This week on Military Affairs and Veterans Department’s (MAVD), 5 Minute Salute our host, Chris Budihas, talks to veterans making a difference in their communities. Today, Chris has the honor to speak with Loren Isakson of North Star Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, P.A.
Short company description: We are a solo, independent, private Allergy & Immunology clinic based in Saint Petersburg, FL. We offer consultation and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions including allergies (seasonal, food, pet, environmental, stinging insect, etc.); hives; asthma; eczema, recurrent infections and more. We currently offer in person patient visits in Florida and telehealth appointments for patients located in all of Florida, Georgia and New York. We accept TriCare insurance along with many other health insurance plans. We also have a self-pay option for patients who prefer that.
How do you define success?: As a field, I love Allergy & Immunology because it’s multidisciplinary and it allows me to make an immediate and often measurable impact in patient healthcare. While I have access to and use advanced medicines and treatments when needed, I enjoy helping my patients to consolidate and simplify their care when possible. Coordinating care with other providers to help patients discontinue extra medicines is a top goal when feasible. Sometimes that can even be accomplished just by spending a little extra time in a meaningful conversation and providing practical patient education.
How did you get started in your field or work?: This is a bit of a long story but the short(er) version is that I had originally thought about being a biomedical engineer when I first started my undergraduate degree. It’s not all that surprising in that my dad was an engineer, my grandfather was a pediatrician and my grandmother was a nurse. I enjoy puzzle/problem solving and I was able to do both parts – biomedical and engineering – reasonably well. However, I found that the electrics part of physics did not come as naturally to me as did mechanics or the biomedical side. I turned to study Physiology as that was the right balance of multidisciplinary topics for me and it held my interest. That path was one of several for premedical students. Just before graduating, I developed a stronger interest in research and decided to go to graduate school for a Biotechnology Master’s degree.
During those studies, I realized that I could do both research at the level that I wanted and work as a clinician by applying to medical school. I got accepted, finished my medical degree and did my residency in Pediatrics. I chose the latter as it’s both cognitively challenging and I’m a big kid at heart! I did my fellowship in Allergy & Immunology, again for the breadth and complexity of the field and to be able to make a meaningful and immediate impact in people’s lives.
What’s one thing we should know that makes your company unique?: Formerly, I was the Medical Director for Allergy and Immunology Services at MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. While I am not a Veteran myself, I worked with Active Duty Service Members and Veterans to help start that clinic from the ground up. I was at MacDill for just under 6 years and I treated many US veterans/retirees, US Active Duty Service Members/their dependents and foreign members of the Coalition forces/their dependents. I gained an understanding of and appreciation for both military culture and the medical impact of my field on an individual’s duty requirements, deployability and transition to veteran status.
