Update on Severe Asthma

2024 Course Overview

Information for the 2025 course is not yet available.

Assessment and management of severe asthma are issues currently at the forefront of modern asthma investigation and care. This two-day, live, hybrid (in-person and on-line) course will provide insights from a multidisciplinary team representing the Severe Asthma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with special guest lecturers, Drs. John Fahy (UCSF) and Nizar Jarjour (University of Wisconsin). Our focus will include both pediatric and adult patients with asthma. We will devote one day to assessment of severe asthma and complicating illnesses and one day to asthma management, including novel treatment options and strategies. Lectures will cover topics in the immunology and genetics of severe asthma; aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease; eosinophilic lung diseases including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; occupational asthma; obesity and asthma; and special considerations in school-age children. Presentations on the contribution of gastroesophageal reflux disease, upper airway obstruction, and sinusitis/nasal polyposis will be given by a gastroenterologist, voice specialist and otolaryngologists, respectively. We will focus on the treatment of asthma, including recent GINA and NAEPP guidelines; modern biologics; and novel therapies in development. We will review in depth our protocol for the evaluation of severe asthma and have opportunities to discuss interesting cases of severe asthma. This course is appropriate for allergists, pulmonologists and other specialists with an interest in the management of severe asthma. 

Who Should Attend

• Primary Care Physicians
•  Specialty Physicians 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Systematically evaluate difficult-to-control asthma. 

• Identify specific severe asthma phenotypes/endotypes. 

• Utilize novel asthma therapeutics with confidence.