Allergists in Nashville

June 15, 2026

Allergists, also called allergists-immunologists, are physicians who hold an M.D. or D.O., complete a residency in internal medicine or pediatrics, and then finish a fellowship in allergy and immunology before becoming board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Unlike a general primary-care visit for occasional symptoms, a Nashville allergy practice offers in-house diagnostic testing, a dedicated immunotherapy program, and ongoing management of chronic conditions by a specialist who treats allergic and immune disease every day. For families managing year-round symptoms, that continuity of specialized care can matter more than a single appointment.

Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,388 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and the surrounding Middle Tennessee basin is known for a long and intense pollen season. The region’s tree, grass, and ragweed cycles, combined with humid summers that encourage mold and dust mite growth, keep demand for allergy and asthma care steady across the year. Allergists in the city diagnose and treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, eczema and hives (urticaria), chronic sinus disease, food and drug allergies, and immune system disorders.

Physicians who practice medicine in Tennessee are licensed by the state under the Tennessee Department of Health: medical doctors through the Board of Medical Examiners and osteopathic physicians through the Board of Osteopathic Examination. Board certification in allergy and immunology is a separate, voluntary credential awarded by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, a conjoint board of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. Consumers can verify that a physician holds an active, unrestricted Tennessee license, and review any disciplinary history, through the Department of Health license verification portal at tn.gov.

The diagnostic and treatment tools an allergist uses include allergy skin testing (skin prick and intradermal) and blood testing to identify specific triggers, allergy shots known as subcutaneous immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy, and oral immunotherapy for certain food allergies, along with biologic medications for moderate to severe asthma, chronic hives, and related conditions. Patients can confirm appointment policies, insurance participation, and whether a referral is required directly with each practice. For complaints about billing or business practices, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while clinical or licensing concerns about a physician are handled by the Tennessee Department of Health. This article is informational and is not medical advice; decisions about diagnosis and treatment should be made with a licensed physician.

Top Allergists Providers in Nashville

1. The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center

Address: 310 25th Avenue North, Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 574-6045
Website: https://www.allergyasc.com
Services: allergy skin testing, subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots), asthma care, food allergy evaluation, drug allergy testing, biologic therapy, chronic sinus disease, pediatric and adult allergy, eczema and hives
Description: The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center traces its origin to a Knoxville practice opened in July 1970 and has since grown into a multi-state group with locations across Tennessee, Georgia, Louisiana, and Kentucky. The organization describes its physicians as board certified in allergy and immunology and operates more than 35 locations across the four states, with teams that care for infant, pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients. The Nashville office on 25th Avenue North opened in 2021 and is one of several Middle Tennessee locations, supported by a physician roster that includes specialists with additional board certification in internal medicine and in pediatrics. The center provides comprehensive testing, immunotherapy, and biologic treatment for allergic rhinitis, asthma, sinus disease, and food and drug allergies.

2. Vanderbilt Asthma, Sinus & Allergy Program

Address: 2611 West End Avenue, Suite 210, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 936-2727
Services: allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots), asthma care including severe asthma, drug allergy evaluation, food allergy and anaphylaxis management, chronic sinus treatment, urticaria and angioedema care
Website: https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/locations/vanderbilt-asthma-sinus-allergy-program
Description: The Vanderbilt Asthma, Sinus & Allergy Program is the academic allergy and immunology practice of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, located on West End Avenue near the main campus. Its physicians are fellowship-trained allergists-immunologists who combine clinical care with research, and several hold focused expertise in complex conditions: Katherine N. Cahill, M.D., works on aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease and NSAID allergy; Ryszard Dworski, M.D., is board certified in both allergy-immunology and pulmonology and treats severe asthma; and John M. Fahrenholz, M.D., focuses on urticaria, angioedema, mastocytosis, and severe asthma. The program manages both pediatric and adult patients and offers drug allergy evaluation, food allergy and anaphylaxis care, immunotherapy, and treatment for chronic sinus disease within an academic medical center setting.

3. Otolaryngology Associates of Tennessee

Address: 410 42nd Avenue North, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37209
Phone: (615) 340-4000
Website: https://www.oatenn.com/allergy-clinic
Services: allergy skin testing, food allergy testing, airborne allergy testing and treatment, immunotherapy (allergy drops and shots), mold allergy testing, penicillin allergy testing, pediatric allergy, seasonal and perennial allergy treatment
Description: Otolaryngology Associates of Tennessee is an independent ear, nose, and throat group serving Middle Tennessee, with its main Nashville office on 42nd Avenue North and a second office in Franklin. Its allergy clinic combines testing and treatment for seasonal and airborne allergies with the practice’s broader sinus and ENT expertise. It is important to note the distinction in credentials: the physicians at this practice are board certified in otolaryngology and are members of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, rather than the American Board of Allergy and Immunology that certifies dedicated allergist-immunologists. The clinic offers skin testing, food and mold allergy testing, penicillin allergy testing, immunotherapy through both allergy drops and shots, and pediatric allergy care, and it can be a fit for patients whose allergy symptoms overlap with chronic sinus and ENT concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergists in Nashville

Q: What is the difference between an allergist and a regular doctor?

An allergist is a physician (M.D. or D.O.) who completed a residency in internal medicine or pediatrics and then a fellowship in allergy and immunology, and who is typically board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. A primary-care physician can manage occasional or mild symptoms, but an allergist offers specialized diagnostic testing, immunotherapy programs, and ongoing management of chronic allergic and immune conditions. Some ENT (otolaryngology) practices also offer allergy testing and treatment; their physicians are board certified in otolaryngology rather than allergy and immunology.

Q: How do I verify that a Nashville allergist is licensed?

All physicians practicing in Tennessee must hold an active license issued by the Tennessee Department of Health, through the Board of Medical Examiners for M.D.s or the Board of Osteopathic Examination for D.O.s. You can confirm a physician’s license status and review any disciplinary history through the Department of Health license verification portal at tn.gov. Board certification in allergy and immunology is a separate credential that can be confirmed through the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

Q: What conditions do allergists in Nashville treat?

Allergists diagnose and treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, eczema, hives (urticaria), chronic sinus disease, food allergies, drug allergies, insect sting allergies, and immune system disorders. Middle Tennessee’s long pollen season and humid summers make seasonal allergies, asthma, and sinus conditions especially common reasons for a visit.

Q: Do I need a referral to see an allergist in Nashville?

Whether a referral is required depends on your health insurance plan rather than on state law. Some plans require a referral from a primary-care physician before they will cover a specialist visit, while others allow self-referral. Several Nashville allergy practices accept patients without a referral, but it is best to confirm both the referral policy and insurance participation with the specific practice before scheduling.

Q: What does allergy testing and immunotherapy involve?

Allergy testing usually starts with skin prick or intradermal testing, and sometimes blood testing, to identify specific triggers. If immunotherapy is recommended, treatment may take the form of subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) given on a schedule over a period of years, sublingual immunotherapy, or oral immunotherapy for certain food allergies. The goal is to reduce the body’s sensitivity to identified allergens over time. A licensed allergist determines which approach is appropriate for each patient.

Q: How do I file a complaint about an allergy practice in Nashville?

Concerns about a physician’s clinical care or licensing should be directed to the Tennessee Department of Health, which oversees the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Osteopathic Examination. Complaints about billing, advertising, or other business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records of appointments, invoices, and communications helps support any complaint.