Business Details
29 Years
experience
Your Trusted Allergy & Asthma Specialists in Rhode Island
Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island (AAPRI) is a leading medical practice dedicated to transforming the lives of patients suffering from allergies and asthma through innovative, patient-centered care. Founded by Dr. John Zwetchkenbaum over 28 years ago, our practice combines traditional medicine with functional medicine to identify and treat the root causes of chronic conditions, rather than merely managing symptoms. Our team of board-certified allergists and specialists utilizes advanced diagnostic tools and evidence-based therapies, including sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) and oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies, to provide long-term relief and improved quality of life.As pioneers in clinical research, we offer patients access to cutting-edge treatments through our multi-specialty research center, ensuring our practice remains at the forefront of medical advancements. With three convenient locations across Rhode Island, we serve a diverse patient base, emphasizing personalized care, patient education, and a holistic approach to wellness. Our commitment to excellence has earned recognition, including the 2025 TopDoc award for Dr. Zwetchkenbaum, and countless testimonials from patients who have found lasting solutions to chronic conditions like asthma, food allergies, and environmental sensitivities.
Services
Allergy Testing
Asthma Treatment
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Oral Immunotherapy
Functional Medicine
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We combine traditional and functional medicine to address root causes of allergies and asthma.
- Our team includes board-certified allergists with decades of combined clinical experience.
- We offer sublingual immunotherapy for long-term allergy relief with fewer office visits.
- We pioneered oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies in Rhode Island.
- Our practice conducts clinical research to advance allergy and asthma treatment options.
What people say
Correctly diagnosed my conditions
Friendly and informative staff
Lifelong hay fever relief
No unnecessary testing
Whole person approach
Services
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) gradually builds tolerance to allergens by administering small doses under the tongue. This treatment reduces symptoms of environmental allergies and asthma by addressing immune system responses. Patients benefit from at-home administration, fewer side effects, and long-term relief compared to traditional allergy shots.
Oral Immunotherapy
Oral immunotherapy (OIT) treats food allergies through controlled exposure to allergens under medical supervision. Our structured protocol gradually increases tolerance to foods like peanuts, milk, or eggs. Patients achieve desensitization over six months, significantly reducing reaction risks and improving dietary freedom for long-term management.
Allergy Testing
Our comprehensive allergy testing identifies triggers through skin tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges. We diagnose environmental, food, and skin allergies with precision. This foundational step enables personalized treatment plans targeting specific allergens, ensuring effective symptom management and disease modification.
Asthma Treatment
Asthma treatment combines medication management with functional medicine to address underlying inflammation and triggers. We develop customized plans to control symptoms, reduce attack frequency, and improve lung function. Patients receive education on trigger avoidance and long-term disease management strategies.
Functional Medicine
Functional medicine explores root causes of chronic conditions through detailed patient histories and systems-based analysis. We integrate gut health, immune function, and lifestyle factors into treatment plans. This approach resolves chronic symptoms by restoring balance to bodily systems for lasting wellness.
People
John Franklin Zwetchkenbaum
Chief Allergist and Founder
Dr. Zwetchkenbaum founded AAPRI 28 years ago after personal struggles with severe asthma. A Brown University graduate, he completed allergy training at National Jewish Health and authored 'Allergy Free with Dr. Z.' His functional medicine certification drives holistic patient care.
Vikram Malik
Allergy and Immunology Physician
Dr. Malik specializes in food allergies and immunology, joining AAPRI from Ochsner LSU Health. He completed internal medicine residency at Medstar Health and allergy fellowship in Shreveport, LA. His research on antibiotic hypersensitivity advances patient safety in allergy care.
Questions
What is sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops)?
Allergy drops gradually build tolerance to allergens by placing small doses under the tongue daily. This treatment reduces symptoms of environmental allergies and asthma with fewer side effects than shots.
Is oral immunotherapy (OIT) safe for children?
Yes, OIT is conducted under strict medical supervision for children and adults. Our protocol starts with tiny food allergen doses, gradually increasing tolerance while monitoring reactions in-office weekly.
How do you diagnose allergies accurately?
We use skin tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges to identify triggers. This comprehensive approach ensures precise diagnosis of environmental, food, or skin allergies for effective treatment planning.
What makes functional medicine different?
Functional medicine identifies root causes of chronic conditions by analyzing gut health, immune function, and lifestyle factors. This approach resolves symptoms at their source rather than masking them with medication.
Do you treat both children and adults?
Yes, our specialists care for patients of all ages, addressing pediatric food allergies, adult asthma, and chronic conditions like eczema or seasonal allergies across the lifespan.
Are allergy drops covered by insurance?
Allergy drops are typically not covered by insurance but cost less than allergy shots long-term. Our team provides detailed cost breakdowns and payment options during initial consultations.
