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Rebecca R. Saff, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, Named as New Podcast Host
Rebecca R. Saff, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, Named as New Podcast Host
Rebecca R. Saff, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, has been named as the new host of “Conversations from the World of Allergy”, the AAAAI’s popular podcast, and she is eager to bring her own ideas to the podcast series.
Rebecca R. Saff, MD, PhD, FAAAAI
“I have enjoyed listening to the way (David Stukus, MD, FAAAAI,) has hosted the podcast, creating thoughtful questions that help listeners get to know the guest and the wide variety of topics he has explored,” Dr. Saff said. “I look forward to building upon what he’s done and sharing information about my favorite topic - allergy and immunology.”
Dr. Stukus announced earlier this year that he was stepping down as host when his term ends in December to “allow for a new voice.”
Dr. Saff was selected from a field of qualified candidates by a special selection team, led by AAAAI President Paul Williams, MD, FAAAAI. Her appointment was approved during the November Board of Directors meeting.
Dr. Saff came into medicine through her love of basic science. “In college I worked in a biochemistry lab and then spent a semester at Oxford studying mitochondrial DNA in insects. I was an MD/PhD student and completed my PhD in immunology, studying Fas-ligand-induced activation induced cell death. I find the underlying mechanism of disease fascinating, particularly in A/I where we’re learning more about immune responses every day,” she said.
She’s currently an assistant physician and the fellowship director for the allergy/immunology program at Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. She also serves as the co-chair for the AAAAI’s Chrysalis Steering Committee and is Vice Chair of the Clinical Rotation Committee. She considers herself first and foremost a medical educator, and enjoys the challenge of finding new ways to teach.
Her passion for teaching solidified during fellowship, when she took a two-year leave of absence to homeschool her kids. “It really cemented my excitement for teaching,” she explained. “When I came back to fellowship I saw a need to improve our basic immunology teaching. I realized I wanted a more formal role as a medical educator, so I went on to do a Medical Education fellowship. I subsequently took on the role of Subspecialty Education Coordinator for my Division and then moved into the role of Associate Program Director for our A/I Fellowship before taking over as Program Director in 2020 - quite a year to start!”
Her passion for teaching is what drew her to apply for the podcast host position. “I really enjoy podcasts and find them to be an excellent way to learn. It’s also one of the best ways to be involved in education at a larger scale,” she said. “A podcast can engage with a broad and diverse range of issues in our field. I’m looking forward to engaging with guests on important allergy/immunology topics.”
She’s also hoping to expand on the podcast topics offered. Areas she’d like to explore include effective teaching, difficult case discussions and up-and-coming basic science research. “Many in clinical practice don’t have time to read about new studies and having episodes on new research techniques and how these are furthering our understanding of the field would help to bring together the clinician and the basic science researcher,” Dr. Saff said. “I also believe difficult case discussions could be a draw for medical students and residents, while effective teaching is a skill all of us should have not only for educating our patients, but the next generation of allergist/immunologists.”
Dr. Stukus will introduce Dr. Saff to the podcast audience during his final episode as host in mid-December, and she will take over as official host in 2025.
Thank You Dr. Stukus, for Six Years of Dedication to the AAAAI Podcast
The first episode of “Conversations from the World of Allergy” launched October 23, 2018. Since then, Dr. Stukus has recorded over 120 episodes on a wide variety of topics, speaking with experts both in and outside of the allergy/immunology field. Under his leadership, the podcast has grown in popularity, garnering over 300,000 listens across 120 countries and securing a position among the top 10% of all podcasts on Buzzsprout.
David Stukus, MD, FAAAAI
"While it was my idea to step away as host, it's still a bittersweet moment for me,” Dr. Stukus said. “This has been a huge part of my life for the past six years, but I also realized it was time for someone else to take over and bring a fresh voice to the podcast. I really enjoyed the opportunity to have conversations with brilliant colleagues who not only taught us about their areas of expertise but let us get to know them a bit as well. I hope everyone who listened could tell how much fun I was having and I'm grateful for all the support I've received."
The Board expresses its gratitude to Dr. Stukus for his leadership and expertise in elevating the work of allergist/immunologists and the AAAAI through the podcast.
