Academic and Research Skills
Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
Community Pediatrics
Pediatric Nutrition
Wellness and Well-being
Danielle Graff, MD, MSc (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor, Pediatrics; Division of Emergency Medicine
Pediatrics
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Session
Description: Integrative medicine: So you say you want your immune system boostedAfter a brief introduction and update on the Integrative medicine SIG by Dr. Danielle Graff, Dr. Gary Soffer will discuss the immune system in his talk "Fact vs fiction: Boosting the immune system" With the current climate in healthcare and medicine, many are looking for ways to increase their immune response to help fight infections and their overall health. Roughly 30% of pediatric patients utilize some form of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), with numbers climbing as high as 90% in certain patient populations. Integrative medicine is the intentional and coordinated care of these CAM modalities with conventional care while prioritizing safety, efficacy and minimizing any burden on the patient. Many commercial supplement products that claim to ‘boost the immune system’, do so under the auspices of a more natural approach, suggesting a practice in line with integrative medicine. However, these labels can be misleading and confusing to patients and physicians alike and may place the patient at risk for adverse consequences. It is important that pediatricians understand these claims as to support the therapeutic relationship with patients but also be able to provide safe and evidence informed options that may help support the immune system in place of these commercial supplement products. Following the key discussion, feature posters will be presented with a potential hands-on activity.
SIG Speaker: Danielle M. Graff, MD, MSc – University of Louisville School of Medicine
SIG Speaker: Gary Soffer, MD – Yale School of Medicine