The EMPOWER program engages with clinical research so that we can better understand the reasons for distress in food-allergic individuals and their families. We use this information to help you improve coping abilities and develop enhanced resilience. We hold all information shared in the strictest of confidence. Specifically, EMPOWER is currently involved with several projects:

• Exploring optimal ways to detect and recognize behavioral and emotional challenges related to the experience of living with food allergies.
• Studying innovative approaches to assist with those challenges.
• Training mental health professionals and other providers in recognizing and helping you cope with the challenges posed by living with food allergies.

The EMPOWER program also focuses on behavioral and emotional issues experienced by children with food allergies and their families. Through this program, we offer individual consultation, referral services, and group treatment to encourage resiliency through multidisciplinary and holistic care.

Our focus is on wellness rather than pathology, and we encourage all families to take advantage of our services, even if there is no urgent medical need. We offer routine behavioral health consultations to children and families with an adolescent, and we counsel those who have recently experienced an allergic episode.

Our educational initiatives include developing written materials, working with schools, and building connections with food allergy advocacy groups.

For additional information about the Empower Program, call 212-241-3240 or email EMPOWER@mssm.edu

Our Eosinophilic Disorders Program includes research aimed at developing optimal treatments for children and adults living with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). With a multidisciplinary team, our Eosinophilic Disorders Program also treats eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a disease of the esophagus—the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach—caused by food allergies. Our team consists of a gastroenterologist, allergists, a dietician, and a psychiatrist who work together to help the patient.

Triggered by certain foods, EoE causes some white blood cells called eosinophils and other allergic cells to migrate to the esophagus. Symptoms can include stomach pain, vomiting, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, poor appetite, refusal to eat, and poor growth. These symptoms can mimic acid-induced reflux, but they typically don’t improve with antacid therapies used to treat that condition. Treatment for EoE includes dietary modifications and other therapies.

For additional information about the Eosinophilic Disorders Program, call 212-241-4880.

Our nutrition management services include education, consultation, and research.

Every child needs adequate nutrition to grow and develop properly. Each food or food group provides a specific set of nutrients necessary for growth. Any dietary restriction presents a challenge to adequate nutrition. Multiple food allergies make providing a nutritionally complete diet even more complicated and may put sufferers at increased nutritional risk.

Our expert registered dietitians can help determine you or your child’s specific nutritional needs and create a plan to meet them within the confines of the allergen restricted diet. We want to provide a plan for safe and healthy eating that is still fun, tasty, and appealing, so that children (and adults) can look forward to, rather than dread, coming to the table. Specifically, we offer guidance on several topics:

• Avoiding allergens
• Reading labels
• Replacing foods
• Preventing nutritional deficiencies
• Finding allergen-free convenience foods or ingredients

Additionally, our dietitians participate in research studies to identify nutritional issues for people living with restricted diets because of food allergies.

For additional information about Nutrition Management Services, call 212-241-5548.