Allergy & Asthma Network 40th Anniversary: A Legacy of Education
Published: March 20, 2025 Revised: April 1st, 2025
Education is more than a cornerstone for Allergy & Asthma Network – it’s at the heart of support for patients and families. For 40 years, the Network has been dedicated to offering asthma and allergy patient information and inspiration that is accurate, practical and accessible.
This commitment has helped transform how people manage these chronic conditions. It has turned moments of fear and uncertainty into opportunities for understanding and better health outcomes. Raising awareness of asthma and allergy care nationwide empowers patients.
Bridging the knowledge gap
Too often, patients and families feel isolated in their healthcare journey. Misconceptions, myths, and a lack of reliable resources can leave them feeling overwhelmed. Recognizing this, Allergy & Asthma Network set out to simplify the often-complex conditions and close the information gap.
The goal: equip patients and caregivers with practical tools to successfully navigate asthma and allergies. In providing practical, medically reviewed materials, the Network helped countless people to break free from the cycle of emergency department visits, missed school days, and workplace absences.
The Network’s flagship resource the last 10 years has been its patient education website. What started in 1998 as Breatherville.org, an interactive website for patients, parents, caregivers and children, is now AllergyAsthmaNetwork.org. It has become a trusted hub of relatable, easy-to-understand information for all ages, as well as healthcare providers.
In 2024, the website recorded 2.5 million visitors, an all-time high. Millions more engaged with the Network on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok. This allows for real-time engagement, community-building, and the sharing of resources to treat asthma, allergies and related conditions.
In addition, the Network produces special websites, digital toolkits and patient education videos as part of collaboration with its many partners. Two websites, EczemaInSkinofColor.org and EosAsthma.org, are on track to relaunch in 2025. BiologicMeds.org relaunched last year. The Food Allergy, Chronic Urticaria and Mast Cell Disease Toolkits launched in the last two years. The “Ask the Allergist video series has garnered 380,000 views and many more are viewing short-form videos on TikTok.
The Network’s educational efforts include the Virtual Asthma Coaching Program. This innovative initiative involves certified asthma educators connecting online with patients and helping them to better understand and manage their condition. Patients start to feel more confident in asking questions, advocating for themselves or their children, and taking an active role in their health journey.
Webinars and virtual conferences further expand the Network’s digital reach, delivering expert-led discussions on topics ranging from asthma to food allergies to mast cell disease. These virtual sessions enable the Network to connect with a global audience, providing definitive guidance and support.
The Network has also partnered with The Itch Podcast to collaborate on producing podcasts. The Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Innovations podcast series explores asthma, allergies, eczema and related conditions, providing perspectives from both a physician and patient.
Today it’s an E-newsletter delivering to 60,000+ subscribers.
Evolving platforms, enduring commitment
The platforms may have changed through the last 40 years, but the Network has consistently adapted to meet the needs of the times.
Early on, Allergy & Asthma Network’s educational focus centered on print publications. Founder Nancy Sander began the organization in 1985 with publication of The Mothers of Asthmatics (MA) Report, a groundbreaking newsletter tailored to families navigating asthma and allergies. It was written in a plain language style so that asthma and allergies were easy to understand.
The MA Report became a vital resource for addressing disease management and debunking myths. Today, it has evolved into an E- newsletter that reaches 60,000+ people with timely updates on new medications, expert insights, and more.
The Network expanded its print publications to include a quarterly magazine, patient education guides for each disease state, and leaflets and brochures. Founder Nancy Sander published A Parent’s Guide to Asthma, a book that provided the basics of asthma. It detailed her family’s struggles with asthma – readers often saw their own concerns mirrored in hers.
The Network published and promoted children’s books tailored to young audiences. It gave children a head start on understanding how asthma and allergies occur and how to manage them. The books explained how to use an inhaler, peak flow meter and nebulizer.
Each of these resources were distributed nationwide, in subscriber mailboxes and bookstores, at health fairs and medical conferences. They empowered people of all ages to become active participants in their care – and in the asthma and allergy community.
Recognizing the needs of diverse audiences, many resources were translated into Spanish, ensuring critical information was accessible to Hispanic/Latino families.
Building community and driving change
In an era increasingly defined by digital connections, in-person conferences and events remain valuable educational opportunities. Bringing together patients, families, healthcare professionals, government officials, industry leaders, and experts creates an environment where education can thrive.
The annual USAsthma Summit hosted by Allergy & Asthma Network and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) is an annual event to address current and emerging issues in asthma care. In-person and virtual attendees learn about new medications and access to Guidelines-based, patient-centered care while staying up to date on the latest advancements in the field.
They gain practical knowledge on national asthma guidelines to take back to their communities.
Visual tools for clarity
The Network’s innovative poster series and infographics have transformed education into an accessible and practical resource.
Two posters are visual guides that showcase FDA-approved respiratory inhalers and epinephrine medications. Patients and parents can easily identify medications on the Respiratory Treatments and Epinephrine Treatments posters. They gain a critical understanding of how the medications work. The poster Anaphylaxis at a Glance succinctly outlines life-threatening allergens, symptoms and treatments, offering a quick yet comprehensive educational tool.
Allergy & Asthma Network has sold and distributed more than 1 million posters.
A legacy that endures
Through its commitment to education, Allergy & Asthma Network has reshaped how patients and families approach asthma and allergies. By listening, innovating, and staying true to the mission, the Network has helped people to advocate for themselves and their loved ones. This has fostered a community where no one faces these challenges alone.
With each patient education opportunity, the Network continues to inspire hope, understanding, and action for a healthier tomorrow.
