Infant Feeding, Food Allergy Treatment, and Compassion in Medicine with Dr. Manisha Relan

Dr. Doug Jones sits down with Dr. Manisha Relan, board-certified pediatric allergist and author of the AAP book on solid food introduction. They discuss maintaining calm and compassion while staying informed, challenges in private practice (insurance, burnout, access to care), early allergen introduction, food allergy treatment options, common mistakes parents make, and practical edits for families.

Introductions and Background

Dr. Doug Jones: Thank you for joining today. I'm so excited to have you on as a guest. It's been an honor to get to know you over the last few years. Why don't you introduce yourself to the community and let's kick it off.

Dr. Manisha Relan: I'm honored to be here. I'm Manisha Relan, a board-certified pediatric allergist. I see all ages in private practice with an academic mindset. I'm drawn to the gaps in knowledge and community practice, which led me into social media — that's how we met and connected.

Social Media, Connection, and Community Engagement

Dr. Doug Jones: It's fascinating how social media has expanded our network. We've probably passed each other in conference halls for years, but never connected until the social media committee. Your engagement with your community is impressive — the quality of comments and interaction reflects the quality content and vibe you put out.

Dr. Manisha Relan: Thank you. My goal is for everyone to feel calm and informed when they come to me.

Staying Calm While Staying Informed

Dr. Doug Jones: How do you maintain calmness while being informed? A lot of people let information disrupt their peace.

Dr. Manisha Relan: I ask myself: What can I control? What can I take away from this? At what point is noise just noise? I tune down the volume. Whether we speak the same language or not, the prevailing theme is love. You care about your child — that's why you're here. Start from that place of love and come back to it when things spiral.

Compassion and Love as the Foundation

Dr. Doug Jones: That's beautiful. I love how you start with love. Years ago, after a lot of therapy and EMDR, my therapist helped me find one thing to hold onto in a free fall: compassion. When stressed or in disagreement, I ask: What does compassion lead me to?

Dr. Manisha Relan: Life is short. We are a tiny speck in this big continuum. Don't live full of anxiety or misunderstanding. If I can change one person's understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis, I consider it a win.

Challenges in Private Practice

Dr. Doug Jones: What's the most prevailing challenge in your region right now — for you as a doctor or for your patients?

Dr. Manisha Relan: Access to care. We have amazing therapies like oral immunotherapy, but breaking down barriers to bring them to the community is hard. Scheduling roadblocks, staffing shortages, and system failures limit capacity. We're all human and busy, but the system doesn't support the demand.

Dr. Doug Jones: Shortages are increasing. Many allergists are leaving due to burnout and financial survival — reimbursement is down while overhead and prior authorizations are skyrocketing.

Infant Feeding and Early Allergen Introduction

Dr. Manisha Relan: My biggest passion is infant feeding. I co-authored the AAP book on solid food introduction. I still see 8–9 month olds who haven't been introduced to nuts because of fear. I tell parents: You can do this. There are amazing resources. Early introduction is not 100% effective, but it's powerful.

Food Allergy Treatment Options and OIT

Dr. Manisha Relan: If I had more time, I'd talk more about treatment options. I ask: Is this a good time? Are you ready? This is a 10–15 minute nuanced conversation about goals, pros, cons, and access. What you think you want isn't always what someone else wants.

Top Mistakes and Dr. Manisha Relan’s Edits

Dr. Doug Jones: What are the top 2–3 edits you wish people would make?

Dr. Manisha Relan:1. Follow your gut — if a visit or interaction doesn't feel right, get a second opinion.2. Have compassion and forgiveness — we are all humans treating humans.3. Check your sources — misinformation spreads fast. Follow the money as a sniff test.

Thank you for tuning in to The Immune Edit. This show is separate from my clinical practice at Global Allergy Immune Network and is for educational purposes only.

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