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.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR TAAIS MEMBERS

  • The 2026 TAAIS Annual Meeting has 220 pre-registered attendees, a 20% increase over last year.
  • New! TAAIS Job Fair during the Annual Meeting to connect hiring practices with job seekers.
  • TAAIS reimburses up to 3-nights’ hotel expense for allergy fellows to attend the Annual Meeting and also provides annual scholarships to 5 primary care residents to attend.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, RESIDENTS & STAFF

  • TAAIS Allergy Practice Management Symposium has 38 attendees for 4/11/2026.
  • 29th Annual TAAIS Primary Care Residents’ Conference attracts 60 internal medicine and pediatric residents each year and is scheduled for August 21-23, 2026.

     LEADERSHIP

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

    NEW MEMBERS

    • TAAIS has recruited 28 new members over the last year. Our current membership totals 391!  We are still recruiting the remaining ABAI-certified allergists in Texas so we can serve all allergists of Texas.

    LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS

    • The TAAIS bill SB 1619 updates the Texas Education Code, Health and Safety Code, Human Resources Code, and Occupations Code to clarify and broaden the terminology describing the types of epinephrine delivery devices that are allowed to be purchased by various covered entities, providing greater flexibility in how epinephrine can be administered in an emergency. The House version of this bill is HB 2283.
    • TAAIS is working on other issues like scope of practice, prior authorization (including gold card), and reimbursement for the upcoming 2027 Texas Legislative Session.
    • TAAIS established the Louise Bethea, MD Advocacy & Travel Fund to assist TAAIS members with the costs of travel to support TMA First Tuesdays and other advocacy. New – TAAIS members will receive a $1,000 stipend in addition to travel reimbursement to attend TMA First Tuesdays.

    COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEMBERS

    • Email blasts to members about timely topics related to allergy/immunology.
    • TAAIS Town Hall Zoom Meetings.
    • TAAIS responds to members’ questions on a variety of issues including coding and reimbursement.
    • TAAIS Website/Facebook/Twitter have info for physicians, patients & the general public.
    • TAAIS Annual Newsletter and subscription to Allergy & Asthma Proceedings.
    • March Women’s History Month highlighted Texas women physicians in allergy/immunology.

    ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE THE SPECIALTY OF ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY

    • TAAIS Statewide Advertising Campaign to promote the BC Allergist/Immunologist.
    • TAAIS self-funds an annual “Outcomes in A/I” Fellow’s Research Award for an A/I fellow to conduct outcomes research on the allergist/immunologist’s impact in the community.
    • TAAIS self-funds ten $5,000 Asthma Scholarship Awards each year to high school seniors to assist with costs for their college education.
    • TAAIS Mentorship Program pairs seasoned allergists with younger allergists to educate and share tips on practice management and career issues.
    • 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 (2026-2028)
    Kelvin Shaw, MD

    Kingwood, TX
    (281) 425-9313

    Director – Position 1 (2026-2028)
    Lara Gross, MD

    Dallas, TX
    (214)-691-1330

    Advocacy Committee Chair
    Cleavon Covington, MD

    Galveston, TX

    Meetings Committee Chair
    David A. Khan, MD

    Dallas, TX

    President Elect (2026-2028)
    Meera Gupta, MD

    Houston, TX
    (832) 824-1000

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

    Dallas, TX
    (214) 456-2084

    Asthma Scholarship Committee Chair, Miguel Wolbert, MD

    Midland, TX

    National Issues Committee Chair
    Meera Gupta, MD

    Houston, TX

    Secretary – Treasurer (2026 – 2028)
    Vivek Rao, MD

    Odessa, TX
    (432) 333-3300

    Director – Position 3 (2025-2027)
    Carlos Vital, MD

    Houston, TX
    (713) 538-1240

     

    Fundraising Committee Chair
    Andrew Grant, MD

    Galveston, TX

    Practice Management Committee Chair, Brett West, MD

    Dallas, TX

     

    Past President (2026-2028)
    Miguel Wolbert, MD

    Midland, TX
    (432) 682-5385

    Director – Position 4 (2026-2028)
    Lukena Karkhanis, MD

    San Antonio, TX
    (210) 616-0882

    Insurance Committee Chair and
    ACAAI HOD Representative
    Vivek Rao, MD

    Odessa, TX

    TMA ISC Committee Delegate
    Louise Bethea, MD

    The Woodlands, TX

    Director – Position 5 (2025-2027)
    Julia Tripple, MD

    Galveston, TX
    (409) 772-0099

    Legislative Committee Chair
    Louise Bethea, MD

    The Woodlands, TX