Board-Certified Allergist & Immunologist · South Florida

Modern Immunology.
Compassionate Care.

Twenty years of expert allergy and immunology care for children and adults across South Florida. Advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment, lasting results.

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About

Dr. Shahnaz
Fatteh, MD

Board-certified in Allergy & Immunology and Internal Medicine, with fellowship training from NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Dr. Fatteh has more than twenty years of experience caring for both children and adults in South Florida, helping patients manage complex allergic conditions and improve long-term respiratory health.

She is also involved in medical education affiliated with Nova Southeastern University, committed to helping patients understand their conditions and providing modern treatments that allow them to live healthier, symptom-free lives.

Fellowship
NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Academic
Nova Southeastern University
Conditions Treated
  • Asthma
  • Seasonal & Environmental Allergies
  • Food Allergies
  • Eczema & Atopic Dermatitis
  • Chronic Sinusitis
  • Hives & Allergic Skin Conditions
  • Immune Deficiencies
  • Drug Allergies
Advanced Therapies
Allergy Immunotherapy Biologic Treatments Oral Immunotherapy Allergy Testing
Immunology Is Everywhere

The Immune System Drives
More Than You Think

Over two decades, advances in immunology have revealed that many chronic diseases—asthma, eczema, sinusitis, food allergies—share common immune pathways, enabling a new era of targeted treatment.

Type 2 Inflammation

Asthma Is a Disease of Immune Dysregulation

In many patients, the immune system produces excessive signals that lead to airway inflammation, mucus production, and airway narrowing. This is not just a breathing problem—it is fundamentally an immune system problem requiring targeted therapy.

Key Molecule
IgE

Immunoglobulin E — the antibody produced in response to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or animal dander.

The Cascade
IgE binds to mast cells
↓
Histamine & cytokines released
↓
Airway inflammation & bronchospasm
Biologic Therapy Example: Omalizumab

Targeting IgE at Its Source

A biologic medication that interrupts the IgE pathway—reducing allergic inflammation and lowering the frequency of asthma attacks in patients with moderate to severe allergic asthma.

01Binds circulating IgE antibodies
02Prevents IgE attaching to immune cells
03Reduces airway inflammation
04Lowers asthma attack frequency
Biologics now treat:
Severe Asthma Chronic Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps Atopic Dermatitis Chronic Hives Eosinophilic Disorders Autoimmune Diseases
AIT

Allergen Immunotherapy:
Retraining the Immune System

Unlike medications that only relieve symptoms, allergen immunotherapy rewrites the immune system's response—one of the only treatments that can modify the natural course of allergic disease.

Allergen immunotherapy exposes the immune system to very small, controlled amounts of the allergen over time, allowing it to develop tolerance and shift away from an allergic response. Over time, several important immunologic changes occur.

01
Reduced IgE Production
The immune system produces fewer allergy-triggering antibodies over the course of treatment.
02
IgG4 Blocking Antibodies
Protective antibodies intercept allergens before they trigger allergic immune cells.
03
Decreased Mast Cell Activation
Fewer inflammatory chemicals are released when the patient encounters allergens.
04
Regulatory T Cell Expansion
Immune cells that calm excessive responses are increased, reinforcing long-term tolerance.
Why It's Unique

Benefits that outlast treatment

For many patients, the improvements continue for years after the course of treatment is complete—making allergen immunotherapy a true disease-modifying therapy, not just symptom management.

100+ Years of Safety
✓Long-term reduction in allergy symptoms
✓Fewer asthma attacks
✓Decreased need for daily medications
✓Prevention of new allergies from developing
✓Reduced risk of rhinitis progressing to asthma in children
✓Benefits continue years after treatment ends
Food Allergies

Oral Immunotherapy:
A New Standard of Care

Strict avoidance was once the only option. Advances in immunology have led to oral immunotherapy—gradually increasing the body's tolerance to certain foods under careful medical supervision.

How OIT Works

OIT administers very small, carefully measured amounts of the food allergen, incrementally increased over time. As treatment progresses, the immune system undergoes measurable changes that reduce its reactivity.

Decreased Mast Cell Sensitivity

Cells involved in allergic reactions become progressively less reactive to the food allergen.

Reduced IgE-Mediated Reactivity

IgE response to the food allergen diminishes as tolerance builds over time.

Protective Blocking Antibodies

Increased production of antibodies that intercept the allergen before a reaction occurs.

Greater Immune Tolerance

The immune system learns to coexist with the allergen without overreacting.

Benefits
↗Reduced risk from accidental exposures
↗Increased tolerance to small amounts of allergenic foods
↗Greater confidence at school, while traveling, dining out
↗Improved quality of life for patients and families
A Personalized Treatment Option

OIT is a relatively new and evolving area of allergy care. Not every patient is a candidate. Treatment must be carefully individualized and monitored by experienced allergy specialists.

Discuss with our team →
Kids Corner

Learning About Allergies
Can Be Fun

Meet the characters of Mast Park — a friendly comic world where pollen, mast cells, and IgE come to life to help kids understand what's happening inside their bodies.

IgE and friends live peacefully in Mast Park until pollen arrives and stirs up the mast cell, triggering the allergic cascade. With the help of a special book on Immunotherapy, IgE and the mast cell learn to work together — just like real allergy treatment does.

IgE The antibody that recognizes allergens and signals the immune system
Mast Cell The immune cell that releases histamine when activated by IgE
Immunotherapy The treatment that teaches the immune system to stop overreacting
Schedule a Visit for Your Child →
Immunology Is Everywhere — a kids comic strip about IgE, mast cells, and allergy immunotherapy at Mast Park

Created to help young patients understand their immune system — and why treatment works.

Publications & Research

Advancing the Science of
Allergy & Immunology

Dr. Fatteh has contributed to clinical and translational research with publications focusing on allergy diagnostics, immunologic diseases, and therapeutic interventions.

01
Skin Prick/Puncture Testing in North America: A Call for Standards and Consistency
Shahnaz Fatteh, Donna J. Rekkerth, James A. Hadley
Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology · 2014

Examined variability in allergy skin testing practices and emphasized the need for standardized protocols to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

02
20% Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Dosed Biweekly for Primary Immunodeficiency
Richard L. Wasserman, Mark R. Stein, M. Elizabeth Younger, Shahnaz Fatteh, et al.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology · 2016

Evaluated dosing strategies for subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy used to treat patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders.

03
A Case of Successful Acyclovir Desensitization in a Bone Marrow Transplant Patient
Diana C. Andrade, Mariya Fatakhova, Shahnaz Fatteh, Heysu Rubio-Gomez
Clinical Case Report

Described a desensitization protocol enabling safe antiviral therapy in a patient with a documented medication allergy following bone marrow transplant.

04
Clinical Profile and Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Hereditary Angioedema with Normal C1 Esterase Inhibitor
Douglas H. Jones, Priya Bansal, Jonathan A. Bernstein, Shahnaz Fatteh, Joseph Harper
World Allergy Organization Journal · 2022

Evaluated diagnostic characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor levels.

05
C1 Esterase Inhibitor Response as a Supportive Diagnostic Criterion for Suspected Hereditary Angioedema with Normal C1-INH
Andrew M. Smith, et al., including Shahnaz Fatteh
World Allergy Organization Journal · 2025

Multi-center clinical analysis examining the diagnostic role of C1-esterase inhibitor therapy in patients with suspected hereditary angioedema.

Through her research, Dr. Fatteh has contributed to the evolving understanding of allergy diagnostics, immunologic disorders, and emerging therapies in clinical allergy and immunology. Publication links are provided for reference. Please contact the office if you need assistance accessing any article.

Leadership

Professional Leadership &
Academic Roles

Dr. Fatteh has been actively involved in professional leadership, medical education, and physician organizations at the local, national, and international levels.

Academic & Clinical Leadership
Assistant Clinical Professor
Nova Southeastern University – Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Director, Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Fellowship Program
Larkin Community Hospital
Professional Organization Leadership
President
South Florida American Medical Women's Association
Past President
Broward County Medical Association
Past President
American Association of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology from India
Organizational Roles & Memberships
Board Member
American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)
Regional Executive Fundraiser
National American Medical Women's Association
Secretary & Former Treasurer
Indian Physicians of Florida
Member
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
Professional Society Memberships
Member
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)
Member
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
Member
Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society (FAAIS)
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Board-certified specialist with 20+ years experience
Comprehensive evaluation for children & adults
Evidence-based, personalized treatment plans
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