Anjuli Seth Nayak, MD Lectureship: Investing Together in Our Future
Anjuli S. Nayak, MD, FAAAAI was an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine in Chicago. She was a founder of Sneeze, Wheeze, and Itch Associates, a private practice and research center in Normal, Illinois.
She received her early schooling and medical degree in India. After her pediatrics residency at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Peoria and the Jersey City Medical Center in New Jersey, she completed a fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Nayak was principal investigator of multiple clinical trials in drug development and her publications and articles have exceeded 500 in peer-reviewed journals. In recognition of her work, she received the Outstanding Clinical, Technological, and Scholarly Achievement Award applied to Medical Research by the faculty for the University of Illinois in 2000-2001 and in 2007-2008. Nayak served on multiple sub-specialty committees and as a sections chair for The College and The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology. She was awarded the Women in Allergy award in 2011 by the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, and in 2012 was honored with the President’s Humanitarian award by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology for her work in India, including her care of orphans, establishment of a hospital and the Anjuli S. Nayak Nursing School. For her community involvement, she was nominated for the Young Women’s Christian Association’s Woman of Distinction award on two occasions.
Her support of the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois included the establishment of the Nayak Family Foundation Endowed Research Lecture Series in Evidence-Based and Clinical Translational Medicine. The series brings nationally and internationally renowned speakers to the campus several times a year to address students regarding current issues and trends in evidence-based and clinical translational medicine and research. On July 12, 2012, the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Chicago established the Anjuli S. Nayak, MD., Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics.
Dr. Nayak passed away in November of 2016. She is survived by her three sons, David Nayak, MD, MPH; Zachary Nayak, MD, and Luke Nayak, MD.
AAAAI Foundation and Anjuli Seth Nayak, MD Lectureship
| Year | Lecturer | Lecture Topic |
| 2013 | Larry Borish, MD, FAAAAI | Award Presentation at Symposium Session : Response to Viral Infections in the Atopic Host: Is it Deficient? |
| 2014 | Luz S. Fonacier, MD, FAAAAI | Award Presentation at Symposium Session: Update of the Allergic Contact Dermatitis Practice Parameter: What's New in 2014? |
| 2015 | Karin A. Pacheco, MD, MSPH FAAAAI | Award Presentation at Symposium Session: The Air We Breathe: Indoor and Outdoor Pollutants |
| 2016 | Seema Sharma Aceves, MD, PhD FAAAAI | Award presentation at Plenary Session: The Exposome: The Dynamic Role of the Environment in Shaping Risk for Disease |
| 2017 | Tanya Laidlaw, MD, FAAAAI | The New Faces of Drug Allergy |
Dr. Nayak's Lectureship was sunsetted in 2017. If you wish to contribute in her honor, please make your donations to the AAAAI Foundation's GAIN Campaign, to fund research that leads to the prevention and cure of asthma and allergic and immunologic disease. Dr. Nayak's Family will be notified of your gift in memory, and your name will be listed as a donor in the Annual Report of the AAAAI Foundation. Your donation makes a difference. We appreciate your support and your commitment to our specialty.
For questions or to make a contribution by phone call the AAAAI Foundation Office at (414) 272-6071