 This month we interviewed Dr. Maziar Rezvani of Georgia Allergy, Immunology, and Asthma. Dr. Rezvani grew up in Louisville, Kentucky
where he obtained a biology degree with honors from the University of Louisville. He went on to attend Ross University School of
Medicine where he received his medical degree. Dr. Rezvani performed his internship and internal medicine residency at The Jewish
Hospital of Cincinnati.
 Dr. Rezvani has served as a relevance reviewer for the American Board of Internal Medicine. At the University of Cincinnati
and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Dr. Rezvani had his fellowship structured to blend both clinical and research responsibilities. He
orchestrated multiple ongoing clinical trials during his fellowship, including a project involving asthma and exposure to cleaning
agents in the home and occupational mold exposure and neurotoxicity.
Additionally, Dr. Rezvani has a number of publications and presentations in topics ranging from allergic and non-allergic
rhinitis, olfaction and rhinitis subtypes, hereditary angioedema, anaphylaxis during immunotherapy, and environmental interventions at
a pediatric daycare and its effects on asthma and rhinitis symptoms.
During his clinical training, Dr. Rezvani spent one year at Cincinnati Children's Immunodeficiency and Allergy clinics. He is board
certified in both Internal Medicine and Allergy/Immunology.
Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your history as an allergist.
Dr. Rezvani's initial interest in the field of allergy began during residency after a presentation at a national academy
meeting. He offers the following enlightening clarification regarding his work as an allergist:
"In our practice, we consider ourselves immunologists before allergists. Allergy is merely a sub-study in the field of immunology, which
focuses on hypersensitivity. Our scope is much wider than allergy alone. My fellowship training was completed a few years ago at the
University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children's Medical Center in adult and pediatric allergy/immunology."
How big is your practice? Is there a particular type of allergy or treatment your practice specializes in?
"There are two physicians in our practice. We opened our doors approximately three years ago and are growing steadily. We specialize
in some of the more obscure disease processes such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), hereditary angioedema (HAE), food and drug
allergies, as well as recalcitrant urticaria, dermatitis, and of course all forms of hypersensitivity diseases and asthma."
What do you love about your job?
We have yet to hear an allergist who doesn't love the ability to make a difference in people's everyday lives. When asked the
above question, Dr. Rezvani responded, "The intellectual challenge coupled with the ability to transform a person's health."
If you could suggest one thing for your patients what would it be?
"Always ask your healthcare provider to demonstrate evidence-based medicine."
What is your favorite allergy relief product?
Dr. Rezvani highlights the importance of becoming aware of the substances that trigger allergy symptoms. Pointing out the
necessity of allergy sufferers being aware of their environments, Dr. Rezvani says that his favorite allergy relief product
is "no product at all" and goes on to explain: "Allergy relief begins with the recognition and avoidance of sensitizing allergens." We
couldn't agree more.
Where do you see allergy treatment going in the near future? In the distant future?
"Our field is becoming increasingly scientific and the treatments have become more focused. For instance targeted therapies such
as Rituximab or Omalizumab are good examples. These will expand to anti-cytokine or other cell receptor therapies." Echoing Dr.
Dennis's response to possible allergy treatment in the distant future, Dr. Rezvani predicts, "In the distant future, there will genomic
based therapies which will be individualized to a person's DNA."
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