- D1.541 - Addressing Allergy undergraduate education: Strategic Reforms for Specialist-Led Allergy teaching in Medical Curricula. A EAACI Tailored Education Committee Task Force

Despite Allergy being one of the most common chronic conditions, undergraduate allergy education is characterized by marginalization and fragmentation, often treated as a low-priority topic. This neglect leads to a significant gap in physicians’ knowledge and a superficial grasp of such global condition. In response to these concerns, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Tailored Education Committee conducted a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the current state of allergy education within undergraduate medical programs across different regions.

A structured questionnaire was distributed by the EAACI.  The questionnaire was completed by 124 respondents across 41 countries, including educators, students, and national medical organizations. The study used a comparison framework to map educational practices, tracking university affiliations, faculty roles, and credit systems. Evaluation metrics focused on the prevalence, visibility, and structural delivery of allergy-related topics within undergraduate medical programs to identify global curricular gaps and trends.

Data reveals that allergy as a core subject in undergraduate medicine school is highly inconsistent, ranging from 0.5 to 3 (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) ECTS credits. Regarding curriculum structure, the responses provided slightly conflicting scenarios: one dataset indicates 29 (29.6%) universities offer standalone courses while 41 (41.8%) offer neither standalone nor integrated options; conversely, another metric suggests 72% (72/98) of programs integrate allergy into other subjects. Currently, most teaching is fragmented across immunology, dermatology, and pediatrics. Teaching is frequently performed by non-specialists, though allergists represent the largest faculty group (41.0%). Student interest remains lukewarm, with only 16.1% reporting high interest. Respondents identified the primary educational gaps as lack of dedicated time, insufficient practical clinical experience, and the disconnect between basic immunological theory and clinical application, emphasizing that the absence of specialists directly compromises the quality of education and future clinical care.

Clear deficiencies are observed in undergraduate allergy education. To address these gaps, allergy must be established as a mandatory, standalone subject taught by certified specialists. Strategic reform should include at least 10–20 hours of core instruction and mandatory clinical rotations to ensure curricula standardization, as well as increasing the involvement of specialized faculty in education delivery. This project aims to modernize teaching methods and ensure that future physicians are better equipped to manage allergic diseases.