MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.
Welcome to our latest installment of MOMpreneur Monday, highlighting businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow mommas!
Today’s featured Modern Boca MOMpreneur is Amy B. Schiffman, MD. She’s the owner & founder of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists, LLC which also consists of the Boca Raton Food Allergy Center.
Hi Amy! Why don’t you fill us in a little bit on your personal and professional background…
I was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Yeshiva University and Columbia University School of Engineering earning a BA and BS in Civil Engineering. While living in New York, I worked in construction management, specifically scheduling, until I became a mom.
We had a son, then boy & girl twins. We moved to Hong Kong for 3 years for my husband’s job and I had spontaneous triplet daughters at 28.5 weeks in Hong Kong! When they were born, I had six kids ages 4 and under. We moved back to New York and then to Boca Raton where I raised my children. Then, I eventually went back to work consulting in construction management.
After spending a lot of time in hospitals and with doctors with my sick father, as well as my experience with preemie triplets, I was motivated to change career paths to medicine. I completed pre-med undergraduate classes at FAU and applied to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at the FAU campus. I completed an internal medicine residency at University of Miami’s campus at JFK hospital in Atlantis, FL.
To specialize in Allergy and Immunology, I completed an additional two years of fellowship training at Tulane University in New Orleans. The triplets relocated with us, leaving Spanish River High School to attend their last year of high school in a charter school in New Orleans.
“They were so gracious about the experience, and never complained. They have leaned to be adaptive, and make the best of situations, a skill which will be very handy through life.”
Tell us about finally opening up the Boca Raton Allergy Center at your practice, Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists…
I returned to Boca Raton and joined an established allergist for one year. Our goals did not align, so I decided to open my own solo-practice this year.
Throughout school and residency, I worked hard to balance work and family. When at work, I am driven to provide compassionate, detailed medical care in an efficient manner. That way, when I get home, I am able to give my children the focus they deserve.
I chose the specialty of allergy and immunology, because of personal experiences with allergies and the desire to help people feel better. During medical school, I experienced anaphylaxis to fire ant bites. My body had a wide reaction and I was fearful that a future attack would limit my outdoor activities. After having allergy shots, I was able to return to walking barefoot on the beach and wearing open toe sandals. This improved my quality of life tremendously.
Allergy and immunology is a fascinating field with numerous new discoveries and studies. I avidly read journals and attend conferences to keep abreast of new and upcoming developments to treat and prevent allergies.
What challenges have you faced in starting your own practice?
I wanted to build an allergy practice that benefits my patients by providing personalized, evidenced-based care. Each patient is unique in their complaints and symptoms. And, each deserves to be evaluated and managed as an individual while receiving the most up to date treatments available.
It is challenging to start any business. Although, I have many years of education, none is in business or marketing. Researching and deciding where to locate my office and where to market my services requires a great deal of thought. I chose central Boca so that I am accessible to greater Boca Raton and the surrounding areas, and appeal to a wide range of ages and social situations. Allergy and Immunology is the only board certified specialty to treat both pediatrics and adults. Thus, my business appeals to a very broad segment of patients.
What is unique about the Boca Raton Food Allergy Center?
I saw a need to provide modern, comprehensive allergy and immunology care, which focuses on improving the quality of life for both the patient and their families. My goal at Boca Raton Food Allergy Center is not only treatment, but most importantly prevention.
Prevention of:
- Food allergy
- Asthma
- Worsening environmental allergies
It is very exciting to have the means to prevent the development of a life-altering disorder. I use the latest technology to evaluate and treat various allergic disorders. I want to achieve the best possible outcome for you, the patient at Boca Raton Food Allergy Center. Once an accurate diagnosis has been established through history and targeted testing, my staff and I will explain the disorder and plan to promote your well being and good health.
We provide personalized care, and take the time to explain the allergy, symptoms, and treatment options which will best fit someone’s goals and lifestyle.
Why should our readers become your patients?
Our goal at Boca Raton Food Allergy Center is to build and sustain a therapeutic, bi-directional relationship. I understand that I am evaluating and treating a person, not just an allergic disorder. Working together to understand, assess and manage your complaints will ultimately result in more relief and satisfaction.
Additionally, I provide personalized care in a reassuring environment, with concierge style accessibility and great attention to detail. I tailor health care to each patient to provide customized medicine. Testing is individualized based on history and symptoms. This approach leads to better diagnoses, optimal interventions, more-efficient drug therapies and effective treatment plans.
What exciting things are coming up for you at the Boca Raton Food Allergy Center?
I started the Boca Raton Food Allergy Center this year in order to fill an unmet need: food desensitization. Parents and children with food allergy can understandably be frightened of accidental exposure. This can limit social, academic and professional interaction and advancement. The food allergy center at Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Specialists is dedicated to prevention and treatment of food allergies.
I value the ability to consult with my peers and benefit from their knowledge and experience. Personally, I am most excited about joining FAU Medical School as an adjunct professor, to educate and expose the next generation of eager young minds to the fascinating field of allergy and immunology.
What do you love about living and working in South Florida?
I enjoy the healthy South Florida lifestyle, which includes exercise, yoga, and outdoor activities. Spending a day at the beach is like taking a mini-vacation! It allows me to slow down and appreciate the power of nature. There are numerous favorite and new dining options, which I enjoy exploring with friends and family. I also am fortunate to have long term friends that I made when my children were young. We continue to stay close, but it’s always fun to make new friends too!
Connect with the Boca Raton Food Allergy Center online:
WEBSITE: Amy Schiffman, MD
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/amyschiffmanmd
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/flallergydoc
SUBSCRIBE to Modern Boca Mom here!
