Sami Bahna, MD, DrPH, Y.K. Reddy Professor of Allergy & Immunology and Chief of Allergy & Immunology Section at LSU Health Shreveport, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Gold-Headed Cane Award from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), which is given “for demonstrating the highest standards of scientific excellence and integrity.” Dr. Bahna accepted the award at a ceremony held during the recent ACAAI annual scientific meeting in Seattle. The history of the Gold-Headed Cane goes back more than 300 years, with the first recipient being the prominent British physician John Radcliffe in 1689, who was the personal physician of King William III.
Dr. Bahna has been an ACAAI Fellow for 36 years and was College President from 2009 to 2010. He has chaired and been a member of many committees over the years, and Associate Editor of the College’s scientific journal, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. He currently serves on the Past President, Dermatology, International, and Training Program Directors Committees, and the Food Allergy/GI Disorders subcommittee of the Annual Meeting Program.
Dr. Bahna’s career comprises medical graduation with Honors at Cairo University followed by Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Public Health at Alexandria University. Following a research fellowship at the University of Bergen in Norway, he completed a Pediatric Residency at the University of Maryland and Allergy/Immunology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Over a span of 40 years, he served as Director of Allergy/Immunology programs at LSUHSC in New Orleans, Cleveland Clinic, University of South Florida All Children’s Hospital, and at LSUHSC-Shreveport since 2002. He mentored 80 fellows and his publications include 187 peer-reviewed papers, 152 abstracts, 39 book chapters, and guest-editor of several journal supplements.
