Get to Know These Members of the Board of Directors

Today, we invite you to learn a bit more about several of your Board of Directors members, including their passions, their interests within the A/I field and their personal lives.

Priya J. Bansal, MD, FAAAAI

Priya J. Bansal, MD, FAAAAI, At-Large Director

Priya J. Bansal, MD, FAAAAI, current At-Large Board of Directors member, works as a private practitioner with the Asthma and Allergy Wellness Center.

“I am passionate towards treating chronic disease. In my clinic, I generally see more complex patients including severe asthma, eosinophilic esophagitis, hereditary angioedema and immunodeficiency,” she said. She also has a strong interest in healthcare technology, including social media, remote patient and therapeutic monitoring, as well as artificial intelligence.

She enjoys getting involved in AAAAI activities to help her connect with the A/I community. “Through the committees, as well as networking events, I have been able to form a strong network of professionals to bounce ideas off of. They have become an extended family to me! If you don’t have the time to devote to in person events, networking via social media and the journal clubs online can also be another way to stay engaged.” Dr. Bansal particularly enjoys participating in committees within the AAAAI, including as current Vice Chair of the Advocacy Committee.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, reading and spending time with her family and friends. “I am very passionate about mentoring and advocacy,” she added. “My hobbies give me an opportunity to decompress and do something for myself!”

Wanda Phipatanakul, MD, MS, FAAAAI

Wanda Phipatanakul, MD, MS, FAAAAI, At-Large Director Wanda Phipatanakul, MD, MS, FAAAAI, current At-Large Board of Directors member is a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Clinical Research Center at Boston Children's Hospital.

She is passionate about the A/I field, particularly in identifying strategies to treat and prevent asthma and allergic diseases. “I have dedicated my career to promoting our specialty and working with school and home communities focused on reducing disparities,” she said. “I also dedicate my time to recruit, mentor and support talented next generation clinicians and researchers in our field, ensuring the thriving and diverse survival of our specialty.”

In addition to her current and previous service on the Board of Directors for the AAAAI and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, she enjoys working as an Associate Editor for The Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. While she is dedicated to her work, her life outside the medical field is also deeply important. “I aim to be a dedicated role model and supportive mentor to others balancing work and family,” she said.

She enjoys spending time with her family and engaging in her hobbies, which include exercising, reading and music. “I play the harp and piano and enjoy listening to my daughter, Hana, sing,” she said. “My family and I love spending time by the pool or beach, particularly my autistic son, Jack, who loves the water!”

Thanai Pongdee, MD, FAAAAI

Thanai Pongdee, MD, FAAAAI, At-Large Representative

Thanai Pongdee, MD, FAAAAI, current At-Large Board of Directors member, is a Consultant in the Division of Allergic Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He serves as the Research Chair in the Division of Allergic Diseases as well as the Associate Program Director for the Allergy/Immunology Fellowship Training Program at Mayo Clinic. “I also serve as Co-Director for the Population Health Research Program for the Mayo Clinic Health System, and I have joint appointments in the Division of Hematology and Division of Epidemiology,” he said.

His clinical and research interests include hypereosinophilic syndromes and systemic mastocytosis. “I am also very interested in the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies for clinical and research applications in allergy and immunology,” he said.

Dr. Pongdee has served on a variety of committees, interest sections, assemblies and task forces within the AAAAI. “These groups address different topics dealing with education, research, leadership development and advocacy, all with the intent to improve our specialty and to address our membership’s needs,” he said. “Through all of these activities, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from so many members of the AAAAI that I may not have met otherwise.”

Outside of work, spending time with his family is a priority. “We love outdoor activities, especially cycling and playing tennis,” Dr. Pongdee said. “I am also an avid college basketball fan, and I hope to be a better cook someday.”

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