Their Mission

To end needless death and suffering due to asthma, allergies and related conditions through outreach, education, advocacy and research.

Who They Are

Allergy & Asthma Network is the leading nonprofit patient education and advocacy organization for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions. Their patient-centered network unites individuals, families, healthcare professionals, industry and government decision makers to improve health and quality of life for Americans with asthma and allergies. They specialize in making accurate medical information relevant and understandable to all while promoting evidence-based standards of care.

Core Beliefs

• Asthma and life-threatening allergies are serious conditions and should not be self-diagnosed and self-treated. 
• All patients have the right to quality, evidence-based healthcare from qualified professionals. 
• The best health outcomes result from a close patient-provider relationship and a treatment plan developed specifically to meet individual needs. 
• Family support and understanding of management plans is essential to success. 
• Integrating prevention with treatment reduces ER and physician visits, keeps children in school and adults at work, and allows participation in activities of daily life. 

Their Impact

When Allergy & Asthma Network was founded by Nancy Sander in 1985 as Mothers of Asthmatics (MA), very little patient-friendly information on asthma and allergies was available, home management tools were few, and a mother’s concerns regarding her child’s condition were often ignored. They reached out to patients and families, listened to their experiences, and responded to their needs by creating educational materials for children and adults. Armed with useful and practical information, written in easy-to-understand language, families found their voices. They asked questions, making sure they understood symptoms, medications and treatments.

They raised awareness and advised industry and government decision makers about patient needs and priorities. They advocated for affordable peak flow meters for home use, inhaler dose counters, holding chambers, individualized Asthma Action Plans, medication self-carry policies at school, stock epinephrine laws for schools, and home allergy-proofing techniques – all of which have now been adopted as standard treatment tools for asthma and allergies, thanks in part to their outreach, education and advocacy efforts.

The Challenge

Despite advancements in prevention and treatment, asthma continues to kill 10 people a day in the United States and cases of life-threatening food allergies have increased dramatically. There is still much work to be done. That’s why they develop community outreach programs tailored to meet local needs; design educational programs and materials to reach people in all walks of life; and promote advocacy campaigns that make a difference in people’s lives.