israel at nationalAcademy and College allergy meetings.

2. Provide financial support for Israeli allergy fellows for scholarly activities.

3. Establish an international network of Allergists & Immunologists in order tofoster and enhance communication and interaction with Israeli professionalcolleagues.

4. Develop linkages between Allergists/Immunologists from around the world andIsraeli Allergists/Immunologists by sponsoring Allergists/Immunologists to visitand speak in Israel.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEChairpersonJonathan A. Bernstein, M.D.Co-Founder, Past ChairpersonWilliam Silvers, M.D.Past ChairpersonLyndon Mansfield, M.D.SecretaryLeonard Bielory, M.D.TreasurerRandee MansfieldAdministratorBeth Goldfarb

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJohn Cohn, M.D.Jeffrey Demain, M.D.William Dolen, M.D.Daniel Ein, M.D.Stanley Fineman, M.D.Gary Gross, M.D.Edgardo Jares, M.D.Michael Kaliner, M.D.David Lang, M.D.Greg LundJonathan Matz, M.D.Sam Patel, R.Ph., MBADavid Rosenthal, D.O., Ph.D.Marc Rothenberg, M.D.Nathan Segall, M.D.Marissa Shams, M.D.Bernard Silverman, M.D.Jonathan Spergel, M.D.

IAACINancy Agmon-Levin, M.D.Ilan Dalal, M.D.Alon Hershko, M.D.Aharon Kessel, M.D.Menachem Rottem, M.D.Valery Teplitsky, M.D.

Allergists for Israel is a 501- (c) 3 organization

ALLERGISTS FOR ISRAEL

HELP AFI GROWSHARE OUR INFORMATION!

You can also give our Board Members names of friends and colleagues

whom you would like for AFI to invite to our programs.

Contact Beth: afiadm@gmail.com

THE CROCKER CLUB453 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

SUNDAY MARCH 6, 2016 H 6:30 –9:30 p.m.

H ANNUAL GALA DINNERH

AFI would like to thank our sponsors for their interest and support

CORPORATE FOUNDING SPONSOR CORPORATE SILVER SPONSOR

H

JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, M.D. Caveats of Rhinitis and Asthma

Management: A Brief Update

BRIAN ROSENZWEIGIsrael’s Technology Impact

on the U.S. Healthcare Market

GUEST SPEAKERS

H HHH

Dr. Jonathan A. Bernstein is Professor of ClinicalMedicine in the Department of InternalMedicine, Division of Immunology/AllergySection at the University of Cincinnati MedicalCenter and Director of the Clinical Research Unitat the Veterans Hospital and Allergy Section ofthe Division of Immunology. He is a partner ofthe Bernstein Allergy Group and ClinicalResearch Center. He received his BA fromKenyon College in 1981 and his MD from theUniversity Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine in1985. He completed his residency training inInternal Medicine at the Cleveland ClinicHospital from 1985-1988 and his Allergy/ClinicalImmunology training at NorthwesternUniversity from 1988-1990.

His current research involves the health effectsof UV irradiation units as an environmentalintervention installed in the homes of asthmaticchildren funded by NIAID, angioedema/chronicurticaria, biomarkers for Trimellitic anhydridesensitization in the workplace, allergenicity ofcyanobacteria, phenotyping chronic rhinitissubtypes specifically non-allergic rhinitis andseminal plasma hypersensitivity. Dr. Bernstein isa DIA certified investigator with extensiveexperience conducting multicenter andphysician initiated clinical therapeutic trials

related to asthma, COPD, rhinitis, urticaria,hereditary and ACE-induced angioedema. Dr.Bernstein has published over 210 peerreviewed articles in addition to numerous bookchapters on a variety of relevant topics inAllergy and Clinical Immunology. He is the co-editor of the textbook published in 2014,Clinical Asthma: Theory and Practice which hasbeen also published in Spanish. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asthma and on theeditorial board of the Journal of Allergy ClinicalImmunology, Annals of Allergy, Asthma andImmunology, Allergy Asthma Proceedings andJournal of Angioedema. He is on the medicaladvisory board of the HAEA organization, on theboard of directors of the AAAAI and Interasma.

Dr. Bernstein is actively involved in theUniversity of Cincinnati Allergy FellowshipTraining Program and in the education ofresidents and medical students. Dr. Bernsteinhas been voted “Best Doctor” in Cincinnati from1999 to 2016 and has been ranked by US Newsand World Report as being in the top 1% ofdoctors in his specialty. He is a member of the University of Cincinnati Alpha Omega Alpha chapter.

Brian Rosenzweig will be speaking aboutIsrael’s Technological Impact on the U.S.Healthcare Market.

Brian has worked extensively with emergingtechnology companies operating in a variety ofU.S., European, and South American markets. AsDirector of Marketing for 21Ventures LLC, a U.S.-based alternative energy, security and mobiletechnology venture fund, Brian was responsiblefor developing and executing more effectivemarket entry and expansion strategies for thefund's 45+ portfolio companies. Prior to joining21Ventures, Brian co-founded 3SpectraCollaborative Technology Solutions, later to be

spun-off into The Expansion Agency; twoconsultancies dedicated to providingtechnology start-ups with capital efficientmarketing and business development solutions.

As a Partner at JANVEST, Brian is responsible forthe firm’s marketing and investor development,in addition to advising portfolio companies ontheir public relations, social media, brandingand communications.

Brian graduated from Indiana University –Bloomington with a B.A. in Journalism from theErnie Pyle School of Journalism, a B.A. in JewishStudies, and a Minor in Hebrew.

Jonathan Bernstein, M.D.

Brian Rosenzweig

Brian Rosenzweig

Jonathan Bernstein, M.D.

Andrew Weinstein attends IAACI Annual 2015 Meeting in Caesarea

The 2015 IAACI meeting was held in Decemberin Caesarea, Israel. AFI was proud to sponsortheir Welcome Reception as well as AndrewWeinstein, M.D. who presented at the meeting.Andrew is an Associate Clinical Professor ofPediatrics at Thomas Jefferson MedicalUniversity and President of AsthmaManagement Systems.

Dr. Weinstein’s topic was, Role of AsthmaAdherence Management in Managing SevereAsthma Patients.

Andrew provided us with a summary:

Non-adherence is a major risk-factor forpatients with severe asthma. Physicians mayconsider an asthma adherence managementmodel that has been shown to be effective inimproving outcomes of both children andadults with severe asthma. (JACI:In practice2013;1:123-8) The four components include: 1. Objective adherence monitoring; 2. Identification of barriers to care; 3. Application of appropriate strategies specificto the barrier(s) identified; 4. Use of effective communication skills(Motivational Interviewing or Shared-DecisionMaking) to optimize delivery of strategies.

Andrew Weinstein, M.D.

On behalf of AFI, Paul Greenberger, M.D. fromNorthwestern University Feinberg School ofMedicine spoke at a Jewish National Fund

Conference. His topic was, Five Allergy ConditionsPhysicians Should Know About Including theBreakthrough Finding from Israel.

Paul Greenberger speaks at Jewish National Fund Conference

Paul Greenberger, M.D.

Aharon Kessel, Nancy Agmon-Levin, Alon Hershko,Jonathan Bernstein, Valery Teplitsky (not in picture:Ilan Dalal)

Jonathan Bernstein visits with IAACI Board of Directors in Israel

In Memoriam: Israel Glazer

It is with great sadness that we announce thepassing of Dr. Israel Glazer, the patriarch ofallergy in Israel and one of the founding fathersof the Israel Society of Allergy, which is now theIsrael Association of Allergy and ClinicalImmunology.

Dr. Glazer received his medical degree from theAmerican University of Beirut in 1947 withdistinction. His post graduate training beganwith an internship at Brooklyn Jewish Hospitalfollowed by an Internal Medicine residency atthe Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC. He subsequentlyreceived a Dazian Foundation trainingfellowship in allergy with Dr. M. Walzer at theBrooklyn JewishHospital. Dr. Glazerhas the distinctionof being the firstformally trainedallergist in Israel.He established theAllergy Unit at theTel HashomerGovernmentHospital, nowSheba MedicalCenter, in 1956serving as Head ofthis unit until hisretirement. Dr.Glazer was anAllergy consultantin private practiceup until very recently. Dr. Glazer was a fellow ofthe AAAAI since 1954 and a steady attendee ofthe AAAAI for over 60 consecutive years. Dr.Glazer was also a Fellow of the AmericanCollege of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Hehas been a strong advocate of Allergy in Israeltraining numerous allergy fellows in Israel.

Dr. Glazer was instrumental in establishing thespecialty boards of the Israel MedicalAssociation and was one of the first to be

certified in Internal Medicine as well as Allergyin 1961. Dr. Glazer participated in manyinternational allergy organizations includingInterasma and the WAO and has served as anassociate or contributing editor for a number of peer reviewed journals. He organized manyinternational medical meetings in Israel overthe years including the first AFI meeting with WAO.

In 1982, Dr. Glazer was presented with theAchievements Award of the InternationalAssociation of Allergy (now WAO) at thetriannual congress in London. In 1991, he waselected Honorary Distinguished Fellow of the

ACAAI and in1994 HonoraryMember of theIAACI. For manyyears Dr. Glazeradministrated theBernard B. SiegelAnnual MemorialAward and forseveral yearschaired theCommittee ofWorld AsthmaDay in Israelsponsored by theGlobal Initiativefor Asthma(GINA). Dr.Glazer’s main

research interests included asthma, allergicrhinitis in Israel, drug hypersensitivity reactionsand investigation of novel therapies forallergies and asthma.

Dr. Glazer is survived by his loving wife Eliakimaand family. Dr. Glazer will be greatly missed byus all but his legacy will live on by the countlesscontributions to the Allergy specialty he madein Israel and abroad. Go in peace Israel.

In Memoriam: Sheldon Spectorby Jonathan Bernstein and William Silvers

Sheldon Spector, a beloved colleague of us allpassed away December 29, 2015. Sheldonrepresented the prototypic clinical researcherand physician. He cared deeply for his patientsand the specialty of Allergy, Asthma andImmunology.

Sheldon wasmentor to manyfellows while atNational Jewishworking withRichard Farrwhere theyresearchedaspirinidiosyncrasy andmediators inasthma. Afterbeing recruitedto Los Angeles,he continued hisassociation with

Colorado, coming regularly to the Aspen AllergyConference, where he was on the advisoryboard. He was committed to advancing the field of Allergy through teaching, clinicalresearch and participation in the AAAAI andACAAI. He served diligently as a member of theJoint Task Force Practice Parameter committeefor many years.

He was an avid supporter of Israel andAllergists for Israel as a member,lecturer and friend. He took a yearsabbatical at the Hadassah Hospital inEin Kerem, where he not only taughtabout allergies and asthma, butimproved his Hebrew and Israelidancing. He recently traveled to Israeland gave lectures to groups on behalf of AFI.

Sheldon was a devotedfamily man, philanthropistand humanitarian. Hedemonstrated a generosity,passion and spirit thataffected the lives of family,local and extendedcommunities. While inDenver, he helped establisha new Jewish day school,which has grown to thelargest one in the area. Hefaithfully served the US as afull Colonel and reservist. We will alwaysremember Sheldon as a very friendly, quietspoken, witty and practical man whounderstood the important things in life andmade a profound difference while he wasamong us all.

Sheldon continued working in his practice withhis daughter Tahlia, travelling nationally andinternationally, and living a vibrant life till hislast week. He is survived by his beloved wifeJudith, sister Marsha Smith, three children, Dan,Tahlia (Jason) and Ilana (Mark), andgrandchildren Jonah and Gavin. Given hisdevotion to the allergy community, donationscan be made to AAAAI, ACAAI, Allergists forIsrael, and Kehillat Ma’arav.

We are pleased toannounce that Dr. YuvalTal has been chosen bythe American Academy ofAllergy, Asthma andImmunology as the 2016Bernard B. SiegelMemorial Award recipientfor his abstract,Hypersensitivity Reactions toRituximab: 53 Successful Desensitizations in 7Patients with Severe, Near-Fatal Reactions. Hisaward will be presented at the AAAAI AnnualMeeting in Los Angeles, California.Director ofMeir Hospital Research Authority.

Yuval Tal was born in 1968 in Israel. He served in the army until 1990 and is now a Major in the reserved forces. He completed his B.Sc.

in Biology at Tel Aviv University and his medicaldegree at the Hebrew University along with anM.Sc. and Ph.D. in Cell Biology with the faculty ofMedicine in Jerusalem. Yuval completed hisresidency in Internal Medicine and a Fellowshipin Allergy and Clinical Immunology at HadassahUniversity Medical Center in 2011. He hasworked as a senior physician at HadassahHospital in the Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUnit, Internal Medicine Department, as aconsultant in Allergy and Immunology and alecturer in the Faculty of Medicine. He hasparticipated in several clinical researches inboth allergy and autoimmunity, and haspublished several original articles, reviews andclinical reports.

Allergists for Israel applauds Dr. Yuval Tal

The Bernard B. Siegel Memorial Award

Recipients of the Bernard B. Siegel Memorial Award

1984 C. Springer M.D. Hadassah Hospital (Mount Scopus)I. Ben-Dov M.D.

1985 Chana Maayan M.D. Hadassah Hospital (Mount Scopus)1986 Shlomo Bar-Sela M.D. Hadassah Hospital (Ein Karem)1987 Avner Reshef M.D. Zieff Medical Center, Zafed1988 Meir Shalit M.D. Hadassah Hospital (Ein Karem)1989 Yitzhak Katz M.D. Assaf Harofeh Hospital, Zerifin1990 Francesca Levy-Schaffer Ph.D. Hebrew University of Jerusalem1991 Yoseph A. Mekori M.D. Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba1992 Michael Levy M.D. Jerusalem (private practice)1993 Arnon Goldberg M.D. Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba1994 Rami Hershkowiz M.D. Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba1995 Meir Shalit M.D. Hadassah Hospital (Ein Karem)1996 Ronit Confino-Cohen M.D. Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba1997 Dana Baram Ph.D. Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba1998 Ilan Dalal M.D. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon1999 Morli Hartman Ph.D. Hebrew University, Jerusalem2000 Michael Stein M.D. Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot2001 Yachov Beerkum M.D. Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem2002 Kobi Sade M.D. Souraski Medical Center, Tel Aviv2003 Adi Cohen M.D. Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zrifin2004 Valery Teplitzky M.D. Wolfson Medical Center, Holon2005 Amit Nachum M.D. Ph.D. Schneider Children Hospital, Petach Tikva2006 Nirit Segal M.D. Schneider Children Hospital, Petach Tikva2007 Mona I. Kidon M.D. Children Medical Clinic, Rishon Lezion 2008 Nily Mazur M.D. Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 2009 Adam Mor M.D. Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba 2010 Michal Cohen M.D. Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zrifin20112012 Arnon Elizur M.D. Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zrifin2013 Eduardo Shahar, M.D. Rambam Health Care Center, Haifa2014 Vered Schichter-Konfino, M.D. Bnai-Zion Hospital, Haifa2015 Alon Hershko, M.D. Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba2016 Yuval Tal, M.D. Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem

Dr. Bernard B. Siegel was along standing Fellow of the AAAAI, Editor of theAllergy Abstracts of theJournal of Allergy and ClinicalImmunology and recipient of the Distinguished ServiceAward of the Academy. “It was my privilege to trainwith Bernie Siegel in theAllergy Division of the JewishHospital of Brooklyn under Dr. Mathew Walzer M.D.” says Israel Glazer.

Dr. Siegel was very interestedin medical affairs in Israel,particularly in the field ofallergy. After his death inOctober 1982, family andfriends established a fund in his memory. Since 1985 a leading Israeli Allergist/Immunologist and author of a paper accepted forpresentation at the AmericanAcademy’s annual meetinghas received the Bernard B.Siegel Memorial Award.

The Trustees of this fund arethe Head of the Allergy Unit of the Hadassah Hospital inJerusalem, currently Prof. MeirShalit, and Israel Glazer, M.D.,Founder and head (retired) ofthe Allergy Unit at the ShebaMedical Center, Tel Hashomer.

Dr. Yuval Tal

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Rituximab:53 Successful Desensitizations in 7 Patients with

Severe, Near-Fatal Reactions

by Dr. Yuval Tal

Rationale: Rituximab is a chimeric mouse-human monoclonal antibody paramount in the

treatment of several hematological malignancies. Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to

rituximab are common, and can range from mild urticaria to severe life-threatening events.

While for most patients the “12-step desensitization procedure” has proven to be

sufficiently effective, some patients, who have endured severe reactions to rituximab, may

require pre-medication prior to the desensitization protocol. We describe our experience

with the “modified desensitization protocol” in patients who underwent severe, life-

threatening reactions following previous rituximab administrations.

Methods: Seven hematological patients who displayed severe, anaphylactic or

immunocytotoxic reactions during previous rituximab administration were included. Five of

them experienced cardiovascular collapse, one of which sustained a cardiac arrest. Two

patients required prolonged intensive care unit hospitalizations. All of the patients were

treated with pharmacologic prophylaxis prior to a 12-step desensitization protocol, which

included three doses of prednisone, high doses of H1 blockers, and an H2 blocker.

Montelukast was added in two patients. We describe the patient demographics, the severity

and characteristics of the initial HSRs, and the outcomes of subsequent rituximab

administration utilizing the modified protocol.

Results: Fifty-three modified desensitization protocols were successfully completed (with

100% success rate). Mild HSRs appeared in only three of the procedures. Six of the patients

are currently in remission of their hematological disorder.

Conclusions: A modified desensitization protocol including pharmacologic prophylaxis prior

to the 12-step desensitization procedure is both reliable and safe, even among patients who

have experienced near-fatal HSRs. This protocol should be considered in patients whose

medical condition mandates rituximab administration despite a severe previous reaction.

My name is Liron Grossmann and I have justcompleted medical school at Tel-Aviv University.Thanks to the generosity of Allergists forIsrael—AFI, I was able to fulfill a long timedream—coming for a rotation in the Allergy and Immunology department at the Childrens’Hospital of Philadelphia. Mentored by Dr.Jonathan Spergel, I had a three weekexperience which will remain with me for alifetime. During the rotation, I was exposed to a variety of allergic diseases affecting childrenfrom different populations. I had the honor ofobserving Dr. Spergel and was impressed by hisvast knowledge and the good rapport he shareswith his patients. He is definitely an amazingrole model.

By the end of this period I can say that I havegained a deeper insight and understanding ofthe process of diagnosing and treating a childwith different kinds of allergies. In addition, Iwas very fortunate in that Dr. Spergel and Dr.Cianferoni agreed to collaborate with me inongoing research they are conducting. Bothwere very kind and eager to assist me with myquestions.

During my first week in Philadelphia, I had the pleasure of being invited for dinner with Dr. Jack Becker and his wife, along with their Israeli friends.

Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Terri Brown,who made me feel very at home during mystay. Dr. Brown, like a good Jewish mother (and I have a wonderful one with which tocompare), was very generous and caring. She offered her help with every problem Iencountered and invited me for dinner with her lovely husband and son (on the eve of the election in Israel—we had a lot of funtogether!).

I greatly appreciate and value your decision toaward me the grant, thereby helping me toadvance my career and meet wonderful andinspiring people along the way. It made merealize that we, as a Jewish community aroundthe world, are one, and most importantly, arethere for each other. I hope one day I can dosomething for AFI as well.

Thank you,Liron

Liron Grossmann

Liron Grossmann

AFI would like to congratulate Dr. Bruce Mazeron his appointment as Deputy ExecutiveDirector/Deputy Chief Scientific Officer (DCSO) ofthe Research Institute of the McGill UniversityHealth Centre (RI�MUHC) and Head of ChildHealth Research at the Montreal Children’sHospital (MCH) of the McGill University HealthCentre (MUHC).

Dr. Mazer arrived at McGill from ColumbiaUniversity in 1980 and obtained his Medicaldegree in 1984 and went on to complete his residency in Pediatrics at the MontrealChildren’s Hospital. Between 1987 and 1991, Dr. Mazer completed a clinical and researchFellowship in Allergy/Immunology from theNational Jewish Center for Immunology andRespiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado.

Bruce is a Full Professor of Pediatrics in theFaculty of Medicine at McGill University, aClinician�Scientist at the RI�MUHC, an AttendingPhysician at the Montreal Children’s Hospital,Division of Allergy and Immunology. Since1999, Dr. Mazer has served as Director of thelargest Pediatric Allergy and ImmunologyAcademic practice in Canada at the MUHC, and is also a principal investigator at the MeakinsChristie Laboratories, at the Research Instituteof the MUHC and McGill University.

Dr. Mazer will be responsible for thedevelopment and integration of the long�termplan of the child health research of the RI�MUHC.

Mazel Tov!

Congratulations to Dr. Bruce Mazer

Bruce Mazer, M.D.

Donald Aaronson graduated from the University of Illinoiswith a BA in 1957, a BS in 1959 and an M.D. from theCollege of Medicine in 1961. In 1977 Dr. Aaronsongraduated Cum Laude with a JD Degree from the De PaulUniversity of Law in Chicago.

Donald did his residency in internal medicine at the VAHospital in Hines, Illinois and a fellowship with RoyPatterson in allergy and clinical immunology atNorthwestern University Medical School. He then joined hisfather and three others in private practice of allergy from1966 until his retirement in 2002.

Donald’s teaching appointments included being anattending physician at Northwestern University allergyclinic, a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine andfamily practice at the University of Illinois College ofMedicine, and a clinical professor in medicine and directorof the course in law and medicine at the Chicago MedicalSchool. Donald has held the position of clinical associateprofessor of medicine at the University of Chicago MedicalSchool from 1992 to 1997 and from 1998 to the present.

Dr. Aaronson was on staff at several hospitals, mostimportantly Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge,Illinois where he became an emeritus member of themedical staff upon his retirement from the practice ofallergy and immunology.

Donald was President of the American College of Allergy,Asthma and Immunology from 1988 to 1990 and wasawarded the Gold Headed CNE Award. He also served oneyear as Vice President of the American Academy of Asthma,Allergy and Immunology. He was active with the JointCouncil of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology as a memberof the board, President of the Council, Executive VicePresident and Executive Director. Donald was involved withthe Joint Council for more than 35 years.

After his retirement from private practice, Donald moved toBoston for a year and attended the Harvard School ofPublic Health where he received a Masters in Public Healthin 2003. He began working in the area of patient safetyand from 2003 to the present has been the MedicalDirector for patient safety and advocacy at LutheranGeneral Hospital. He is considered an expert in the field of public safety.

As Medical Director for Patient Safety at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Donald is responsible for thedevelopment and provision of patient safety programmingto approximately 1200 physicians and 200 medicalresidents. He also works with the remainder of the patientsafety team to address patient safety issues with non-physician nursing and support staff. He is responsible forthe assessment of clinical processes as they may relate topatient injury and for the recommendation of riskreduction strategies.

Donald has co-led a multi-year project to develop a Cultureof Safety throughout the hospital system. That effort hasresulted in over a 40% reduction in sentinel and otherserious events. He has just completed co-leading thedesign and implementation of a system wide initiative tomake operating rooms safer. He will be designing bothresident and attending physician safety educationapproaches.

Besides an illustrious professional career, Donald has hadan extraordinarily special life. “I have been very happilymarried to my wife, Julia Aaronson for the past 60+ years, “reported Dr. Aaronson. “Julia and I have been blessed withthree children. One is an attorney, one a human resourcesexpert and one a Rabbi and fundraiser who lives in Israel.They have blessed Julia and me with 10 grandchildren.Four of our grandchildren are married, one is a physician,one is in medical school, one is a nurse and one is inoptometry school. Several are at various stages of theeducational process. We have one great grandchild withone more on the way.”

Donald and Julia haveexplored the world together.“We have been blessed withhaving the opportunity tohave done a fair amount oftraveling including Europeand Africa. But mostimportantly we had a trip toAntarctica and another downthe Amazon and this past yearwe completed our tour of allseven continents with a trip to Australia.”

When asked about hobbies Donald responded, “I think youcould say my hobbies involve allergy and service to theallergy community, patient safety and service to the publicin helping to keep medical care including allergy care,safe.” His lifelong service certainly seems to emulate thoseinterests.

Donald has been involved with AFI from the beginning ofits inception. “I am particularly proud of my membershipin AFI from the beginning, and having enabled the Fridaynight and Saturday services at both the meetings of theCollege and the Academy by arranging rooms for services.It is a wonderful sense of fulfillment that comes fromknowing that we can pray to our Lord and at the same time we are having fun and looking after our Lord’s people.”

AFI would like to acknowledge Donald Aaronson with deepappreciation for his dedication, not only to the field ofAllergy & Immunology, but to his dedication to patientcare, safety and advocacy; his commitment to Israel; andhis devotion to the concept of Allergists For Israel.

SPOTLIGHT: Donald Aaronson

WISC Conference in Korea 2015

Drs. Yitzhak Katz, Jonathan Bernstein,Menachem Rottem

Drs. Menachem Rottem, Mario Sanchez Borgese,Edgardo Jares, Jonathan Bernstein, David Lang

SLaai Conference Buenos Aires 2015

Drs. William Silvers, Leonard Bielory,Jonthan Bernstein, Marcelo Kohan,Alberto Tolcachier

William Silvers

Drs. Lanny Rosenwasser, President ofWAO & Jonathan Bernstein

Drs. Paul Greenberger, Alberto Tolcachier, Edgardo Jared,William Silvers, Jonathan Bernstein

Houston Conference 2015

Houston Conference 2015

As I was preparing this year’s newsletter, I haddecided to exclude this infamous column ofTidbits From Beth for a number of reasons:

1. Who needs more tidbits in their busy days!2. Last year’s tidbits, I shared a poem with you.

You see I am a “closet poet” and since onlytwo people responded to this, though I didn’thave any expectations, I however realized Ishould keep my thoughts and poetry…in thecloset!

3. In all honesty, I didn’t seem to have anyinspiration. Though you may not know, as we all have similar stories….the last two yearshave been difficult for me as my father took a dramatic change in health. Many of us can relate to dealing, coping, loving, agingparents. This past September, right after YomKippur, my father passed away. “Camelot”…if you know what I mean…”will never be the same!”

4. And so, I realized…I had nothing to write formy Tidbit Column.

And then my inspiration came! I had askedDonald Aaronson to share with us someinformation as we wanted to highlight him inthis newsletter. He has been a long timemember and active participant with AFI. To bequite frank with you, (as I always seem to be),when I first met Donald, I wasquite intimidated. He doesn’teven know this, I am sure. Hereminded me of my UncleSam. Ok, we all have an UncleSam in our story, who scaredus as kids, if we didn’t do theright thing when he came intown…but then we grew upand realized he is …well he isUncle Sam…and wonderful!

How ironic that DonaldAaronson looked so much likemy Uncle Sam, but it took lesstime for me to realize that Iam safe and cared about byDonald, and I did not need toworry. Then Donald sharedwith me his story…hiseducation, accolades,experiences, interests. I wascompletely enthralled!

And then my inspiration came,misconceptions!

Once I got over the “Uncle Sam” fear…I likedDonald and his wife Julia! It hit me, how we

smother ourselves in misconceptions. “This guyis too liberal, too conservative, too political, tooright wing, too left wing, too Orthodox, tooReform, too Jewish, too non-Jewish…and on and on. And to what means?

When I came on board with AFI, I hate to admit this, but I was ignorant of the stigmasthat were whirling around. I met people at theconferences that implied to me that AFI was too religious and Orthodox for them. Here I amthinking…what??? We are “Friends” of Israel!I’m not Orthodox. Get over it…we are Jews, weare non-Jews, we are of all faiths, all colors, allreligions, all nationalities, all persuasions. Or at least that is what we should be. So manymisconceptions. I think people love to lean onthat wall of misconceptions, for support, or foran excuse.

Then a couple years later something happenedat one of the conferences. A physician came tome and said that he was a Reform Jew and hadyartzeit for his mother. (Yartzeit meaning thedate of the passing of a person and iscustomary to say Kaddish, the prayer formourners.) He saw that there is thisorganization called Allergists for Israel andthought he would come to the service. But hetold me he wasn’t comfortable with real

religious Jews, that’s whathe always thought AFI was,and yet he would like tohonor his mother’s memory.

The same conference, therewas a young woman whowandered into our room forservices, really bewilderedas she had just noticed onthe hotel screen our listing.She was an AllergistResident, modern Orthodox,kept kosher and didn’tknow about AFI. She wasshocked and delighted tofind us!

My response to both ofthem…“there is a place for you.”

This year we printed a lapelpin, of a globe, filled withflags from all nations. Wear

it proudly! We are Allergists for Israel!

Fight against misconceptions!

Tidbits from Bubbe Beth(oh how quickly things change! Bubbe means Grandma!)

Beth Goldfarb

…too liberal, tooconservative, toopolitical, too rightwing, too left wing,too Orthodox, tooReform, too Jewish,too non-Jewish…

there is a place for everyone inAllergists for Israel.

With appreciation

we would like

to thank

TEVAfor being AFI’s

Founding Sponsor.

Corporate SilverSponsor

AFI’s mission is to create and foster research and educational ties between Israel andthe United States, Canada, South America, Asia and Europe. We provide financial supportfor Israeli allergy fellows for scholarly activities and to promote the specialty of Allergy andClinical Immunology.

You can help to advance our mission by considering Allergists for Israel when you makecontributions in honor or in memory of a special person or commemorating an event. Wewill send a donation card to the recipient and mail you an acknowledgement letter of yourtax exempt contribution. Simply email Beth at afiadm@gmail.com with the necessaryinformation.

YOUR 2016 MEMBERSHIP PLEDGE IS IMPORTANT TO THE CONTINUATION OF OUR WORK.

We appreciate you supporting AFI with your contributions

Corporate FoundingSponsor

AFI’s Mission

CHAVER/FRIEND $118 +Donald Aaronson, M.D.Allen Adinoff, M.D.Eric Applebaum, M.D.Noga Askenazi, M.D.Mark Ballow, M.D.Larry Borish, M.D.Steven Cohen, M.D.Sol Drapkin, M.D.Stephen Dreskin, M.D.Howard Druce, M.D.Tolly Epstein, M.D.Matthew Feldman, M.D.Ronald Filerman, M.D.Philip Fleekop, M.D.Thomas Golbert, M.D.Richard Gower, M.D.Paul Greenberger, M.D.Gary Gross, M.D.Elliot Israel, M.D.Michael Kaliner, M.D.Arnold Kirshenbaum, M.D.Howard Langer, M.D.

Richard Lavy, M.D.Phillip Lieberman, M.D.Arthur Lubitz, M.D.Lyndon Mansfield, M.D.Jonathan Matz, M.D.Bruce Mazer, M.D.Julian Melamed, M.D.Liat Nachshon, M.D.Jason Ohayon, M.D.Yoram Padeh, M.D.Wanda Phipatanakul, M.D.Bruce Prenner, M.D.Noah Reiss, M.D.Alan & Susan Resnick, M.D.David Resnick, M.D.Michael Richheimer, M.D.David Rosenstreich, M.D.David Rosenthal, M.D.Leonard Schultz, M.D.Andrea Shiroff, M.D.Glenn Silber, M.D.Jonathan Spergel, M.D.Mark Sugar, M.D.

Gordon Sussman, M.D.Richard Wasserman, M.D.Jerold Yecies, M.D.Chester Zeiss, M.D.Myron Zitt, M.D.

OZER/HELPER $180 +Avraham Beigelman, M.D.Robert Coifman, M.D.Michael Diamond, M.D.David Dreyfus, M.D.Daniel Ein, M.D.David Elkayam, M.D.Stanley Fineman, M.D.Fred Finkelman, M.D.Stanley Goldstein, M.D.Joseph Greenbaum, M.D.Michael Levy, M.D.Eli Meltzer, M.D.Jay Portnoy, M.D.Marc Rothenberg, M.D.Edward Schulman, M.D.Bernard Silverman, M.D.

William Silvers, M.D.Michael Steinberg, M.D.Susan Waserman, M.D.

MADRICH/GUIDE $360 +Leonard Altman, M.D.David Engler, M.D.Paul Shapero, M.D.Andrew Weinstein, M.D.

TZADIK/RIGHTEOUS ONE $540 +Leonard Bielory, M.D.

CHALUTZIM/PIONEERS $1000 +David Lang, M.D.Jeffrey Demain, M.D.Daniel Suez, M.D.

NADIV/GENEROUS $3000 +Jonathan Bernstein, M.D.

Allergists for Israel Current Membership

Please contact Beth: afiadm@gmail.com to check on your membership status.

AFI is proud to announce the WISC 2016 WAO International Scientific Conference

Jerusalem, Israel December 6–9, 2016

It is with much appreciation that we acknowledge the WAO, IAACI and members of AFI for their work and dedication towards bringing this meeting to Israel.

Put this on your calendar and stay in touch for upcoming information!

On behalf of the World Allergy Organization it is my pleasure to invite all colleagues around the world toattend the WAO International Scientific Conference in Jerusalem, Israel, 6-9 December 2016, organized incollaboration with the Israel Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (IAACI) and their mutuallycollaborating partner Allergists for Israel (AFI). The theme of the Conference is Outstanding Allergy, ClinicalImmunology and Cultural Heritage. We hope to see you in Israel, where you will enjoy the most excitingscientific advances in an environment of friendship and world renowned culture.

Mario Sánchez-BorgesPresident, World Allergy Organization

Locations of Allergy Training Programs in Israel

HAIFARambam Medical CenterProf. Shimon Pollackpollack@rambam.health.gov.il

KFAR SABAMeir Medical CenterDr. Arnon Goldbergarnong@clalit.org.il

PETACH TIKVASchneider Medical CenterProf. Yehuda Danonydanon@clalit.org.il

TEL AVIVSourasky Medical CenterProf. Shmuel Kivityallergy@tasmc.health.gov.il

HOLONWolfson Medical CenterDr. Amir Tanaitanai@post.tau.ac.il

RAMAT GANSheba Medical CenterDr. Avner Reshefaresh@netvision.net.il

REHOVOTKaplan Medical CenterProf. Zev ShtoegerZev_s@clalit.org.il

RISHON LEZIONAsaf Harofeh Medical CenterProf. Yitzhak Katzykatz@post.tau.ac.il

JERUSALEMHadassah Medical CenterProf. Meir Shalitshalit@hadassah.org.il

The Kvelling Korner:A place to express great pleasure combined with pride!THE

KVELLIN

G

KORNER

Leonard and Marilyn Bielory’s firstgrandbaby Arabella Noa Bielory

That’s our Marissa Shamswith Brad Wilkins…beautiful!

Bubbe Beth with newborn Chana, 2 yearold Miriam and daughter in law, Leah

Alberto and Vivian Tolchachier’sson, Jonathan conducted a KolNidre Concert in Argentina

CONGRATULATIONS to the families of our AFI family!

Alberto and Vivian Tolchachierfirst grandbaby Emanuel

Rebecca Bernsein, Jonathan andLisa’s daughter launched herown fashion line in New York. Visit: www.beccajill.com

AFI M

embe

rshi

p 20

16Allergists for Israel 2016 Membership Application Form

Name______________________________________________________________________________________________________________Date____________________________________

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Please let us know what you are interested in seeing Allergists for Israel achieve. Your comments and suggestions will help us to improve our organization.

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Our primary mode of communication will be e-mail since it is easy to use and inexpensive. Please let usknow if you would rather be contacted via an alternate method. nn Phone nn Fax

Please consider these levels of giving:

nn $118: Chaver/Friend

nn $180: Ozer/Helper

nn $360: Madrich/Guide

nn $540: Tzadik/Righteous One

nn $1000: Chalutzim/Pioneers

nn $3000: Nadiv/Generous

Method of Payment

nn Check made payable to ALLERGISTS FOR ISRAEL

nn Paypal — Click on PAY DUES on our website: www.allergists4israel.org

Please visit our website: www.allergists4israel.org

For questions or comments, contact Beth at afiadm@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to complete this form. PLEASE MAIL OR FAX TO:

Randee Mansfield, TreasurerAllergists for Israel

2121 Wyoming Ave., El Paso, TX 79903PHONE 915-544-2557 • FAX 915-544-1817

Your 2016membership

pledge isappreciated

for thecontinuationof our work!