The 4 Best Allergists in New York, NY
Board-certified allergy & asthma specialists practicing in New York.
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 New York list based on board certification, hospital and academic affiliations, and peer recognition.
Allergists in New York at a Glance
- Specialists listed:
- 4, all board-certified in Allergy & Immunology
- Areas covered:
- New York
- Practices:
- Eastside Medical Associates, ColumbiaDoctors, Allergy & Asthma Care of New York (Schweiger Dermatology Group), NY Allergy & Asthma PLLC
- Local pollen season:
- Tree pollen climbs through late March and April across the five boroughs, with oak and birch causing most of the symptoms. Ragweed takes over from mid-August until the first hard frost, usually in late October.
Compare New York Allergists
| Allergist | Practice | Location | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Lichtenfeld, MD | Eastside Medical Associates | New York, NY | Asthma, Food allergies, Environmental allergies |
| Joyce E. Yu, MD | ColumbiaDoctors / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital | New York, NY | Food allergies, Primary immunodeficiency, Pediatric allergy |
| Clifford W. Bassett, MD | Allergy & Asthma Care of New York (Schweiger Dermatology Group) | New York, NY | Asthma, Food allergies, Environmental allergies |
| Sebastian Lighvani, MD | NY Allergy & Asthma PLLC | New York, NY | Asthma, Food allergies, Hives and eczema |
- 1
Amy Lichtenfeld, MD
Eastside Medical Associates
New York (Upper East Side), NY
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineFellow of the AAAAI (FAAAAI)Dr. Lichtenfeld graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and completed her allergy-immunology fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical Center; she has practiced on the Upper East Side since 1991. She has been repeatedly named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and New York Magazine, and served on the Executive Board and as President of the NY Allergy and Asthma Society.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Food allergies · Environmental allergies · Drug allergy
Visit practice website → - 2
Joyce E. Yu, MD
ColumbiaDoctors / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
New York (Manhattan), NY
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in PediatricsFellow of the AAAAI (FAAAAI)Dr. Yu is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Director of the Food Allergy Clinic within the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. She has authored more than 83 peer-reviewed publications with over 2,000 citations, with research focusing on food allergy mechanisms, B-cell immunology, and primary immunodeficiency.
Areas of focus: Food allergies · Primary immunodeficiency · Pediatric allergy · Clinical immunology
Visit practice website → - 3
Clifford W. Bassett, MD
Allergy & Asthma Care of New York (Schweiger Dermatology Group)
New York (Manhattan), NY
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyFellow of the AAAAI (FAAAAI)Fellow of the ACAAI (FACAAI)Dr. Bassett is the founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York and a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU School of Medicine and faculty at Weill Cornell Medical College. He has been named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and New York Magazine's Best Doctors issue, and authored The New Allergy Solution (Penguin Random House, 2017).
Areas of focus: Asthma · Food allergies · Environmental allergies · Skin allergies
Visit practice website → - 4
Sebastian Lighvani, MD
NY Allergy & Asthma PLLC
New York (Manhattan), NY
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyDr. Lighvani is a Clinical Assistant Professor at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and an attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, having trained at the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University. He has been voted one of America's Top Doctors every year since 2006 and is a recipient of the Compassionate Doctor and Patient's Choice Awards.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Food allergies · Hives and eczema · Environmental allergies
Visit practice website →
Allergy Season in New York
Tree pollen climbs through late March and April across the five boroughs, with oak and birch causing most of the symptoms. Ragweed takes over from mid-August until the first hard frost, usually in late October.
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 New York for tree, grass, and weed levels plus a 5-day forecast
- New York air quality for ozone and particle pollution, which make pollen symptoms worse
How We Picked These New York Allergists
Our editorial team reviewed allergy and immunology specialists practicing across New York City 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 New York?
Our editors picked 4 board-certified allergist-immunologists practicing in New York City: Amy Lichtenfeld, MD at Eastside Medical Associates in New York; Joyce E. Yu, MD at ColumbiaDoctors / NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in New York; Clifford W. Bassett, MD at Allergy & Asthma Care of New York (Schweiger Dermatology Group) in New York; Sebastian Lighvani, MD at NY Allergy & Asthma PLLC in New York. All are board-certified in Allergy & Immunology.
When is allergy season in New York?
Tree pollen climbs through late March and April across the five boroughs, with oak and birch causing most of the symptoms. Ragweed takes over from mid-August until the first hard frost, usually in late October.
See today's pollen count in New York →Do I need a referral to see an allergist in New York?
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 New York?
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 New York pollen levels to match your flare dates →Are these New York 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 New York pollen levels today
- See all New York allergists
- Read our allergy guides on symptoms, seasons, and relief