Allergy Advocates New York had high hopes for our free epinephrine training program when we founded it in 2017, but even so, it has exceeded our expectations.
In the nine years since beginning Epi Near You New York, we have taught over 4,000 people not just how to recognize an anaphylactic reaction, but how to treat it and save lives. The program has also provided the certification needed to allow the stocking of epinephrine in schools, businesses, and other venues, as well as financial assistance to help nonprofits obtain it at no cost.
Just as meaningful as our measurable success, however, are the personal moments we get to experience along the way. One of those happened recently when Dr. Jeanne Lomas, one of our longtime dedicated presenters, led a training session at her alma mater, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, for first- and second-year medical students.
After the presentation, Dr. Lomas sat down with our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Toni Taylor, to reflect on her path to specializing in allergy and immunology as well as the importance of educating and empowering the next generation.
A Path Into Allergy and Immunology
"I didn't get a lot of exposure to allergies and anaphylaxis in medical school until I was out in the field," Dr. Lomas remembers. "Then the thing I liked about it when I was rotating with an allergist is you got to see such a mix of patients from kids to geriatrics to middle aged adults because allergies can affect anybody at any age. The variety is really cool and is what pushed me into the field initially."
A Career Dedicated to Patients and Education
In the nearly two decades since, she has embraced her work with patients—first at the University of Rochester Medical Center and now as the owner and clinical director of her private practice, Buffalo Amherst Allergy Associates, in Western New York.
She has also dedicated herself to training, empowering, and inspiring the next generation in a variety of ways, including presentations like Epi Near You New York.
The early years of medical school are often focused on classroom learning and may not include much exposure to topics like allergies and anaphylaxis. Dr. Lomas saw this presentation as an important opportunity not only to introduce students to essential information and dispel misinformation, but also to give them the knowledge and confidence to speak up if they witness someone having an allergic reaction.
"The students may be more junior when they go out into the field but if they have the knowledge that this person is definitely having an allergic reaction and we should treat them with epinephrine, they can save someone's life," she says. "It's hard when you're in a student role or trainee role to rise above and counteract what your attending physician is saying or your boss is saying but in those moments I want to empower them to speak up."
She also hopes to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones. "I initially hated public speaking but during my medical training I developed those skills and now it is something I enjoy," she says. "Even if they think they can't, they absolutely can. They just have to find something they're confident and passionate about and share the information to help other people."
The Mission Behind Epi Near You New York
That idea—finding something you care deeply about and using it to help others—is at the heart of Epi Near You New York as well. Our goal is not just to teach facts, but to give people the confidence to act when it matters most.
Whether we are training future physicians, school staff, nonprofit leaders, or members of the broader community, Epi Near You New York is built on the belief that knowledge saves lives when people feel empowered to use it. By helping more people recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and know what to do in an emergency, we are creating safer, more prepared communities—one training at a time.
If you are a New York-based business, school, or community group interested in hosting an Epi Near You New York training session for your employees or members, please contact us
If you are a New York-licensed physician interested in volunteering just a couple of hours each month as an Epi Near You New York presenter, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us
About the Authors
Toni Taylor is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of AANY and Kristen Stewart is the Communications Manager.