Section of Allergy and Immunology

Welcome to the Section of Allergy and Immunology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Thank you for visiting our site today.

I am Dr. Tamara Perry, professor of pediatrics and section chief of allergy and immunology. I joined UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 2004. My colleagues and I have worked collaboratively to build an exceptional team committed to excellence in research, education, mentorship, and clinical care. Our section is comprised of institutional and national leaders, externally funded researchers, committed mentors and board-certified clinicians who provide comprehensive, personalized care for allergic and immunological conditions.

Mission Statement

• The mission of the Section of Allergy and Immunology is to provide world-class care for patients with allergic and immunologic disease through the advancement of our knowledge and daily performance.
  • We aim to work together placing service before self and with passion for our community.
  • We strive to be mission-focused leaders and innovators, who bring excellence to our field in research, clinical care, education, and advocacy.
  • We believe by operating professionally and by promoting equity through an inclusive team effort and by remembering that we serve a purpose greater than ourselves, we will best benefit our patients’ well-being and impact healthcare with meaningful change.

Clinical Services

Our Allergy and Immunology specialists provide personalized care, including both inpatient and outpatient services, to patients of all ages with allergic diseases and immunodeficiency disorders. Our board-certified specialists provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment for conditions including asthma and respiratory disease, food allergies, atopic dermatitis and primary immunodeficiency disorders. Working in close partnership with local physicians and collaborating teams, our allergy and immunology specialists are committed to managing complex conditions and providing prompt feedback to referring primary care physicians.

Conditions Treated: Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Food Allergy, Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema), Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease, Insect Allergy, Drug Allergy, Anaphylaxis and Primary Immunodeficiencies (Severe combined immunodeficiency, DiGeorge, Common variable immunodeficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, Chronic granulomatous disease, and more)

Research

Cutting-edge research is an integral part of the Allergy and Immunology Program at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. Our faculty include NIH-funded investigators in asthma and respiratory disease, food allergy, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Our research programs provide novel research approaches to address pathogenesis of allergic/immunologic diseases, explore new treatment modalities through clinical trials and translational research, reduce disparities and improve education and healthcare delivery.

Our asthma research program encompasses the full spectrum of translational research with the Lung Cell Biology Lab focusing on airway contractility and remodeling, airway biology/mucus production, T-cell trafficking and activation, and models of infection within the human lung and the Asthma Health Outcomes and Population Health Programs focusing on reducing disparities in asthma and health care delivery at the individual and population level through community-based approaches, health technology innovation, clinical trials, and big data analysis to address social determinants related to poor health outcomes. Our multi-disciplinary Severe Asthma Clinic and patient registry provide opportunities to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care and participation in clinical trials to improve outcomes for patients at high risk.

Our Food Allergy and Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID) Clinical and Research Program has a long history of extramural funding and a strong collaborative network. Our work in food allergy focuses on designing, testing, and implementing novel immunotherapeutics for patients with life-threatening food allergy, as well as genetic studies, evaluation of biomarkers and mechanisms of disease, and systems biology approaches to prevent food allergy, in addition to comprehensive clinical care that include oral immunotherapy. Our multi-disciplinary EGID Clinic also provides a foundation for conducting therapeutic trials for treatment of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Our clinical programs are also focused on reducing food insecurity and improving food equity for our patients and families.

Education and Mentoring

The Section of Allergy and Immunology has a longstanding legacy of providing mentorship for trainees, including undergraduate through medical school and post-doctoral trainees, and fostering the career development of junior faculty. Several members of the section have been awarded the Red Sash Award for Teaching, the Educator of the Year Award and Mentor of the Year Award. We are excited to offer a two year ACGME-accredited fellowship program in Allergy and Immunology. Our fellows enjoy a dynamic educational curriculum coupled with diverse clinical experiences and participation in cutting edge research to prepare them for success in attaining board certification and pursuing an academic career in Allergy and Immunology.

Thank you again for visiting our site. I hope you enjoyed learning about our program. Please continue browsing our site to learn more about our team and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Tamara T. Perry, M.D., FAAP, FAAAAI
Section Chief of Allergy and Immunology
Dr. and Mrs. Leeman King Endowed Chair in Pediatric Allergy
Professor of Pediatrics
UAMS College of Medicine Medical Director, Telemedicine Department