FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Columbia Asthma & Allergy Clinic? What do you do?
Columbia Asthma & Allergy Clinic (CAAC) provides medical care to individuals suffering from allergy related illnesses such as asthma, hay fever and hives. CAAC provides a comprehensive medical evaluation of the patient to assess the severity of a patient’s condition, and to make an accurate diagnosis. The clinic is fully equipped to perform various types of skin testing, challenge study, and laboratory investigation to determine allergic sensitivities of an individual. Treatment includes medication, consultation on environmental control measures and immuno-therapy.

Who is the owner of Columbia Asthma & Allergy Clinic?
Sanjeev Jain, M.D., PhD, a highly respected physician and allergist, is the founder and owner of CAAC. Dr. Jain received his doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his residency training in Internal Medicine from the University of Texas in San Antonio. He then received a three-year Allergy and Immunology training from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, following which he moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2001. After serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine - ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the country - and Staff Physician at UWMC, Department of Medicine, Seattle, Dr. Jain and his family relocated to southwest Washington.

Dr. Jain’s wife took a position as the Director of Breast Imaging at Southwest Washington Medical Center, and is now also the Chairperson elect of the Radiology Department. With more than twenty years of education and work experience in faculty and hospital positions and many honors, Dr. Jain focused on fulfilling his vision of building a state-of-the-art allergy clinic which would offer comprehensive medical care in a friendly and comfortable community setting. Dr. Jain has also built a clinical and research laboratory adjacent to the clinic, where he plans to continue his research in the development of new drugs for the treatment of asthma, allergies and other immunological diseases. Dr. Jain and his wife have two children, ages 11 and 4, and they reside in Vancouver.

Why did Dr. Jain open an allergy clinic?
As the only allergist in Camas, Dr. Jain’s vision was to have an inviting, friendly community-based clinic which provides state-of-the-art allergy treatment. Dr. Jain is committed to remain focused in the Camas and East Vancouver community, but he offers services to all of Clark County and the greater Portland area.

The most satisfying aspect about being an allergist is, however, seeing patients who have suffered their entire life make a dramatic improvement. Dr. Jain recalls a former three-year-old patient who had endured 11 hospital admissions. After receiving treatment from Dr. Jain, he has not required additional hospitalizations in 5 years. Through determination of allergic triggers and implementation of appropriate therapy, most patients experience significant improvement.

What process do new patients go through before treatment? How long does it take?
New patients first fill out a questionnaire of past medical history, their present symptoms, and all the medications they’re currently taking. They are then interviewed by a nurse who obtains a detailed history of their symptoms and information about their environment. Depending on their medical condition, patients then receive specialized testing for allergies or lung function, if needed, followed by an evaluation by Dr. Jain. The referring physician is then provided with a detailed, written account of Dr. Jain’s assessment and plan within one week of being seen in the clinic.

The entire process takes approximately two hours, but it provides us with a patient focused, in-depth evaluation versus a superficial, assembly-line approach.

Is it costly to see an allergy specialist?
All allergy treatment and evaluation is covered by most insurance plans. CAAC accepts most insurance plans, although patients may have to pay a small co-pay depending on their plan.

Why should I see an allergy specialist instead of my regular doctor?
Dr. Jain and the staff at CAAC are specialists in allergy and asthma treatment. Dr. Jain obtained a three-year fellowship training in allergy and immunology from Yale University School of Medicine. In addition, the clinic offers specialized testing that only allergists perform, and CAAC is the only allergy clinic in the region which has lab equipment on site for blood testing for allergies. The clinic also provides specialized treatment that only allergists are certified to administer.

What is Dr. Jain’s professional education?
A.B., Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.D., University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio
Fellowship, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

What honors or awards does Dr. Jain have?
1981 Grass Foundation Scholarship for outstanding undergraduate research in Neurobiology
1987-1988 Peterson Fellowship for outstanding graduate student research in Biochemistry
1988-1990 NIH-Sponsored M.D./PhD. (MSTP) Program Fellowship
1992-1993 Elsa U. Pardee Foundation Research Grant
1998-1999 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Fellowship (Schering-Key)
1999-2000 Glaxo Wellcome Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology
2000-2001 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology President's Award (Avantis/Hoechst)
2003-2006 Education Research Trust Faculty Development Award of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (nationally only one such award is granted annually)
2004-2005 Included in the Guide to America’s Top Physicians

What Board Certifications does Dr. Jain have?
Internal Medicine in 1998 and Allergy and Immunology in 2001.

What professional memberships does Dr. Jain have?
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physician, the Washington State Medical Association, and the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland.

How does Dr. Jain stay current in the allergy and immunology fields?
Dr. Jain attends the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting, attends seminars and classes and subscribes to current research journals.

What is your mission statement?
Our mission is to provide world class allergy and asthma care in the comfortable environment of a friendly community facility.