By: Lynda Mitchell, MA, CAE, Chief Executive Officer  

Allergy & Asthma Network is a national patient organization that works to improve the lives of people living with asthma, allergies, and related conditions. For more than 40 years, we have helped patients and families get trusted information, care, and support they need to manage their health and live full, active lives.  

What Is Your Organization’s Mission?  

Allergy & Asthma Network’s mission is to advance patient-centered research and advocate for better outcomes, access to care, education, and treatments that improve health and quality of life. We believe healthcare works best when it is shaped by the real-life experiences, needs, and priorities of patients and caregivers.  

Tell Us About the Communities You Serve  

We serve children, adults, caregivers, and families nationwide who are impacted by asthma, allergies, and related conditions. Together, these conditions affect an estimated 100 million people of all ages and backgrounds across the United States.  

We focus on reaching communities that are underserved or more heavily impacted by respiratory and allergic diseases. By addressing challenges like limited access to care, lack of culturally appropriate education, and gaps in health knowledge, we strive to reduce health differences and improve outcomes for all patients.  

What Are Your Organization’s Main Programs or Issue Areas?  

Allergy & Asthma Network focuses on three main areas:  

Education and Outreach:  

We provide trusted, science-based resources, including webinars, podcasts, toolkits, and patient guides. We have distributed more than 1 million Respiratory Treatments posters over the past 10 years. These medically reviewed resources and tools help people better understand their conditions, treatment options, and how to manage their health day to day. Our programs encourage self-advocacy and shared decision-making between patients and health care providers.  

Key education programs include:  

• USAsthma Summit: Our annual conference brings together health care professionals, community health workers, asthma program leaders, and patients to support guidelines-based asthma care.  

• Trusted Messengers Program: This health equity initiative brings asthma and allergy education to under-resourced communities.  

We also provide medically reviewed information and support for lesser-known allergic and immune conditions. These include chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic urticaria, and mast cell diseases.  

Advocacy and Policy:  

We work at the federal and state levels to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care. We support policies that reflect patient needs and real-life experiences.  

Key advocacy efforts include:  

• Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH): Our annual advocacy day each May connects patients and advocates with lawmakers to advocate for bills important to our community.  

• Patient Advocacy Leadership Initiative (PALI):  This new training program helps patient advocates build skills and confidence to speak up at the state and federal levels.  

Patient-Centered Research and Engagement  

We are proud to be a national leader in patient-centered, community-engaged research that supports real-world change. This past year alone we’ve authored or co-authored 11 publications to advance research for our community.  

We work to make sure patient voices are included in research studies, clinical trials, and health care decisions. This helps ensure new treatments reflect what matters most to patients. Together, these efforts help connect patients, health care providers, researchers, and policymakers.  

How Does Your Work Relate to the National Health Council’s Mission and the Work of Our Members?  

Allergy & Asthma Network shares the National Health Council’s focus on patient-centered health care and policy. We believe meaningful partnerships and the active involvement of patients are essential to strengthening health systems and improving outcomes.  

Our work complements NHC’s mission. We advocate for policies that promote access and health equity. We support research that reflects patient priorities, and we partner across sectors to elevate the patient voice in health care and policy decisions.  

Is There an Accomplishment Your Organization Is Most Proud of?  

We are proud to be a leader in patient-centered, community-engaged outreach, research, and advocacy. By working in partnership with patients, health care providers, researchers, and policymakers, we have helped shape policies, research priorities, and education programs. Our work reflects real-life needs and leads to better health outcomes, especially for communities that have long been underserved.  

What Are You Most Looking Forward to in Your Work This Year?  

We look forward to expanding our efforts to strengthen patient advocacy, health equity, and community engagement. In 2026, we are focused on growing key programs, particularly Trusted Messengers and the Patient Advocacy Leadership Initiative. Both of these programs educate and empower people and equip them with tools to advocate for themselves and others.  

We are also eager to work with partners across the health care ecosystem, including fellow National Health Council members. We want to work together to advance patient-centered research, improve access to care, and ensure that patient voices remain central to policy and health care decision-making.  

Allergy & Asthma Network is a new member of the National Health Council. For more information on NHC membership, please email membership@nhcouncil.org.