In Brief

In Memory: Miles Weinberger, MD, FAAAAI

Miles Weinberger, MD, FAAAAI, recently passed away at the age of 87. He was an Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics from the University of Iowa and a Visiting Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital. During his career, he authored over 200 manuscript publications, 44 book chapters, and a book, “Managing Asthma.” He was also a frequent presenter, attending over 500 invited talks across 22 countries.

Dr. Weinberger was known for his innovations in pediatric asthma care, with his research work contributing to the shift to monotherapy with theophylline as a standard of care for asthma until inhaled corticosteroids became widely available. He was also the first physician at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to collaborate with academic pharmacists in clinical practice.

Dr. Weinberger served on AAAAI committees and the Editorial Board of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). He was a frequent reviewer for JACI and more recently JACI: In Practice. He had the vision that all pediatric pulmonologists should have formal allergy training and trained 30 fellows in both allergy and pulmonology.

In Memory: Samuel B. Lehrer, PhD

On September 16, Samuel B. Lehrer, PhD, passed away in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 82. He received his PhD from Temple University in 1971, studying enzymatic effects on bacterial endotoxin. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Scripps Clinical and Research Foundation, where he worked on histamine sensitizing factors produced by Bordetella pertussis. In 1975, Dr. Lehrer joined Tulane Medicine’s faculty, starting a 40-year career in allergy/immunology. He collaborated with the late John Salvaggio, MD, FAAAAI, establishing the Clinical Immunology Division. Dr. Lehrer’s career was distinguished by translational research covering aerobiology, tobacco smoke, occupational allergic diseases, defining allergens and assessing potential risks posed by allergen sequences in genetically modified foods.

He was active in the AAAAI since 1975 and served on the editorial board of JACI (1991–1996), and as Chair of the Environmental, Occupational and Respiratory Diseases Interest Section. He was also dedicated and active in Collegium Internationale Allergologicum.

Known for his intellect, humor and love of New Orleans, Dr. Lehrer was a devoted husband to Gila, father to Rudy, Marc Charles, Sandra and Nicole, and proud grandfather of nine.

In Memory: F. Estelle R. Simons, MD, FAAAAI

In November, F. Estelle R. Simons, MD, FAAAAI, passed away at the age of 80. Dr. Simons, who served as AAAAI President in 2005, was internationally renowned for her research on the pharmacologic management of allergic diseases, particularly known for her work with the pediatric population and for her groundbreaking research in anaphylaxis and epinephrine. Over the course of her career, she authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications and edited or co-edited eight textbooks. Her landmark investigations helped to establish the basis for medications now used worldwide.

Dr. Simons was Professor Emerita at the University of Manitoba, where she’d previously founded the Allergy and Clinical Immunology section in the Department of Pediatrics and served as Training Program Director in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. She received many accolades, including being a member of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and being named to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honors.

An AAAAI Foundation Lectureship in honor of Dr. Simons will be announced at the 2026 AAAAI Annual Meeting (to be presented at the 2027 Annual Meeting).

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