Dr. Z and all of us at AAPRI are pleased to welcome Vikram Malik, MD, to our practice. Dr. Malik is an Allergy and Immunology physician with a special interest in food allergies and sensitivities. He joins us from Ochsner Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA, where he was a Clinical Fellow in Allergy/Immunology. Dr. Malik looks forward to sharing his expertise in Allergy and Immunology with our patients here in Rhode Island.
Q. Dr. Malik, Welcome to AAPRI. What drew you to becoming an Allergy and Immunology physician?
VM: One of the reasons I like working in Allergy and Immunology is because it’s a constantly evolving field with new therapies on the horizon. Through modulation of the immune system, we are able to alter the underlying disease course for many patients. This offers an opportunity to really help improve patients’ health and make a difference in their quality of life. These are just some of the things that make it a really interesting field to me.
Do you have any particular areas of interest in the field of Allergy and Immunology?
VM: Yes, absolutely. I’m particularly interested in helping patients with food allergies and sensitivities and reducing their fear and anxiety about living with a food allergy. Here at AAPRI, we are looking forward to offering oral immunotherapy for food allergy patients, which is very cutting-edge—and no other practice offers this in Rhode Island. It works in a similar way to sublingual allergy drops, only we are introducing the actual food allergen in measured amounts to allow the patient to slowly build up immunity in a safe, controlled environment.
Food allergies seem to be increasingly common with kids nowadays. Do you work with pediatric patients?
VM: Yes, during my training and residency, I worked about 50/50 with adults and children. I’m very comfortable treating pediatric patients as well as adult patients, including the elderly and patients who are pregnant. It’s important to note that during pregnancy there may be limitations in the treatment options we can offer, but we generally able to help most patients suffering from asthma and/or allergies during pregnancy.
Are there any other areas that you specialize in?
VM: I am trained in treating immune deficiencies and my role here at AAPRI is to serve as the first point of contact for patients with a known or suspected immunodeficiency. Once I see these patients, I can make a determination as to the best course of treatment whether it’s here at AAPRI or if the patient needs to be seen at an academic medical center.
Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Malik or one of our dedicated team members at any of our three convenient office locations.
