Patients Come First · Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

Patients Come First - Dr. Jonathan Hemler

June 1, 2025·14 min·1 clip

Dr. Jonathan Hemler shares his journey from Tennessee to directing UVA's pediatric food allergy program.

This episode features Dr. Jonathan Hemler, a pediatric allergist and director of the UVA Pediatric Food Allergy Program. The conversation explores his background and his clinical work treating food allergies in children. Dr. Hemler attended William & Mary, earned his medical degree at UVA, and grew up in Tennessee and Saudi Arabia. The discussion covers the basic immune system reaction behind allergies, noting the current pollen season coating cars in Virginia. Dr. Hemler explains his program's focus on food allergies, which are distinct from environmental allergies like pollen. He details a treatment called oral immunotherapy, which involves giving patients tiny, increasing amounts of a food allergen. The goal of this treatment is to raise a patient's reaction threshold and prevent severe responses from accidental exposures. Dr. Hemler mentions they commonly treat allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and eggs through this method. A key insight is that this therapy does not constitute a cure but is a management strategy to reduce risk. The process requires strict daily dosing and close medical supervision over many months. Dr. Hemler emphasizes that the treatment is highly individualized for each child and their family. He describes the rewarding moment when a treated child can safely eat a previously dangerous food, like a peanut butter cup. The program also invests significant time in patient education about allergy management and emergency plans. The tone is educational and conversational, framed as an interview with a medical expert. The style is informative and accessible, avoiding overly technical jargon. Listeners interested in pediatric health, allergy treatments, or medical advancements would find this episode valuable. Those seeking a broad debate on healthcare systems or dramatic patient stories might find the focus too specific.

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