Note from the President

Dear Colleagues:

It was great seeing all members of the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Executive Committee and so many WAO Board Members at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) meeting in New Orleans, February 26-March 2, 2010. I congratulate the leadership of the Academy for an extraordinarily informative scientific and medical conference.

During the meeting, the WAO Executive Committee participated in a "retreat" where many new WAO initiatives were proposed and reviewed. These proposals will be discussed by the WAO Board during the European Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Annual Meeting in London in June. WAO has grown so quickly during the past several years that many "housekeeping" initiatives have been instituted by the organization over the past two months. This will make WAO a more efficient and user-friendly organization. All of these accomplishments are possible because of the outstanding professional assistance by the WAO staff. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce each of these members to you. Please feel free to contact staff members if you have questions or suggestions about WAO. New ideas are always welcome.

The WAO Secretariat offices are located at 555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823, U.S.A.; Phone: +1 414 276 1791, Fax: +1 414 276 3349, E-mail for all WAO questions: info@worldallergy.org.

Charu Malik, Ph.D. is the WAO Executive Director. Dr. Malik oversees WAO projects, programs, conferences, and meetings with sponsors. I work closely with Charu in coordinating and scheduling the numerous activities of WAO. Charu is not only a colleague but also a superb resource for the President in assuring that WAO is focused, productive and solvent.

Karen Henley, as WAO Global Projects Director, is the staff liaison for several WAO Councils and Committees and, as such, oversees the activities and content of the WAO Councils and Committees including global surveys, position papers, and other projects. She resides in London, U.K. and is active in WAO European allergy activities.

Jenny Oliva has assumed the responsibilities of Meetings Director. She already has been instrumental in helping to plan the scientific and organizational aspects of the WAO International Scientific Congress, "Asthma and Co-Morbid Conditions: Expanding the Practice of Allergy for Optimal Patient Care" in Dubai, 5-8 December, 2010, as well as the 2011 Cancun World Allergy Congress (WAC), 4-8 December 2011.

Sofia Dorsano is Assistant Director for Online and Distance Learning as well as Managing Editor of the WAO Journal. Sofia assists with the planning and implementing of online learning programs. She also works with Lanny Rosenwasser, WAO Journal Editor-in-Chief, to manage the editorial and strategic activities of the WAO Journal, and with Juan Carlos Ivancevich, WAO Web Editor-in-Chief, on WAO website management and initiatives.

Katie Vande Zande, as Program and Meeting Manager, is the primary source for the scientific programs and speaker managements of WAO scientific meetings as well as the management of GLORIA and World Allergy Forum programs. She also manages the logistics of WAO Board and Council & Committee meetings.

Jennie Smazik is Communications and Outreach Manager. She is WAO's primary contact for all funding initiatives, including pharmaceutical sponsorship and educational grants. She is also the staff lead for the Emerging Society Program, working closely with the Board to enhance global outreach. She also coordinates budget and finance operations.

Kate Kirchner, as Project Coordinator, coordinates membership services, WAO Council & Committee project implementation, and the WAO data base. She is the primary contact for WAO Member Societies. Kate and Charu are the President's primary contacts at the WAO Secretariat.

Kathy Murphy-Ott, the newest addition to the staff, is Web Assistant. Kathy has been instrumental already in keeping the WAO web pages updated. She will also assist in launching and updating new web pages and with online communications projects.

Without this incredible group of professional colleagues, it would be impossible for the WAO to excel and continue to grow. On behalf of the WAO, my sincere thanks to all of them.

With warm regards,

Richard F. Lockey, M.D.
President, World Allergy Organization

Attention: Anaphylaxis Document Review
by WAO Member Society Leaders

New WAO manuscript for review by WAO MEMBER SOCIETY leaders. The WAO Specialty Committee on Anaphylaxis has drafted the WAO Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Anaphylaxis for Member Society review as part of the process for developing a WAO Position Paper. It was emailed to society leaders on 9 March.

If you have received a request for review on behalf of your society, kindly return the comment form to Kate Kirchner, at kkirchner@worldallergy.org by Monday 7 June 2010. Thank you in advance for your collaboration.

Note of Appreciation

Special thanks to all members who attended the WAO Member Society Forum in New Orleans during the 2010 AAAAI Annual Meeting!

To WAO Member Society Presidents:

2010 WAO Membership Renewal due: 15 April 2010
Please send your 2010 Membership Dues and Annual Activity Reports to Kate Kirchner at kkirchner@worldallergy.org no later than 15 April 2010. Contact Kate with any questions or concerns.

Information for the Practicing Allergist

• Monthly Scientific Journal Reviews
  • Translations to Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French, and Polish
• Reviews of New Medical Books
• Teaching Case Reports
• Conversations with Experts
• WAO Clinical Allergy Tips
• WAO-AAAAI Immunology Series: Online Lectures with CME - Excellent also for Trainees
• WAO Webinar Archive
• Easy Access to WAO Publications