Our multidisciplinary staff is dedicated to ensuring our patients are able to live their lives uninterrupted by asthma. Our team of experts works closely with each other and the patient in order to provide excellent patient care.   

Our Clinical Team

Mary C. Tobin, MD, allergist, University Consultants in Allergy and Immunology. Mary C. Tobin, MD, is division director for the Department of Immunology/Microbiology at Rush University Medical Center. Tobin received her medical degree from Rush Medical College in 1977. She also completed her residency in internal medicine, including serving as chief resident, and a fellowship in allergy and immunology at Rush. She founded and served as the director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine before returning to Rush to join the faculty and staff in 1999. Since her return, Tobin took the lead in establishing Rush's Asthma Center of Excellence. She has also served on the Medical Care Evaluation Committee and the Clinical Performance Committee, and as chair of the Asthma Committee. Tobin's areas of clinical and research interest are food allergies, irritable bowel syndrome and the manifestation of allergic disease in women.

Brian Stein, MD, MS, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, co-director of the Rush University Asthma Center. Stein is board-certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine.

His clinical interests are the diagnosis and treatment of difficult-to-manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Stein's research focuses on the quality of care delivered to patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Christopher D. Codispoti, MD, MS, allergist, University Consultants in Allergy and Immunology. Codispoti received his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He returned to the University of Cincinnati for his allergy/immunology fellowship. Codispoti is also working on his doctoral dissertation in epidemiology. His research interests include allergic rhinitis, asthma and comparative outcomes research.

Susan Fox, MMS, PA-C, physician assistant, University Consultants in Allergy and Immunology, program coordinator, Rush University Asthma Center. Susan has been a part of the asthma team for nine years. Prior to becoming a physician assistant, she conducted basic science asthma research and coordinated asthma clinical trials here at Rush. After completing her physician assistant training and master's in medical science, she practiced in an ear, nose and throat clinic, often seeing patients with sinus disease, GERD, vocal cord dysfunction and allergic rhinitis. Susan is excited to be a part of the asthma center and its multidisciplinary approach to treating asthma. She has a particular interest in preventive medicine, focusing on the whole individual in order to optimize overall health. Also, having an interest in complementary and alternative medicine, Susan hopes to integrate yoga, meditation and breathing techniques into the Asthma Center.

Paige Bastian, RN, AE-C, clinical nurse coordinator, Rush University Asthma Center. Paige's nursing experience is in obstetrical nursing. She specialized in labor and delivery for seven years. Prior to joining Rush, she worked for an allergy and asthma specialty physician group in private practice. She is involved in direct patient care as well as patient and family education. Paige enjoys teaching as well as being a contact for all patients coming to the Asthma Center. As a coordinator, she works together with specialists and sub specialists to address the special needs of asthma patients and their families, from common to complex.

Other specialist consultants on our team

Garth Swanson, MD, gastroenterologist. An assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Digestive Diseases. His practice focuses on the diagnosis, management and treatment of common gastrointestinal diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Current management of GERD relies on medical therapy and techniques such as upper endoscopy and BRAVO ph testing. Uncontrolled acid reflux can exacerbate the chronic airway hyperreactivity and inflammation in asthma, and the proper diagnosis and treatment of acid related disorders such as GERD are important in the management and quality of life in asthma patients.

Paul Jones, MD, director of pediatric otolaryngology. With more than 20 years of experience in treating pediatric patients with asthma, Jones is a pediatric airway evaluation specialist in direct laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, and can rule out asthma-like condition (paradoxical vocal cord movement, vocal cord paralysis, benign growths, congenital narrowing and external compression of the airways). Studies have shown that control of these co-existing conditions improves a patient's quality of life and decreases the amount of medication needed to control asthma symptoms, decreases rescue inhaler use, decreases unplanned ER or hospital visits, and should be part of an overall asthma management plan.

Jay Dutton, MD, University Head and Neck Associates. As an ENT sinus specialist, Dutton is well versed in the numerous studies that have demonstrated the link between chronic sinusitis, nasal polyposis and asthma. By improving sinus issues through medical or surgical means, those with asthma benefit. Patients who undergo sinus surgery, for example, require less frequent use of rescue asthma medications.

Other subspecialties

• Speech and hearing
• Sleep medicine
• Respiratory therapy
• Sports medicine
• Women's health
• Psychology

Core Faculty

Robert Balk, MD, director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Alan Landay, PhD, chairman, Department of Immunology and Microbiology
Larry Thomas, PhD, professor, Department of Immunology and Microbiology