Allergists in Knoxville

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 Knoxville 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 patients with persistent or seasonal symptoms, that continuity of specialized care can be especially valuable.

Knoxville is the largest city in East Tennessee, with a population of roughly 195,185 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), set in a valley between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains. The region’s topography can trap pollen and contribute to a long and intense allergy season, and East Tennessee is regularly noted among the more difficult U.S. areas for seasonal allergy sufferers. 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 Knoxville

1. Allergy & Asthma Affiliates

Address: 2121 Highland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916
Phone: (865) 525-2640
Website: https://www.allergyaa.com
Services: allergy skin testing, pulmonary function testing, immunotherapy (allergy shots), seasonal and year-round allergy management, asthma care, food allergy, drug allergy, eczema, sinus disease, pediatric and adolescent allergy
Description: Allergy & Asthma Affiliates is an established Knoxville allergy and immunology group founded in 1981 by Don Ellenburg, M.D., who completed his pediatric residency and allergy and immunology fellowship at the University of Louisville. The practice operates multiple offices throughout Knoxville and the greater region and is staffed by board-certified allergists, including Tim Frazier, M.D. (joined 1994, fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia), Andrew Singer, M.D. (joined 2007, fellowship at the University of Michigan), and J. Trent Ellenburg, D.O. (joined 2016, fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center). The group provides allergy skin testing, pulmonary function testing, and immunotherapy, and manages seasonal and year-round allergies, asthma, food and drug allergies, eczema, and sinus disease for pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients.

2. Allergy Specialists of Knoxville

Address: 1346 Dowell Springs Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37909
Phone: (865) 588-2753
Website: https://www.allergyspecialistsofknoxville.com
Services: allergy testing, immunotherapy (allergy shots), oral immunotherapy for food allergies, asthma management, eczema, hives, environmental and food allergy, drug allergy, recurrent sinusitis, immunodeficiency, bee sting allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis monitoring
Description: Allergy Specialists of Knoxville is led by Sangeetha Kodoth, M.D., who is board certified by both the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Dr. Kodoth completed her pediatric residency at Westchester County Medical Center and her allergy, asthma, and immunology fellowship at North Shore University Hospital in New York, and has practiced in East Tennessee since 2002. The practice operates a Knoxville office in the Bearden/Middlebrook area on Dowell Springs Boulevard, along with a second office in Jefferson City. It treats hay fever, asthma, eczema, hives, environmental and food allergy, anaphylaxis, drug allergy, recurrent sinusitis, immunodeficiency, and bee sting allergy, and offers allergy testing, immunotherapy, oral immunotherapy for food allergies, and the esophageal string test for monitoring eosinophilic esophagitis.

3. The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center

Address: 801 Weisgarber Road, Suite 200, Knoxville, TN 37909
Phone: (865) 584-0962
Website: https://www.allergyasc.com
Services: allergy skin testing, 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 began as a Knoxville practice that opened in July 1970 and has grown into a multi-state group with offices 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, caring for infant, pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients. Its Knoxville office on Weisgarber Road is one of the group’s longstanding Tennessee locations and provides comprehensive diagnostic testing, immunotherapy, and biologic treatment for allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic sinus disease, and food and drug allergies. The center’s multidisciplinary model brings allergy, asthma, and sinus care together under one practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergists in Knoxville

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 such as asthma, food allergy, and recurrent sinusitis.

Q: How do I verify that a Knoxville 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 Knoxville treat?

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

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

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. Many Knoxville 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 Knoxville?

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.