Dr. Mervat Nassef is a Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). She received her B.A., magna cum laude, and her MD at New York University. She went on to do her residency in Pediatrics at the New York University Medical Center, and her fellowship in Allergy & Immunology at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons. After fellowship, she spent 2 years in Hong Kong where she was involved in teaching medical residents about allergies and asthma. Upon her return to New York, she joined the faculty of the Allergy & Immunology Division at CUMC. Her goal is to provide the highest quality, individualized patient care. She has a special interest in food allergies, environmental allergies and asthma. Because of her love for teaching, Dr. Nassef took on the role of Director of Resident and Medical Student Education in the Allergy/Immunology Division, in which she was responsible for coordinating the activities of students and residents who rotate through the Division. She has also been active in giving grand rounds and teaching conferences in area hospitals and writing publications on various topics in allergy, including co-authoring the textbook: Allergies and Adolescence: Transitioning Toward Independent Living. Stukus D, editor. Springer. She has presented some of her work at the annual international meetings of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Dr. Nassef served as Chair of the Women’s Health Committee, the Population Health Committee at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the Clinical Programs/Patient Safety and Quality Committee at the ACAAI. She was selected to Chair the ACAAI Education Council, a top-level leadership role in which she is led the development of the Education Strategy of the College and overseeing its implementation. She has helped develop educational resources for physicians worldwide. She volunteers her time by conducting free asthma screenings in her local community. She was chosen as one of The New York Times Magazine Top Doctors every year since 2012. She received the ACAAI Woman in Allergy Award in 2021 and the Castle Connolly's Exceptional Women in Medicine award in 2023.