The 4 Best Allergists in Chicago, IL
Board-certified allergy & asthma specialists practicing in Chicago.
If over-the-counter antihistamines stopped working, or your symptoms run for months instead of weeks, a board-certified allergist-immunologist can test what you actually react to and treat the cause. That includes immunotherapy, which lowers your sensitivity over three to five years. Our editors picked the 4 specialists below from the wider Illinois list based on board certification, hospital and academic affiliations, and peer recognition.
Allergists in Chicago at a Glance
- Specialists listed:
- 4, all board-certified in Allergy & Immunology
- Areas covered:
- Chicago
- Practices:
- Northwestern Medicine, UChicago Medicine
- Local pollen season:
- Chicago gets a sharp tree season in April and May with oak, maple, and birch, then grass through June. Ragweed runs from mid-August to the first freeze in mid-October, and lake breezes can push it back over the city in the evening.
Compare Chicago Allergists
| Allergist | Practice | Location | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce S. Bochner, MD | Northwestern Medicine | Chicago, IL | Eosinophilic diseases, Mast cell disorders, Asthma |
| Christina E. Ciaccio, MD, MSc | UChicago Medicine | Chicago, IL | Food allergy, Environmental allergy, Pediatric allergy |
| Paul A. Greenberger, MD | Northwestern Medicine | Chicago, IL | Asthma, Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Drug allergy |
| Leslie C. Grammer, MD | Northwestern Medicine | Chicago, IL | Allergic rhinitis, Chronic rhinosinusitis, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis |
- 1
Bruce S. Bochner, MD
Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, IL
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineSamuel M. Feinberg Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineDr. Bochner is the Samuel M. Feinberg Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and previously directed the Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology at Johns Hopkins from 2003 to 2013. He has authored over 280 peer-reviewed publications and served as an associate editor of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, with pioneering research on inhibitory receptors (Siglecs) on eosinophils and mast cells.
Areas of focus: Eosinophilic diseases · Mast cell disorders · Asthma · Allergic inflammation
Visit practice website → - 2
Christina E. Ciaccio, MD, MSc
UChicago Medicine
Chicago, IL
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyProfessor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of ChicagoSection Chief, Allergy/Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology, UChicago MedicineFellow of the AAAAIDr. Ciaccio is Section Chief of Allergy/Immunology and Pediatric Pulmonology at UChicago Medicine and director of the Center for Food Allergy Care, Education, and Translational Research (FACET). She received the 2011 ACAAI Young Faculty Award and the 2013 Paul Henson Clinical Scholar Award, and serves on the editorial board of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Areas of focus: Food allergy · Environmental allergy · Pediatric allergy · Translational research
Visit practice website → - 3
Paul A. Greenberger, MD
Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, IL
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Diagnostic Laboratory ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineProfessor Emeritus of Medicine (Allergy and Immunology), Northwestern UniversityDr. Greenberger completed his fellowship at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and has practiced allergy and immunology for over 52 years, establishing himself as one of Northwestern's most distinguished clinicians. He is a co-editor of the Northwestern University Allergy-Immunology Syllabus and an authority on allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis · Drug allergy · Anaphylaxis
Visit practice website → - 4
Leslie C. Grammer, MD
Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, IL
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Diagnostic Laboratory ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineAssociate Professor of Medicine (Allergy and Immunology), Northwestern UniversityFellow of the AAAAIDr. Grammer graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1976 and has practiced allergy and immunology for nearly 50 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She is a co-author of the Northwestern University Allergy-Immunology Syllabus and has published extensively on chronic rhinosinusitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Areas of focus: Allergic rhinitis · Chronic rhinosinusitis · Hypersensitivity pneumonitis · Occupational asthma
Visit practice website →
Allergy Season in Chicago
Chicago gets a sharp tree season in April and May with oak, maple, and birch, then grass through June. Ragweed runs from mid-August to the first freeze in mid-October, and lake breezes can push it back over the city in the evening.
Bring dates to your appointment. An allergist can narrow the list of suspects much faster when you can say “this started the second week of April” and match it against what was actually in the air.
- Today's pollen count in Chicago for tree, grass, and weed levels plus a 5-day forecast
- Chicago air quality for ozone and particle pollution, which make pollen symptoms worse
How We Picked These Chicago Allergists
Our editorial team reviewed allergy and immunology specialists practicing across Chicagoland and selected these 4 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 treating allergy and asthma patients
- Coverage across the metro, so the list is not all one hospital system
These listings are editorial picks, not paid placements or medical endorsements, and we have no financial relationship with any provider listed. Availability, insurance participation, and credentials change. Verify directly with the practice before booking. This page is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best allergists in Chicago?
Our editors picked 4 board-certified allergist-immunologists practicing in Chicagoland: Bruce S. Bochner, MD at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago; Christina E. Ciaccio, MD, MSc at UChicago Medicine in Chicago; Paul A. Greenberger, MD at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago; Leslie C. Grammer, MD at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. All are board-certified in Allergy & Immunology.
When is allergy season in Chicago?
Chicago gets a sharp tree season in April and May with oak, maple, and birch, then grass through June. Ragweed runs from mid-August to the first freeze in mid-October, and lake breezes can push it back over the city in the evening.
See today's pollen count in Chicago →Do I need a referral to see an allergist in Chicago?
That depends on your insurance plan, not your city. Most PPO plans let you book straight with an allergist. HMO plans usually want a referral from your primary care doctor first. Call the practice or your insurer before you book.
How much does an allergist visit cost in Chicago?
A first visit with a specialist typically runs $150 to $300 without insurance, and skin testing for a panel of environmental allergens usually adds $200 to $1,000 depending on how many allergens are tested. With insurance you pay your specialist copay, though testing is often billed separately. Ask the office for a cost estimate and their billing codes when you book.
What should I bring to my first allergist appointment?
Bring a list of your symptoms and the dates they flared, every medication you take including over-the-counter ones, your insurance card, and any past test results. Stop antihistamines 5 to 7 days before skin testing, since they can blunt the results. Confirm the exact timing with the office.
Check Chicago pollen levels to match your flare dates →Are these Chicago allergists accepting new patients?
That changes month to month, so call the practice to check. These are editorial picks, not paid placements, and we have no financial relationship with any provider listed. Verify current credentials, availability, and insurance participation directly with the office before you book.
Allergists in Nearby Cities
Before You Call
Start a symptom log this week. Note the day, what you felt, and what the pollen count was. Two or three weeks of that turns a vague “my allergies are bad” into something an allergist can work from.
- Check Chicago pollen levels today
- See all Illinois allergists
- Read our allergy guides on symptoms, seasons, and relief