“It's kind of like we opened a Pandora's box and trying to close it up again is going to be very hard.” —Dr. Zachary Rubin

Dr. Zachary Rubin joins Dr. Mariam Hanna for a candid look at the “difficult and misinformed” patient — the growing phenotype every allergist now manages weekly. A double board-certified pediatrician and allergist-immunologist with a massive social media footprint, Dr. Rubin breaks down how misinformation spreads, why it resonates, and how clinicians can approach these encounters without burning out or burning bridges. From TikTok-fuelled certainty to patients demanding full panels, he offers a practical, clinician-first playbook for navigating the mess.

On this episode:

• Why today’s misinformation is stickier, faster, and more emotionally charged than a decade ago, and how parasocial trust amplifies it.
  
  
• How the “nugget of truth” inside misinformation gives it power and how to dismantle it without escalating conflict.
  
  
• A clinic-ready strategy to approach resistant patients: open-ended questions, triaging what must be corrected now, and focusing on one actionable change at a time.
  
  
• Why continuity, follow-up, and small pieces of information over time often outperform a single “big correction.”
  
  
• How to use shared decision-making to reframe testing and treatment choices, especially when patients arrive convinced they need “the full panel.”
  
  
• Practical tools to support patient understanding, including targeted education resources, structured discharge summaries, and multimodal materials for different learning styles.
  
  
• How teams can protect each other through debriefs, preparation, and collaborative communication during high-stress encounters.

A grounded, real-world conversation for clinicians who balance patient frustration, digital misinformation, and the realities of modern allergy practice.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“People know that asthma sucks. They don’t know that sinus disease sucks. It really impacts people's quality of life. It impacts their function. It needs to be taken very seriously.” — Dr. Andrew Thamboo

Chronic sinusitis doesn’t just clog the nose—it can drag down quality of life, complicate asthma, and leave patients caught between specialists. Dr. Mariam Hanna talks with Dr. Andrew Thamboo, rhinologist at St. Paul’s Sinus Centre in Vancouver and clinical associate professor at UBC, about how to identify, manage, and treat this stubborn condition. A leader in chronic sinus disease research, Dr. Thamboo explains how understanding inflammation, using the right investigations, and choosing the right therapies can make a real difference for patients who feel like nothing works.

In this episode:

• How to distinguish chronic rhinosinusitis from acute sinusitis, and why type 2 inflammation matters
  
  
• The role of CT scans in diagnosis and when to order one before referral
  
  
• What nasal endoscopy patterns reveal about atopy and when allergy testing changes the treatment plan
  
  
• Why saline irrigations combined with topical steroids remain the baseline therapy, and why oral corticosteroids are falling out of favour
  
  
• When medical management has gone far enough and surgery becomes the next step
  
  
• The evolving place of biologics, cost considerations, and how biosimilars could shift the future of care
  
  
  
• Why managing sinus disease seriously improves both airway and overall health

Sinus disease may suck, but as Dr. Thamboo explains, understanding inflammation, anatomy, and timing can make all the difference for patients and physicians alike.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“The immune system generally likes to be a well-balanced machine. It’s kind of like Goldilocks — too much is no good, too little is no good, and it’s finding that balance.”  Dr. Vy Kim

Tregs have been called therapists, peacekeepers, and now—thanks to this year’s Nobel Prize—front-page immunology. Dr. Vy Kim joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to unpack why these cells might hold the key to everything from tolerance to therapy response, and what allergists should be watching for next.

• How Tregs bridge central and peripheral tolerance—and why that matters in allergy.
• What their dysfunction reveals about the origins of allergic disease.
• Why allergen-specific Tregs could signal immunotherapy success.
• How far we are from clinical testing and therapeutic manipulation.
• What “Goldilocks” balance really looks like inside the immune system.
• The unanswered questions that will shape the future of Treg-based interventions.

It’s not every day the Nobel Prize lines up with what’s happening in your clinic. This is one of those days.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“Don't just rely on the textbook definition of when the pollen seasons are. You need to have reliable data to know when the pollen seasons are starting, when they're ending, and when they're peaking.”  Dawn Jurgens

Allergy season may be winding down, but for allergists, the work never really stops. This is the moment between ragweed and winter — a brief respite before the cycle begins again. On this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dawn Jurgens, Director of Operations and Quality Management at Aerobiology Research Laboratories. She breaks down the science behind pollen and spore counts, why forecasts matter, and how shifting seasons are changing the game for patients and clinicians alike.

• Timothy grass is the most common and potent trigger globally, while birch remains the most clinically relevant pollen in Canada. Pine releases large amounts of pollen but isn’t highly allergenic.
  
  
• Pollution and thunderstorms can make pollen more potent by breaking it apart and exposing allergenic epitopes, intensifying symptoms.
  
  
• Cross-reactivity stems from conserved epitopes, meaning patients sensitized to one pollen may react to related species — or even certain foods.
  
  
• Mold spores, especially Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Basidiospores, can mimic ragweed season and are major fall culprits.
  
  
• Canada’s pollen seasons are starting earlier than they did 30 years ago, though the fall season hasn’t yet extended.
  
  
• Simple strategies — like showering before bed, keeping windows closed, using filters, brushing pets outside, and checking reliable forecasts — can meaningfully reduce exposure.

Pollen season may be taking a break, but planning for the next wave starts now.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“Vaccine counseling is really a team sport. — Dr. Anne Pham-Huy

Vaccines can stir anxiety for patients and confusion for clinicians, especially when biologics enter the mix. Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, clinical immunologist at CHEO, member of the Special Immunization Clinic Network, NACI member, and chair of Immunize Canada. Together, they break down the science of vaccine responses and tackle some of the trickiest questions allergists face in daily practice.

On this episode:

• The major types of vaccines — from live attenuated to mRNA — and what sets them apart.
  
  
• Why live vaccines often produce strong, durable protection, but may require caution in certain patients.
  
  
• How adult immunization is still underutilized, with gaps in boosters, pneumococcal, HPV, and influenza coverage.
  
  
• Which “special populations” need tailored vaccine strategies, including patients on immunosuppressants, transplant recipients, and those with chronic disease.
  
  
• Practical guidance on timing vaccines around biologic use and which precautions truly matter.
  
  
• When to check titers and antibody responses — and why it’s only relevant for select patient groups.
  
  
• Strategies for counselling vaccine-hesitant patients with empathy, focusing on disease risk and building trust.
  
  
• What’s next: combination mRNA vaccines and nirsevimab for RSV prevention in infants.

The questions are simple — are they vaccinated, special, or special enough — but the answers matter.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“Atopic dermatitis is not just about what you see on the skin. It's about what the patient's experiencing.” Dr. Melinda Gooderham

Eczema care has become a world of creams, cleansers, oils, and myths — but what actually works? Dr. Mariam Hanna is joined by Dr. Melinda Gooderham, assistant professor at Queen’s University and consultant physician at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. As principal investigator for more than 250 clinical trials, Dr. Gooderham brings both evidence and practical wisdom to the table.

On this episode, they explore:

• Why barrier repair remains the cornerstone of therapy, and how humectants, emollients, and occlusives play distinct roles
  
  
• The evidence behind natural oils (and why olive oil is out while coconut, sunflower seed oil, and shea butter may have a place)
  
  
• Bathing basics: frequency, water temperature, and whether bleach baths still matter
  
  
• How to choose topical steroid potency and when to pivot toward non-steroidal options
  
  
• The promise of newer agents: calcineurin inhibitors, PDE-4 inhibitors like roflumilast, and topical JAK inhibitors
  
  
• When to escalate to systemic therapy, with itch and quality of life as key markers

Eczema may be complex and misunderstood, but Dr. Gooderham reminds us that consistent barrier care, adequate product use, and asking the right questions about itch can simplify management and improve patient outcomes.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“You will think it is mastocytosis much more often than you'll actually diagnose mastocytosis.” — Dr. Matthieu Picard

Mastocytosis is rare, complex, and often confused with other mast cell disorders. To help clinicians cut through the confusion, Dr. Mariam Hanna welcomes Dr. Mathieu Picard, allergist and clinical immunologist, who has built a dedicated practice caring for patients with mast cell diseases. Together, they explore what physicians need to know about diagnosis, monitoring, and management.

On this episode:

• Adults: Around 80% of adults with skin lesions have systemic mastocytosis, and the disease typically persists.
• Children: Pediatric cases are almost always cutaneous and often resolve by puberty.
• When to order a tryptase — and why a normal result doesn’t rule out systemic disease
• The role of KIT D816V mutation testing and why biopsy technique matters
• Key risks to monitor in indolent systemic mastocytosis: anaphylaxis, osteoporosis, and rare progression to advanced disease
• Practical tips for patient care, including venom immunotherapy considerations, osteoporosis screening, and symptom control strategies

Mastocytosis may be rare, but it doesn’t take uncommon skill to spot — just the right tools, a sharp eye, and maybe a tongue depressor scratched five times.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“At least 60% don't respond to anything or who have been to somebody else before and they've come to me and they've tried everything and failed” — Dr. Imran Satia

Dr. Imran Satia, Respirologist and Associate Professor at McMaster University and Canada Research Chair in Chronic Cough, joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to walk clinicians through a practical, evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing chronic cough. With decades of research and clinical experience, Dr. Satia explains how to define chronic cough and its subtypes, recognize red flags, and navigate the common — and less common — causes that keep patients coughing for years.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

• The difference between chronic cough, refractory chronic cough, and unexplained chronic cough — and why the terminology matters for treatment.
  
  
• The key investigations every patient with chronic cough should have, and how to interpret results in the context of cough hypersensitivity.
  
  
• The role and real-world value of methacholine challenge, FeNO, induced sputum, and sputum culture in refining diagnosis and guiding therapy.
  
  
• Why empiric ICS–LABA and PPI trials aren’t always the right move — and when they are.
  
  
• Management strategies for patients who don’t respond to initial treatment, starting with a low-dose morphine trial, followed by neuromodulators, speech therapy, and clinical trial options.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clear, step-by-step framework for assessing chronic cough, avoiding unnecessary treatments, and helping even the most refractory patients find relief.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“Putting yourself out there online as a doctor is not easy. But staying silent while misinformation spreads—that felt worse.” —Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain

Dr. Amiirah Aujnarain has built a community of 80,000 followers by blending evidence-based allergy education with a candid, human presence online. On this episode of The Allergist, she joins Dr. Mariam Hanna to examine how social media is shaping allergy conversations—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

From Benadryl challenges to dupilumab searches on TikTok, patients are turning to social media for answers long before they see a specialist. Dr. Aujnarain shares how she’s meeting them where they are, and why she sees it as both a responsibility and a creative outlet.

This episode covers:

• How allergy misinformation spreads on social media—and what physicians can do about it
  
  
• Why patients are using TikTok like Google, and how that’s changing referral patterns
  
  
• What physicians should consider before joining social media, including boundary-setting, time commitment, and emotional labour
  
  
• The upside of being a visible, human face of allergy care—and the backlash that can come with it

Whether you’re thinking about launching your own account or simply wondering how your patients are being influenced online, this conversation is an honest look at the power and pitfalls of digital engagement.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions

“I can’t think of any medical condition where you can have this type of fry but not that type of fry.” —Dr. Vish Avanashi

Pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Vish Avinashi joins Dr. Mariam Hanna for an episode that jumps head first into the overlapping world of allergy and GI. From ARFID to EOE, they talk about the murky middle ground where food fears, immune triggers, and gut symptoms collide—and how allergists can better navigate it all with the help of a friendly gastroenterologist.

• How to recognize ARFID and why history, not testing, is your best diagnostic tool
• Common pitfalls in celiac diagnosis—and why a positive TTG doesn’t always mean celiac
• New, and surprising treatments for IBS, including nerve stimulation and gut-directed hypnotherapy
• What the microbiome research does—and doesn’t—tell us
• Understanding fibrosis in EOE and when to skip dietary elimination

When it comes to navigating the overlap between allergy and GI, remember: always learning, always listening, always befriending a gastroenterologist.

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions