WEBINAR: From Emergency to Every Day: Best Practices for Managing Food Allergy in Schools
An informative session designed for school nurses committed to supporting students with food allergies, addressing such issues as adopting Food Allergy Management in Schools expert recommendations, understanding anaphylaxis guidelines, and differentiating between 504 Plans and IEPs.
Monday, September 22, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. ET
School is back in session! As students return to the classroom, school nurses play a key role in ensuring the health and safety of students.
In this webinar, expert panelists will explore Food Allergy Management in Schools (FAMS): Expert Recommendations for K–12. The session will provide a detailed overview of current best practices, including updated anaphylaxis guidelines, key distinctions between 504 Plans and IEPs, and actionable strategies to support students with food allergies. Whether you're just starting the process or seeking better support, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions.
Our featured speakers are Liz Dixon, MD; Mike Pistiner, MD, MMSC; and Mary Vargas, JD; joined by moderator Dr. Kelly Cleary, FARE's Medical Director. Join us for an empowering and informative session designed for school nurses committed to supporting students with food allergies.
About the Panelists
Dr. Kelly Cleary
Dr. Kelly Cleary is the Medical Director for FARE. She oversees FARE’s national education efforts and maintains a variety of programs, resources, and relationships for the food allergic, their families, and caregivers. Previously, Kelly was the Medical Director of Psychopharmacology for PM Behavioral Health, where she was responsible for the oversight of medication management and operations for the behavioral health service. Kelly also co-founded UrgiKids, a pediatric urgent care in Naperville, Illinois which was subsequently acquired by PM Pediatrics. A graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Kelly completed her Pediatrics residency at New York Presbyterian Cornell, and finished her Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at NYU-Bellevue. She is currently pursuing a master’s in public health degree at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Liz Dixon, MP
Liz Dixon is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the food and health industry. Since 2013, she has served as an Education and Training Specialist at the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), where she develops practical, research-based food safety educational resources—covering topics like food allergies—for K–12 schools, CACFP, and SFSP programs.
Liz holds a Master’s degree in Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Sciences from Clemson University and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Auburn University. She has earned certificates in Designing Learning, Microlearning, and Writing for Instructional Design and Training through ATD Education, strengthening her expertise in adult learning and instructional development.
In addition to her work at ICN, Liz is a certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), an AFAA-certified Group Fitness Instructor, and a licensed Zumba Instructor. She is passionate about promoting wellness and enjoys leading group fitness classes and hiking with her dogs in her free time.
Mike Pistiner, MD, MMSC
Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc is Director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention for the MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Food Allergy Center. He has a special interests in food allergy and anaphylaxis education and advocacy, infant food allergy management, healthcare provider education, facilitating collaborations between the medical home and school health, and maintaining quality of life in children (and their families) with food allergies.
Dr. Pistiner is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), where he is a member of the Section on Allergy and Immunology Executive Committee, Council on School Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the AAP. He is also a member of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Additionally, he serves on the medical advisory board of Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter and is a voluntary consultant for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health School Health Service Unit. He is author of Everyday Cool With Food Allergies, co-author of the Living Confidently With Food Allergy handbook, and co-founder and content creator of AllergyHome.org.
Mary Vargas, JD
Mary Vargas is a partner with Stein & Vargas, LLP, based in Washington, D.C. where she engages in nationwide impact litigation in federal courts on behalf of individuals with disabilities who experience discrimination. Vargas represents individuals with disabilities in matters filed pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act. Vargas has a special interest in discrimination against individuals with food allergies and celiac disease.
Vargas has won key victories throughout the United States on behalf of individuals with disabilities including in Argenyi v. Creighton University in which Vargas served as lead trial and appellate counsel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit resulting in a finding that it was discrimination to deny a deaf medical student accommodations. She also served as lead trial and appellate counsel in Ramsay v. National Board of Medical Examiners which resulted in a preliminary injunction being awarded to a medical student with learning disabilities who needed accommodations on the United States Medical Licensing Examination with Vargas successfully defending the preliminary injunction in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Vargas also argued National Association of the Deaf v. State of Florida in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit which held that deaf citizens have a right to participation in civic life. Vargas also argued J.D. v. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit establishing that venues may be required to permit people with medically necessary dietary restrictions to bring in their own safe food.
Vargas was awarded the 2017 FARE Vision Award for advocacy on behalf of children with food allergies and the 2016 Eagle Award for her role as lead trial and appellate counsel in groundbreaking litigation on behalf of a deaf medical student. She is a 1998 Skadden Fellow and a 1994 Truman Scholar. Prior to starting Stein & Vargas, LLP, Vargas worked as a Staff Attorney at the National Association of the Deaf.
Vargas speaks nationally on issues relating to disability rights, food allergy, celiac disease, and educational equity and has served on multiple expert panels to develop national guidelines for management of food allergies and celiac disease in k-12 education and college.
She is admitted to practice in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, as well as multiple federal district courts throughout the country. She is has argued before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the 2d, 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 11th Circuits and is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court.
Vargas lives in Frederick County, Maryland with her three children and three unruly Italian Greyhounds.
This webinar is supported by Genentech.
