About the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
This combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics training program has been in existence at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (formerly Medical College of Virginia) for several decades. It was ACGME accredited prior to March of 1983, and has remained since that time. This two-year program accepts two residents into the program per year. Those trained from 1983 onward have all passed their ABAI certification exam.
Mission
Our mission is to prepare specialists who are well rounded in Allergy & Immunology. These specialists will not only provide expert medical care for patients with allergic and immunologic disorders, but also serve as consultants, educators; being critical in interpreting medical research in asthma, allergic, and immunologic diseases.
Duration
The ACGME accredited Allergy & Immunology training period is typically two years in duration, with the exception of the ABIM or ABP research tracks, which would extend time in the program to fulfill research requirements.
Program Certifications
The VCU Health Allergy & Immunology fellowship program is ACGME accredited.
Welcome
Program Director: Wei Zhao, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Welcome from the Program Director
Learn
Program Curriculum & Conferences
Overall training is roughly divided into 50% direct patient care, 25% scholarly activity and research, and 25% educational activities. All fellows are adequately trained in system-based practices, professionalism, and patient care, advancement of their medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, and practice-based learning.
Curriculum
The goal of our Allergy & Immunology Program is to provide trainees with a comprehensive experience in allergy and immunology, both in the care of adult and pediatric patients with allergic and immunologic diseases, and in scholarly activities related to this field that are tailored to the interests of each trainee. Clinical training consists of general allergy and immunology outpatient clinics, inpatient consultation, elective rotations, didactic instruction, conference preparation and presentation, and both self-directed and assigned reading. Clinical rotations are designed to provide our fellows with the knowledge base and technical proficiency that they will need to become outstanding practitioners of allergy and immunology, and in some cases to pursue academic careers as clinician-educators or research investigators.
1st year typical rotation schedule
|
Rotation Type |
Location |
Length |
|
Core Lectures of Allergy and Immunology |
VCUHS |
|
|
Foundation of Immunology |
VCUHS |
|
|
Allergy and Immunology Consultation |
VCUHS |
6 Months |
|
General Allergy and Immunology Outpatient Clinics |
VCUHS |
4 Months |
|
Elective/Research |
VCUHS |
2 months |
2nd year typical rotation schedule
|
Rotation Type |
Location |
Length |
|
Core Lectures of Allergy and Immunology |
VCUHS |
|
|
Allergy and Immunology Consultation |
VCUHS |
6 Months |
|
General Allergy and Immunology Outpatient Clinics |
VCUHS |
3 Months |
|
Elective/Research |
VCUHS |
3 months |
*Annual vacation time is allocated during electives/research rotations.
Allergy and Immunology Consults
Allergy and Immunology provides inpatient consultation service to broad range of disorders from pediatric and adult inpatient service. The allergy fellow will work with on-call attending in managing the consult service. Fellows are expected to round on new consult patients and follow-up on existing patients.
General Allergy and Immunology Outpatient Clinics
The fellows participate general allergy outpatient clinics during the rotation. They are also participating in teaching medical students and residents who are rotating through allergy and immunology service.
Electives
Research: Variety of basic and clinical research opportunities available to our fellows.
- Rheumatology
- Dermatology
- Otolaryngology
- Transplant Immunology
Allergy and Immunology Procedures:
ABAI requires allergy and immunology fellows to be proficient in selection, performing, and interpretation of common allergy procedures such as allergy skin test, patch test, immunotherapy, spirometry, food challenge, drug allergy testing and challenge, IVIG infusion and biologics. The fellows may choose this rotation to practice procedure skills.
Overall training is roughly divided into 50% direct patient care, 25% scholarly activity and research, and 25% educational activities. All fellows are adequately trained in system-based practices, professionalism, and patient care, advancement of their medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, and practice-based learning.
Clinical training in both pediatric and adult allergy emphasizes both inpatient and outpatient management of allergic and immunologic disease. The majority of clinical practice is in the outpatient setting, with approximately 500 adult and 500 pediatric allergy outpatients seen in the allergy clinics each month. Active in-hospital consultative practices are provided at VCU Health System, with a greater tendency of adult consults versus pediatric volume. Overall contact breaks down to about 50% pediatric and 50% adult patients.
In addition to the routine outpatient clinic and inpatient consultative encounters, fellows are expected to participate in daily rounds on patients with primary immunodeficiency who are being treated as inpatient. Elective rotations include Transplantation Immunology, Community allergy practice, and Rhinoscopy in the otolaryngology clinics, and dermatology. Some cross training in rheumatology is provided, but fellows may additionally elect to participate in adult or pediatric rheumatology clinics.
Ample opportunities are available to pursue basic and clinical research. Each fellow is expected to develop his or her own research project, in addition to any projects they may have teamed up with the faculty to pursue. Fellows can collaborate with faculty to work on different projects.
Clinical research focuses on training fellows in principles of clinical research including designing, collaborating, collecting data, interpreting and writing a paper. Clinical research opportunities in food allergy, asthma, urticaria, immunodeficiency, anaphylaxis, eosinophilic esophagitis, mastocytosis, desensitization and allergic rhinitis are available to fellows.
For two months beginning in July of each year, a series of core lectures is given by the faculty members to orient and educate the first-year fellows on the most common conditions seen in the field of allergy and immunology. This also serves as review of potential board material for upper level fellows. First-year fellows also are required to attend and pass the graduate-level lmmunobiology course offered by the VCU School of Medicine.
Additionally, educational conferences are held on a regularly scheduled basis with attendance required of all fellows and faculty.
- Clinical Allergy & Immunology Journal Club – Friday afternoons
- Basic Allergy/Rheumatology Journal Club – Friday afternoons
- Allergy/Rheumatology Grand Rounds – Friday afternoons
- Medical Grand Rounds – Thursday noon
- Pediatric Grand Rounds –Tuesday noon
A number of additional educational and professional opportunities are available to fellows in the training program at VCU.
Simulation Lab
As part of fellowship training, regularly scheduled sessions are held for fellows in the VCU simulation lab to enhance patient safety and quality care. Examples include treating status asthmaticus and acute anaphylaxis.
Teaching
Opportunities are available throughout the fellowship training years to teach and educate residents and medical students. Fellows are encouraged to participate in and contribute to both pediatrics and medicine morning reports. Fellows are actively involved in teaching the housestaff and medical students during the inpatient consultations and as the housestaff rotate through our clinics. Exceptional fellows may be asked to participate in Pediatric and Internal Medicine residency core lectures.
Additional Training
Though the standard training program is two years, fellows with a strong interest in basic science or clinical research are encouraged to apply for funding for third year of training, with time protected for research pursuits.
Community Allergy Experience
Two affiliated faculty members who work in two large community practices offer clinical experiences such as additional allergen extract mixing and clinical teaching.
Multidisciplinary Clinic
- Derm-Allergy Multi-D clinic: This clinic is staffed by Allergy and Dermatology Faculty Members and is available for upper level fellows to participate.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis Clinic: The clinic is a joint operation between Pediatric Allergy and GI Faculty. Allergy fellows may choose to participate.
Conferences
National Conferences
During the two years of training, each fellow will attend both the national conferences (AAAAI and ACAAI) and are encouraged to attend other meetings at the national level (e.g., Clinical Immunology Society) and regional level (e.g., Swineford Allergy Conference). Some funds for travel are provided by Department of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, but fellows are strongly encouraged to submit case reports and/or research data in order to apply for travel grants from AAAAI and ACAAI.
Scholarship
Our recent publications, presentations and abstracts
- Lauren Mazin, Darshana Alle, Anna Smith, Kristen Savola, Neha Gupta. Dual biologic Therapy in a Refractory Case of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Case Report. AAAAI Annual Meeting. 2026. Philadelphia.
- Christian Gomez Hernandez, Wei Zhao. Diagnostic Challenges of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) vs Idiopathic Anaphylaxis. AAAAI Annual Meeting. 2026. Philadelphia.
- Marlin Hana,Lyna Lam, Andrew Van Hersh, Santhosh Kumar, Wei Zhao, Darshana Alle. Association Between Multiple Documented Allergies and Chronic Urticaria: A Retrospective Chart Review. AAAAI Annual Meeting. 2026 Philadelphia.
- Wei Zhao, Li Gao, Christopher Chang, Marlin Hana, Travis Satnarine, Jeremy Brozyna, Jinlyu Sun, Guogang Xu, Gary WK. Wong. AAAAI/WAO 2025 meeting update: Climate change, asthma, artificial intelligence, food allergy, and immunotherapy. Allergy Medicine. 2025. doi.org/10.1016/j.allmed.2025.100074
- Hana M and Zhao W. Uncovering the underlying cause of hypereosinophilia in a 17-year-old Vietnamese male: The role of parasitic infection. Allergy Medicine. 2025. doi.org/10.1016/j.allmed.2025.100047
- Christian Gomez Hernandez, Wei Zhao. Diagnostic Dilemma: Dress Vs. Dili. ACAAI Annual Meeting. 2025. Orlando, FL.
- Lauren Mazin, Darshana Alle. Delayed Schistosomiasis And Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Following Remote Residence In Japan. ACAAI Annual Meeting. 2025. Orlando, FL.
- Marlin Hana, Wei Zhao. Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome And Ibd-Like Colitis In An Atopic Dermatitis Patient On Dupilumab. ACAAI Annual Meeting. 2025. Orlando, FL.
- Andrew Van Hersh, Lyna Lam, and Santhosh Kumar. Estimating Eliciting Dose Values Based on Oral Food Challenge Data: One Academic Center's Experience. JACI 2025;155:Ab39.
- Marlin Hana and Wei Zhao. Sustained Clinical Quiescence of XMEN Disease without Treatment Despite ongoing Immune Dysregulation. 2025. AAAAI annual meeting, San Diego.
- Justin Hsueh, Andrew Van Hersh and Wei Zhao. Immunodeficiency: Burden of Illness. Asthma and Allergy Proceedings. 2024;45:294.
- Wei Zhao. Allergy in Perioperative Setting. Allergy Medicine. 2024. doi.org/10.1016/j.allmed.2024.100009.
- Justin Hsueh and Wei Zhao. Analysis of Patient-Physician Electronic Messaging Interactions in the Allergy/Immunology Department in an Academic Setting. JACI 2024;153:Ab236.
- Andrew Van Hersh, Devki Kothari, Renu Bansal, Le Kang, and Santhosh Kumar. Peanut Diagnostics In Predicting Oral Challenge Outcome: One Academic Center's Experience. JACI 2024;153:AB33.
- Andrew Van Hersh and Wei Zhao. When to start prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema? A familial case series. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023;131:S127.
- Justin Hsueh, Wei Zhao. Addition of Vitamin C Yielding Improvement in Refractory Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. Ann Allergy, Asthma and Immunol. 2023;131:S129.
- Ban Wang and Santhosh Kumar. Irritant Reaction to Titanium Oxalate on Preoperative Patch Testing Before NUSS Procedure. JACI 2023;151:AB151.
- Ban Wang and Brant Ward. Interstitial Cystitis in Common Variable Immunodeficiency: Could It Be Another Autoimmune Complication? A Descriptive Report. CIS 2023 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO.
- Nicholas Gregory, Ban Wang, and Brant Ward. Lifting the Lid on CAPS: Uncovering Genetic Anticipation in Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome. CIS 2023 Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO.
- Ban Wang, M.D., Santhosh Kumar, M.D. “Validation of Preoperative Titanium Allergy on Patch Testing Before NUSS Procedure”, 2023 AAAAI Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
- Ban Wang and Lawrence Schwartz. Complete Resolution of Acquired Angioedema from Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma After Treatment with Rituximab. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2022;129:S110.
- Zeeshan Khakwani and Wei Zhao. Traumatic “Angioedema”: Extensive Subcutaneous Emphysema Masquerading as Angioedema. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2022;129:S110.
- Justin Hsueh and Wei Zhao. Steroid sparing strategy with dual biologics in treating hypereosinophillic syndrome. Ann Allergy, Asthma and Immunol. 2022;129:S163.
- Zeeshan Khakwani, Santhosh Kumar, Brianna Norris, Farah Khan, Balraj Bajaj and Laura Williams. Is Skin Prick Test (SPT) Better Than Specific IgE (sIgE) For Predicting Oral Food Challenge (OFC) Outcomes For Pediatric Patients With Pecan And Walnut Food Allergy? JACI. 2022;149:S Ab110
- Qiangwei Xiang, Xiumei Yan, Xixi Lin, Hang Zheng, Like Wang, Jinyi Wan, Wei Zhao & Weixi Zhang. Intestinal Microflora Altered by Vancomycin Exposure in Early Life Up-regulates Type 2 Innate Lymphocyte and Aggravates Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Mice. Inflammation. 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01748-4
- Zhao W, Hogan MB. Bronchodilator Responsiveness Does Not Help Determine Anti-IL-5 Targeted Biologic Success in Patients With Severe Asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10:3184-3185.
- Hogan MB, Zhao W. High SABA Using and Poor Asthma Control: Blaming Poor Adherence or Missing the Phenotype? J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10:2084-2085.
- Adnan Azim, Laura Pini, Zeeshan Khakwani, Santosh Kumar, and Peter Howarth. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in those on mepolizumab therapy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2021;126:438-440.
- Vitte J, Sabato V, Tacquard C, Garvey LH, Michel M, Mertes PM, Ebo DG, Schwartz LB, Castells MC. Use and Interpretation of Acute and Baseline Tryptase in Perioperative Hypersensitivity and Anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021;9:2994-3005.
- Nicholas Klaiber, Michael McVoy, Wei Zhao. Effects of Virus Specific Short-Interfering RNAs on Enterovirus D68 Induced Lung Injury. JACI. 2021;147(2):AB79
- Nedoszytko B, Arock M, Lyons JJ, Bachelot G, Schwartz LB, Reiter A, Jawhar M, Schwaab J, Lange M, Greiner G, Hoermann G, Niedoszytko M, Metcalfe DD, Valent P. Clinical Impact of Inherited and Acquired Genetic Variants in Mastocytosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2021.doi: 10.3390/ijms22010411.
- Lyons JJ, Chovanec J, O'Connell MP, Liu Y, Šelb J, Zanotti R, Bai Y, Kim J, Le QT, DiMaggio T, Schwartz LB, Komarow HD, Rijavec M, Carter MC, Milner JD, Bonadonna P, Metcalfe DD, Korošec P. Heritable risk for severe anaphylaxis associated with increased α-tryptase-encoding germline copy number at TPSAB1. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021.doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.06.035
- Paez PA, Kolawole M, Taruselli MT, Ajith S, Dailey JM, Kee SA, Haque TT, Barnstein BO, McLeod JJA, Caslin HL, Kiwanuka KN, Fukuoka Y, Le QT, Schwartz LB, Straus DB, Gewirtz DA, Martin RK, Ryan JJ. Fluvastatin Induces Apoptosis in Primary and Transformed Mast Cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2020;374:104-112.
- Rongying Zheng, Wei Zhao, Wei-Xi Zhang. Elevation of Th17 and Th17/ Treg Ratio is Associated with Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Asthmatic Children. JACI. 2020:143:AB190.
- Wei-Xi Zhang, Wei Zhao, Rongying Zheng, Xinxin Zeng, Chang-Chong Li. ICS/LABA Combined with Specific Immunotherapy Modulates the Th17/Treg Imbalance in Asthmatic Children. JACI. 2020:143:AB78.
- Rongying Zheng, Xinxin Zeng, Chang-Chong Li, Wei Zhao, Wei-Xi Zhang. γ-Secretase Inhibitor Suppresses Notch Signaling-mediated M1 Polarization and Alleviates Th17-associated Airway Hyperresponsiveness. JACI. 2020:143:AB12.
- Xinxin Zeng, Wei Zhao, Chang-Chong Li, Lisu Huang, Wei-Xi Zhang. Maternal Antibiotic Exposure is Associated with Childhood Atopic Dermatitis. JACI. 2020:143:AB192.
Life During Fellowship
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
Vacation Time
Each fellows is allowed three weeks of vacation per year.
Night Coverage
Allergy and Immunology fellows do not take in-house call. Fellows take night call and urgent clinical care questions from home.
Weekend Coverage
Fellows, when on call over weekend, will see new consults at VCU during the day, staffed with attending physician on service.
GME Resident & Fellow Well-Being
Graduate Medical Education training is not easy. With the GME Physician Well-being program, we first and foremost assert our commitment to your well-being, resilience and all aspects of a healthy lifestyle. VCU and VCU Health are dedicated to ensuring that you have the tools you need to be your best. (Learn more)
All About VCU, VCU Health, and RVA
First things first. We fondly refer to Richmond as RVA. People love this city because it’s awesome. And Virginia Commonwealth University is in the middle of it all. Learn more about VCU, VCU Health, and RVA!
Program Leadership
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
Wei Zhao, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Program Director
Wei Zhao, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Program Director
Internal Medicine
Division of Allergy and Immunology
Email: wei.zhao@vcuhealth.org
Beth Rubinstein, MD
Division Chief
Beth Rubinstein, MD
Division Chief
Internal Medicine
Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology
Faculty
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
- Darshana Alle, MD (Internal Medicine)
- Jeremy Brozyna, MD, PhD (Pediatrics)
- Wei Zhao, MD, PhD - Fellowship Program Director
Advanced Practice Providers
- Jessica Hess, RN, CPNP
- Erin Lee, RN, FNP
- Donna Mitchell, RN, MS, CPNP
- Jackie Rudd, RN, FNP
Affiliated Faculty
- Michael Blumberg, MD
- Ahmed Butt, MD
Emeritus Faculty
- Lawrence Schwartz, MD, PhD (Internal Medicine)
- Anne-Marie Irani, MD (Pediatrics)
Research Faculty
- Chunhao Li, MD, MS (Edward Myers Endowed Professor)
Fellows
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
Class of 2028
Omer Bangash, MBBS
Medical School: Rawalpindi Medical College
Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Lyna Lam, DO
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Class of 2027
Christian Gomez-Hernandez, MD
Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) Facultad de Ciencias
de la Salud
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Lauren Mazin, DO - Chief Fellow
Medical School: Kanasas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine. Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic
Alumni
Alumni
Class of 2026
Marlin Hana, MD
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics. East Carolina University/Boston Children's Hospital
Class of 2025
Andrew Van Hersh, DO
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics, University of Louisville
Class of 2024
Justin Hsueh, MD
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Residency: Internal Medicine/Pediatrics - University of Maryland
Class of 2023
Ban Wang, MD
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University
Class of 2022
Zeeshan Khakwani, MBBS
Medical School: Ayub Medical College
Residency: Temple University/Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Class of 2021
Balraj Bajaj, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: Meds-Peds at Virginia Commonwealth University
Class of 2020
Farah Khan, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children
Class of 2019
Jennifer Simonaire, DO
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Class of 2018
Nicholas Klaiber, MD
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Residency: Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University Health
Class of 2017
Lachara Livingston, MD
Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine - University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Apply
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
Prerequisite
Prerequisite training consists of completion of a residency in Internal Medicine or Pediatrics that would qualify them to sit for the certification exam of the American Board of Internal Medicine or the American Board of Pediatrics. Selection criteria consists of medical school performance, residency performance, USMLE scores, personal interview, ECFMG certification (if applicable), valid visa/green card/permanent residency card (if applicable) and other accomplishments (e.g., research publications) as considered appropriate. VCU Health System can only support J-1 visas.
Application
Our Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Training Program participates NRMP match. All applicants use ERAS to apply to the program. Interview dates for 2025 are selected Fridays beginning September through October.
Contacts
Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program
Program Director
Wei Zhao, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Professor and Chief
Division of Allergy and Immunology
Vice Chair for Clinical Operation
Department of Pediatrics
Virginia Commonwealth University
Box 980225
Richmond, VA 23298
Phone: (804) 828-9620
Fax: (804) 628-5856
Email: wei.zhao@vcuhealth.org
Fellowship Coordinator
Kayleigh Bishop
VCU School of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Box 980509
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0509
Phone: (804) 828-6165
Fax: (804) 828-4926
Email: imfellowships@vcuhealth.org
For training verification requests, please visit us at https://intmed.vcu.edu/education/verification/