About TAAIS

Affiliations

The Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society has a close liasion with:

TAAIS Activities

Following is the TAAIS list of accomplishments over the past year. We hope you agree that our activities on your behalf are worth your annual dues payment. We thank you for your continued support as we seek to elevate the standard-of-care of patients in Texas that suffer from allergic, asthmatic and immunologic diseases.

LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS FOR TAAIS and TAAIS MEMBERS

  • The TAAIS lobbyist is following legislative issues and updating the TAAIS membership. These issues include modernizing epinephrine delivery systems, addressing Medicaid Credentialing and Prior Authorizations, and promoting transparency in payment and insurance billing.
  • TAAIS established the “Louise Bethea, MD Advocacy & Travel Fund” to assist TAAIS members with the costs of attending TMA First Tuesdays during Legislative Sessions.

NEW MEMBERS

  • TAAIS has recruited 27 new members in 2024. Our current membership totals 367! We are always trying to recruit the remaining ABAI-certified allergists in Texas so spread the word!

LEADERSHIP

  • TAAIS members serve on the Boards of the AAAAI, ACAAI, & ABAI.
  • TAAIS members work with TMA, AAAAI, and ACAAI on Texas and national medical and political issues.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TAAIS MEMBERS

  • The 2024 TAAIS Annual Meeting was held on April 26-28, 2024. There were 173 attendees, and the meeting provided 11 hours of CME credit to members.
  • TAAIS provides travel stipends for FITs to attend the Annual Meeting.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, RESIDENTS & STAFF

  • The TAAIS Allergy Practice Management Symposium was held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 with 40 practice managers attending.
  • The 27th Annual TAAIS Primary Care Residents’ Conference was held on August 24, 2024 with 57 internal medicine and pediatric residents attending.

TAAIS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

  • Seasoned allergists/immunologists are meeting 4-5 times a year with newer allergists/immunologists in practice for less than 5 years to educate about and share tips on practice management and/or career issues.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEMBERS

  • Email blasts to members about timely topics related to allergy/immunology.
  • TAAIS is a resource that responds to members’ questions on a variety of issues.
  • TAAIS Website/Facebook/Twitter have info for physicians, patients & the general public.
  • TAAIS Annual Newsletter and subscription to Allergy & Asthma Proceedings.

ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE THE SPECIALTY OF ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY

  • NEW in 2025! TAAIS will promote an advertising campaign across Texas to inform the general public of the benefit of seeking care from a board-certified allergist/immunologist.
  • TAAIS awarded five $3,000 Asthma Scholarship Awards to high school seniors to assist with costs for a college education.
  • TAAIS self-funds an annual “Outcomes in A/I” Fellow’s Research Award for a Texas allergy/immunology fellow trainee to conduct outcomes research on the allergist/immunologist’s impact in the community.
  • TAAIS website (taais.org), TAAIS Facebook page, TAAIS Twitter.
  • Partnership with the AAAAI Federation of Regional, State and Local Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Societies and the ACAAI Advocacy Council to promote the allergist/immunologist.

Board of Directors

President (2024-2026)
Miguel Wolbert, MD

Midland, TX
(432) 682-5385

Director – Position 1 (2024-2026)
Justin Chen, MD

Longview, TX
(903) 757-3808

Meetings Committee Chair
David A. Khan, MD

Dallas, TX
(214) 648-6313

TMA ISC Committee Delegate,  Legislative Committee Chair
Louise Bethea, MD

The Woodlands, TX
(281) 298-8132

President Elect (2024-2026)
Kelvin Shaw, MD

Kingwood, TX
(281) 425-9313

Director – Position 2 (2024-2026)
Jeffrey Chambliss, MD

Dallas, TX
(214) 456-2084

Practice Management Committee Chair, Brett West, MD

Dallas, TX
(214) 373-7374

 

 

 

Secretary-Treasurer (2024-2026)
Meera Gupta, MD

Houston, TX
(832) 824-1000

 

Director – Position 3 (2023-2025)
Carlos Vital, MD

Houston, TX
(713) 538-1240

 

National Issues Committee Chair
Meera Gupta, MD

Houston, TX
(832) 824-1000

Asthma Scholarship Committee Chair, Miguel Wolbert, MD

Midland, TX

Past President (2024-2026)
Anil Nanda, MD

Lewisville, TX
(972) 221-9162

Director – Position 4 (2024-2026)
Vivek Rao, MD

Odessa, TX
(432) 333-3300

Insurance Committee Chair and
ACAAI HOD Representative
Vivek Rao, MD

Odessa, TX
(432) 333-3300

Finance Committee Chair, 
Kelvin Shaw, MD

Kingwood, TX

Director – Position 5 (2023-2025)
Ojas Patel, MD

Austin, TX
(512) 329-5800

Fundraising Committee Chair
Andrew Grant, MD

Galveston, TX

At-Large Director (2024-2026)

Brett West, MD

Dallas, TX
(214) 373-7374

Advocacy Committee Chair
Ashley Hall, MD

Abilene, TX
(325) 437-3600