Pulse

New partnership focuses on food allergies

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ODU has partnered with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and the nonprofit organization FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to bring food allergy resources and increased awareness to Hampton Roads.

Healthcare leaders from the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community & Global Health, part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, CHKD, and Children's Specialty Group (CSG), announced the affiliation April 30, 2025, and hosted a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony (pictured above) to mark the partnership. Hampton Roads is now the seventh FARE neighborhood since the program began in 2021.

Nationally, food allergy affects more than 33 million people, including approximately 878,090 individuals in Virginia, or about one in 10 adults. With an estimated 300,000 military personnel and their families in the Hampton Roads area, roughly 30,000 individuals are believed to be impacted.

“High social vulnerability and unique access challenges faced by military members and their families made Hampton Roads a clear choice for the FARE Neighborhoods Initiative (FNI), which aims to bring food allergy resources to the community it serves,” said FARE CEO Sung Poblete, PhD, RN.

“Military life can add a layer of difficulty to food allergy management, which already carries its own set of challenges for patients and caregivers,” Dr. Poblete said. “Frequent moves and financial concerns can mean needed care is difficult to access. Public health initiatives like FARE Neighborhoods can help make certain that diagnosis, education and treatment are more available, leading to better management of food allergy and fewer medical emergencies.”

Angela Hogan, MD, professor of Pediatrics and specialist in allergy/immunology at CHKD, has dedicated her career to addressing food allergies.

“. . . It is truly inspiring to see FARE, CHKD, the Brock Institute, ODU/EVMS, and CSG come together with a shared commitment to improving the lives of children and families in Hampton Roads,” Dr. Hogan said. “This partnership represents the power of collaboration — especially when we focus our efforts on underserved communities where healthcare disparities are greatest. Together, we are building a healthier, more equitable future for every child with food allergies.” 

ODU has earned national recognition for community impact and Research 1 status from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, respectively. Coupled with its mission to contribute to the well-being of local communities, ODU is well positioned to understand and address community needs, said Cynthia Romero, MD, director of the Brock Institute for Community and Global Health.

"This milestone collaboration with FARE, ODU, CHKD, and CSG reflects a shared commitment to partner with families, schools, healthcare organizations, and community-based organizations to manage food allergies and improve health outcomes across the region," Dr. Romero said.

Milton Brown, MD, Ph.D., senior associate vice president for Research, is a member of the FARE board. He was instrumental in establishing the new partnership.

The collaboration, which began a year ago, has already placed a local community health worker dedicated to food allergy in the region who has educated nearly 1,000 Hampton Roads residents across 18 events, with expanded food service training for restaurants, colleges, and food pantries on the horizon for this year through the FARECheck Program.  

For more information about the FARE Neighborhoods Initiative, visit www.foodallergy.org. The FARE Neighborhoods Initiative is supported by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.