The 5 Best Allergists in California
Board-certified allergy & asthma specialists in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, and beyond.
If over-the-counter antihistamines aren't cutting it anymore, a board-certified allergist-immunologist can pinpoint exactly what you're reacting to and build a treatment plan — including immunotherapy that can reduce your sensitivity for good. Our editors researched allergists across California and curated the five standouts below based on board certification, affiliations, peer recognition, and patient reputation. Before your visit, check today's pollen levels in California so you can tell your doctor what was in the air when your symptoms flared.
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Iris M. Otani, MD
UCSF Health – Allergy & Immunology Clinic
San Francisco, CA
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyMD, UC San Diego School of MedicineResidency in Internal Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical CenterFellowship in Allergy & Immunology, Massachusetts General HospitalMedical Director and Fellowship Program Director, UCSF Allergy & ImmunologyVice-Chair, ACAAI Accreditation and Certification CommitteeEditorial Board, Annals of Allergy Asthma and ImmunologyDr. Otani serves as Medical Director and Fellowship Program Director for the UCSF Allergy & Immunology Clinic, with specialized expertise in drug allergy testing for hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. Her research has transformed the evaluation of antibiotic allergies and chemotherapy reactions, and she sits on the ACAAI Accreditation and Certification Committee.
Areas of focus: Drug allergy · Antibiotic allergy evaluation · Chemotherapy hypersensitivity · Immunodeficiency
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Michele N. Pham, MD
UCSF Health – Allergy & Immunology Clinic
San Francisco, CA
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineMD, UC San Diego School of MedicineResidency in Internal Medicine, UC San DiegoFellowship in Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiDirector of Adult Clinical Immunology, UCSFDr. Pham is the Director of Adult Clinical Immunology at UCSF and leads the Complex Clinical Immunology and Primary Immunodeficiency Transition of Care Clinic. She also heads UCSF's Adult Food Allergy Program and is active in multiple AAAAI and Clinical Immunology Society committees.
Areas of focus: Primary immunodeficiency · Food allergy · Skin allergy · Vaccine immunogenicity · Clinical immunology
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Robert W. Eitches, MD
Tower Allergy
Los Angeles, CA
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyFellow of the AAAAI (FAAAAI)AB, Princeton UniversityMD, Upstate Medical University (SUNY Syracuse)Fellowship in Adult and Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, UCLAAssistant Clinical Professor, UCLA School of MedicineAttending Physician, Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterCastle Connolly Top Doctor (25+ consecutive years)Los Angeles Magazine Best Physicians (10+ years)Dr. Eitches co-founded Tower Allergy in 1983 and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for over 25 consecutive years and a Los Angeles Magazine Best Physician for more than a decade. He holds a faculty appointment at UCLA School of Medicine and is an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Areas of focus: Allergy testing and immunotherapy · Contact dermatitis · Asthma · Food allergy
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James D. Wolfe, MD
Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California
San Jose, CA
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Pulmonary DiseaseMD, UCSF School of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha)Residency and Pulmonary Fellowship, UCLAFellowship in Allergy & Immunology, Johns Hopkins UniversityClinical Professor of Medicine, Stanford UniversityFormer Chairman, Allergy & Immunology Division, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (27 years)Dr. Wolfe is a senior clinical figure in Bay Area allergy with over 40 years in practice at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California. A Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford, he served as Chairman of the Allergy and Immunology Division at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for 27 years and has over 400 clinical studies to his credit, including publications in NEJM and JAMA.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Allergic rhinitis · Pulmonary allergy · Clinical research
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Jyothi I. Tirumalasetty, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Stanford Health Care – Allergy, Asthma & Immunodeficiency Clinic
Stanford (Palo Alto), CA
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyFellow of the AAAAI (FAAAAI)Fellow of the ACAAI (FACAAI)MD, Drexel University College of Medicine / Hahnemann UniversityResidency in Internal Medicine, Northwestern UniversityFellowship in Allergy & Immunology, Northwestern UniversityClinical Assistant Professor, Stanford University School of MedicineDr. Tirumalasetty is a board-certified allergist-immunologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in Stanford's Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine. She specializes in asthma and adult food and drug allergies and is a Fellow of both the AAAAI and ACAAI, with memberships in the World Allergy Organization and European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Food allergy · Drug allergy · Biologics for asthma · Allergen immunotherapy
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How we chose the best allergists in California
Our editorial team researched allergy and immunology specialists practicing across California and selected these five based on:
- Board certification in Allergy & Immunology (ABAI)
- Hospital and academic affiliations with respected medical centers
- Peer recognition, including Top Doctor awards and professional society roles
- Practice reputation and years of experience treating allergy and asthma patients
- Geographic spread across California's major metro areas
These listings are editorial picks, not paid placements or medical endorsements, and we have no financial relationship with any provider listed. Physician availability, insurance participation, and credentials change — always verify directly with the practice before booking. This page is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a good allergist in California?
Look for board certification in Allergy & Immunology, hospital or academic affiliations, and an established practice. Every allergist on this list was vetted against those criteria.
Do I need a referral?
It depends on your insurance plan, not the state. Most PPO plans let you book directly; HMO plans usually require a referral from your primary care physician.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
A list of your symptoms and when they occur, your current medications, your insurance card, and any relevant medical records. A symptom diary matched against local pollen counts is especially useful for diagnosing seasonal allergies.
Track California pollen before your visit
Allergists can diagnose you faster when you know which days your symptoms flared and what was in the air. MyPollenPal tracks daily tree, grass, and weed pollen levels for cities across California.