The Institute for Asthma and Allergy is a unique center where careful diagnoses, cutting-edge treatments, on-going research, and education of patients are the primary objectives. Our physicians and health care providers devote themselves to teaching pediatric and adult patients about their diseases, the underlying causes of their symptoms, the application of the latest treatments and research, and the potential benefits and dangers of these treatments.
Patients with asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, food allergy, drug allergy, angioedema, urticaria, itching, eczema, otitis, IgG and IgA deficiencies, and other immunologic abnormalities are routinely referred to the Institute by both primary care physicians and specialists, particularly when patients require extra care or are difficult-to-manage with standard treatment programs.
Patients with asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, food allergy, drug allergy, angioedema, urticaria, itching, eczema, otitis, IgG and IgA deficiencies, and other immunologic abnormalities are routinely referred to the Institute by both primary care physicians and specialists, particularly when patients require extra care or are difficult-to-manage with standard treatment programs.
Services
The Institute for Asthma & Allergy (IAA) is the proud home to the best Montgomery County allergists, and are among the top allergy doctors available regionally and nationally. The physicians and staff at the Institute are dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care and treatment for their asthma and allergic conditions.
Prior to joining the Institute for Asthma and Allergy (IAA), Dr. Athena Economides held academic appointment at both the University of California, Los Angeles Medical School, and at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, where she developed the Food Allergy Center. Her special interests include food allergy and immune deficiencies, and her contributions to medical literature including articles on diagnostics and management of allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis urticaria, and asthma, especially pediatric asthma.
Due to the amount of time and cost associated with the completion of these forms the Institute's charge for completion of one form is $10 per person/per form. We do not have all required school forms in our office so please remember to bring your forms with you. Please remember to include all medications with their current strength as well as signatures and dates that are appropriate.
Reviews (5)
Victoria Tillson
Apr 08, 2020
I took my daughter to see Dr. Scarupa a month ago to have her tested for allergies. He claimed she was only mildly allergic to dust mites, yet the wide array of allergy medicines that she has since been put on over the last month by her primary care physician and the "atomic" eye drops that an opthamologist has given her, as well, seem to indicate otherwise.
Either Dr. Scarupa gave her a faulty examination or he doesn't know how to do his job. I have since called to get an explanation, and have been given the run around and have not been called back by the doctor himself. Needless to say, I am very unhappy with the service, especially since I took her to see this doctor to get the treatment she clearly needed. ------- I would like to amend my review from 3 years ago.
Some friends suggested that we keep pushing until we could meet Dr. Athena Economides, because she was supposedly fabulous. Our friends were right. Dr. Economides is unbelievably thorough, more than any other doctor in the area, and we credit her with saving our daughter's life. Our daughter kept getting pneumonia over and over again, and no one could figure out why. Dr. Economides did, because she kept persisting and she believed us when we said that something was really wrong. If you want the best doctor in the DC area, go see her! I would give Dr. Economides 10 stars if I could.
Either Dr. Scarupa gave her a faulty examination or he doesn't know how to do his job. I have since called to get an explanation, and have been given the run around and have not been called back by the doctor himself. Needless to say, I am very unhappy with the service, especially since I took her to see this doctor to get the treatment she clearly needed. ------- I would like to amend my review from 3 years ago.
Some friends suggested that we keep pushing until we could meet Dr. Athena Economides, because she was supposedly fabulous. Our friends were right. Dr. Economides is unbelievably thorough, more than any other doctor in the area, and we credit her with saving our daughter's life. Our daughter kept getting pneumonia over and over again, and no one could figure out why. Dr. Economides did, because she kept persisting and she believed us when we said that something was really wrong. If you want the best doctor in the DC area, go see her! I would give Dr. Economides 10 stars if I could.
Catherine Pruett
Dec 09, 2019
Kris Juncker
Mar 27, 2019
Chris Atkin
Jun 11, 2017
My 14-year old son has battled Asthma since he was 2-years old after being admitted to a hospital with Kawasaki disease. We saw many doctors and specialists over the years and had his asthma under control for most of the year. The exception was every autumn, he would end up in the ER from asthma. Dr. Ward was able to find the proper medical solution and for the first time since he was an infant, he has not missed weeks of school or been to the ER due to asthma.
I have to say, Dr. Ward has improved the quality of life for my son and we are truly grateful. With that said, the business practice is the most frustrating experience. About 6-months ago, one of the meds Dr. Ward prescribed needed special authorization for our insurance to cover the refill. It took their practice over a week to respond and when they did, they prescribed a medicine that is listed in his chart as ineffective!
After leaving countless voicemails and emails to their business manager, it took me threatening to file a complaint with the Maryland Board of Physicians before their office returned my call and send the proper form to the insurance company. Fast-forward to today, and the same medication needed a new prescription for a refill due to the original expiring.
The pharmacy contacted the practice, which then denied the request. Not only did they deny the request, they did not call me to inform me of their decision or how to solve it. Their advise nurse explained to me that they informed the pharmacy of the decision and the pharmacy was supposed to call me. What sense is this? If the pharmacy does call me, all I can do is call their practice and speak with someone to have the issue solved.
I would recommend Dr. Ward to anyone suffering from asthma, but I would not recommend this practice. They have to change their process so us parents are not wasting time chasing prescriptions that our children need due to the lack of professionalism of their staff.
I have to say, Dr. Ward has improved the quality of life for my son and we are truly grateful. With that said, the business practice is the most frustrating experience. About 6-months ago, one of the meds Dr. Ward prescribed needed special authorization for our insurance to cover the refill. It took their practice over a week to respond and when they did, they prescribed a medicine that is listed in his chart as ineffective!
After leaving countless voicemails and emails to their business manager, it took me threatening to file a complaint with the Maryland Board of Physicians before their office returned my call and send the proper form to the insurance company. Fast-forward to today, and the same medication needed a new prescription for a refill due to the original expiring.
The pharmacy contacted the practice, which then denied the request. Not only did they deny the request, they did not call me to inform me of their decision or how to solve it. Their advise nurse explained to me that they informed the pharmacy of the decision and the pharmacy was supposed to call me. What sense is this? If the pharmacy does call me, all I can do is call their practice and speak with someone to have the issue solved.
I would recommend Dr. Ward to anyone suffering from asthma, but I would not recommend this practice. They have to change their process so us parents are not wasting time chasing prescriptions that our children need due to the lack of professionalism of their staff.
Carol W.
May 05, 2016
[This is not a review of medical services.] i received a phone call at approx 4:15 p.m. on 2/26/16 from a CVS mail order pharmacy to ask me something about a script that Dr. Ward's office called in. (and i couldn't even get that info until i gave them my date of birth.) back and forth with the woman (she was nice enough) and it ended with me telling her i live in philadelphia and convincing her that i had no idea what she was talking about and never heard of this doctor. i looked up Dr. Ward on the internet so that i could contact the office to try to find out how this happened. the hours listed on the site were 9-5. i called at 4:30 and there was a recorded message saying that the office was closed. i would have liked to figure out what went wrong before the weekend. i'm writing this message in hopes that someone will know what i'm calling about when i call on monday 2/29. oh, and also, i didn't see any way to contact the office other than via telephone or leaving a review. there is no provision on the answering machine to leave a message. (one can leave an emergency call to have the dr. contact them.) sorry for the length of this message but i'm frustrated wondering how my personal info might be floating around out "there."
