FARE’s Dr. Robert Lemanske Receives Prestigious 2021 AAAAI Advocacy Award

McLean, Va. (March 1, 2021) - Today, FARE, the world’s leading non-governmental organization engaged in food allergy advocacy and the largest private funder of food allergy research, is proud to announce that Robert Lemanske, MD, scientific consultant to the FARE Clinical Network and professor emeritus of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, was awarded the AAAAI Advocacy Award on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is a distinguished professional medical organization of nearly 6,800 allergist/immunologists and related professionals around the world with advanced training and experience in allergy, asthma, and other immunologic diseases.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Lemanske has received this prestigious award and are proud of the work he continues to provide on behalf of the millions of Americans living with food allergies,” said Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of FARE. “FARE deeply appreciates the relationship and similar mission that we share with the AAAAI and looks forward to continuing our advocacy together on issues surrounding food allergies.”

Dr. Lemanske served as AAAAI president from 2015 to 2016. As part of Dr. Lemanske’s presidential initiatives, AAAAI launched the School-based Asthma, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Management Program (SA³MPRO^TM) in 2016. His inspiration to create SA³MPRO^TM was to improve health and school-related outcomes for children with asthma and allergies, because schools are one of the first places children learn to manage these conditions without the guidance of a family member.

SA³MPRO^TM is available as a free online toolkit that details the elements necessary for the education of children, families, clinicians and school-based personnel based on a “circle of support” that enhances multidirectional communication and promotes better care for children with asthma and allergies within the school setting.

To encourage states to adopt the strategies included in SA³MPRO^TM, new federal bipartisan legislation was enacted on January 5, 2021. The School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to preferentially award certain allergy- and asthma-related grants to those states that ensure a school nurse or other trained personnel is available on school premises and that students diagnosed with allergies and asthma are identified and have an individualized action plan and coordinated support system.

"Dr. Lemanske, your dedication in creating and promoting the SA³MPRO^TM program to enhance the care of students with allergies and asthma in the school setting, in collaboration with their families, school nurses, and others, is reflected in the implementation of the School-based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act, signed into law on January 5, 2021,” said AAAAI president, Mary Beth Fasano, MD, MSPH, FAAAAI. “As your vision is translated into federal policy, your commitment to collaborating with others to identify and build upon successful practices in the best interest of students with allergies and asthma has the potential to improve healthcare for children across the country. The AAAAI is committed to continuing to work to see this law implemented, and we look forward to working with you as this endeavor continues.” 

Dr. Lemanske has related to his FARE colleagues that he is deeply honored to receive this award and would like to acknowledge all of his stakeholder colleagues whose knowledge and hard work helped to make the creation and implementation of SA³MPRO^TM possible. 

FARE supports schools in their efforts to protect and include students with allergies and asthma, with resources that include a Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan, available for download in English and Spanish, and the training modules Recognizing and Responding to Anaphylaxis and Keeping Students Safe and Included. Visit FARE’s online Back to School Headquarters to learn more.