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Cleveland Clinic Opens Food Allergy Treatment Center

The Food Allergy Center will be located at Cleveland Clinic's Strongsville Family Health Center
GOOGLE EARTH
The Food Allergy Center will be located at Cleveland Clinic's Strongsville Family Health Center

People with food allergies have a new option for treatment in Northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Clinic opened its Food Allergy Center in Strongsville this week.

The facility offers personalized care to pediatric and adult patients.

Sandra Hong, M.D. is the director of Cleveland Clinic's new Food Allergy Center
Credit CLEVELAND CLINIC
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CLEVELAND CLINIC
Sandra Hong, M.D. is the director of Cleveland Clinic's new Food Allergy Center

Center director Sandra Hong, MD said patients with food allergies experience unique challenges beyond diet.

“I’ve asked my patients ‘Have you ever been bullied?’" Dr. Hong said. "Because the numbers are, if you have just one food allergy you have a 25% chance of having been bullied in some way. If you have multiple food allergies, which is extremely common, you have a 50% chance of being bullied at some point,” Dr. Hong said. 

The center includes a team of pediatric psychologists, allergists, and registered dietitians to work with patients. Hong said the center works with patients and parents to help treat allergy-related anxiety.

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Amanda Levine is currently a senior journalism major with a minor in sports administration. Prior to being an intern at WKSU, Amanda has experience as both a reporter and an editor. She was a sports reporter for the Kent Stater and eventually, an Assigning Editor. She also has experience covering campus activism and the 2019 government shutdown.
Nathan joined WKSU as an intern in May 2019. Nathan is a broadcast journalism student at Kent State. He’s previously been a correspondent for TV2 as well as a crew member of Teleproductions. His interests include entertainment and culture.