CHOC wants its patients and families to get to know its specialists. Today, meet Dr. Sarah Samimi Field, pediatric allergist and immunologist at CHOC. Dr. Field attended Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatric/Adult Allergy and Immunology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has been on staff at CHOC for four years.
Q: What are your special clinical interests?
A: Eosinophilic esophagitis, asthma, urticaria, food allergy and allergic rhinitis.
Q: Are you involved in any current research?
A: We have been actively enrolling patients in research trials for asthma, chronic urticaria, eczema and allergic rhinitis for many years.
Q: Are there any new programs or developments within your specialty?
A: Yes, in our EoE (eosinophilic esophagitis) clinic; see CHOC’s EoE website. I collaborate with gastroenterology and nutrition to offer a one-of-a kind EoE clinic for Southern California and beyond.
Q: What are your most common diagnoses?
A: Asthma, seasonal and perennial allergies, food allergy and eczema.
Q: What would you most like community/referring providers to know about you/your division at CHOC?
A: As allergists we also treat and manage asthma. We also encourage any patient with food allergy to be evaluated in our clinic for management and testing. We do a lot of education that patients and families can benefit from. In addition, we see both adult and pediatric patients in our practice.
Q: What inspires you most about the care being delivered at CHOC?
A: As a parent myself of two young children, I am always motivated to treat my patients with the same care I would want for my own family. I like to empower our patients with the information and newest research available to make the best decision for the treatment of their specific conditions or diseases. I am always humbled to take care of patients who have been part of our practice since they were children; some of them have been with us for over 30 years. Many times they bring their children, even grandchildren!
Q: At what moment did you decide you wanted to be a doctor?
A: I decided at a very young age I wanted to pursue medicine, motivated in part by my father who is also a physician.
Q: If you weren’t a physician, what would you be and why?
A: I would pursue a creative job. I love stationery and invitations. I love the sentiment and whimsical nature of a handwritten note as paper seems to be obsolete these days.
Q: What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
A: I love spending time with my family. I’ve recently also started Pilates, and it has fast become my new favorite activity.
