Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo

Allergy/Immunology & Rheumatology

The Division of Allergy/Immunology & Rheumatology at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is part of UBMD Pediatrics and affiliated with the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. This Division provides services for the clinical evaluation and management of both pediatric and adolescent patients with a history of recurrent infections and immune deficiency disorders. The immunology program follows approximately 100 adults and children with a variety of immune deficiencies.

Allergy/Immunology 

Dr. Heather Lehman, Dr. Shivani Rasalingam, and Kelly Remington, RPA-C provide services for the clinical evaluation and management of pediatric and adolescent patients with asthma and allergic disease, as well as for pediatric and adult patients with a history of recurrent infections and with inherited immune deficiency disorders.

We care for patients with difficult-to-control asthma; allergic rhinitis; allergic conjunctivitis; atopic dermatitis (eczema); food allergies (including food-protein induced enterocolitis (FPIES) and eosinophilic esophagitis); drug allergies; vaccine allergies; latex allergy; hereditary angioedema; chronic urticaria; recurrent infections; and immune deficiency disorders.

We are a New York State regional referral center for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) newborn screening.

Additionally, we provide the following services and procedures:

• Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots)
• Pulmonary function testing
• Environmental/food allergen skin testing
• Penicillin skin testing
• Oral challenges for food allergies
• Inpatient drug desensitization
• Replacement therapy with intravenous immune serum globulin (IVIG)

Note to Parents
If your child is being seen for asthma or allergies, please bring all prescription medications and have child avoid antihistamines for seven days prior to new patient appointments. 

Rheumatology

Rheumatology services are provided by Drs. James Jarvis (section chief of Allergy, Immunology, & Rheumatology) and Teresa Hennon. We provide quality care for rheumatology outpatients and inpatients, prompt consultations to referring physicians, and continuous physician coverage for patient and family needs. Drs. Jarvis and Hennon work closely with support staff and a nurse designated to the service to provide patients and families with social and school support. 

We evaluate and provide comprehensive care to patients with childhood rheumatic diseases including, but not limited to, juvenile arthritis, juvenile spondyloarthropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, juvenile dermatomyositis, vasculitis, scleroderma, hypermobility, and Raynaud's disease. In addition, we evaluate and provide a care plan for patients with prolonged joint pain, muscle pain or weakness, unexplained rashes and fevers of unknown origin. The section conducts state of the art research into pediatric rheumatic diseases as a means of continuously expanding knowledge to improve care.  

Additionally, we have a multidisciplinary systemic lupus erythematosus clinic for patients with lupus that have kidney involvement. This is a combined clinic with Pediatric Nephrology & Pediatric Rheumatology, which provides a patient evaluation by two services in the same clinic visit and comprehensive, cohesive care.

Additional Locations

University Commons
Pediatric Sub-specialists
1404 Sweet Home Road
Suite 5
Amherst, NY 14228

Southwestern Office Park
Pediatric Sub-specialists
4535 Southwestern Boulevard
Suite 712
Hamburg, NY 14075