The 5 Best Allergists in Providence, RI
Board-certified allergy & asthma specialists practicing in Providence, East Providence, Warwick, and Cumberland.
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 5 specialists below from the wider Rhode Island list based on board certification, hospital and academic affiliations, and peer recognition.
Allergists in Providence at a Glance
- Specialists listed:
- 5, all board-certified in Allergy & Immunology
- Areas covered:
- Providence, East Providence, Warwick, and Cumberland
- Practices:
- Brown University Health, Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island, Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island (AAPRI)
- Local pollen season:
- Oak, birch, and maple push counts up through April across Rhode Island. Grass peaks in late May and June, and ragweed runs from mid-August to the first hard frost, usually in mid-October.
Compare Providence Allergists
| Allergist | Practice | Location | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tao Zheng, MD | Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital | Providence, RI | Asthma, Atopic dermatitis, Food allergies |
| Russell A. Settipane, MD | Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island | East Providence, RI | Allergic rhinitis, Asthma, Food allergies |
| Marcella R. Aquino, MD, FACAAI | Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital & Hasbro Children's Hospital | Providence, RI | Allergic skin disease, Atopic dermatitis, Drug allergy |
| John F. Zwetchkenbaum, MD | Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island (AAPRI) | Warwick, RI | Food allergies, Oral immunotherapy (OIT), Asthma |
| Alan D. Gaines, MD | Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island | Cumberland, RI | Adult and pediatric allergy, Asthma, Allergic rhinitis |
- 1
Tao Zheng, MD
Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, RI
Board-certified in Allergy & Immunology (Adult & Pediatric)Dr. Zheng is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and Director of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School, with 30 years of academic practice at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital. Before joining Brown, she held faculty positions at Johns Hopkins and Yale, and her laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression from eczema to asthma and food allergy.
Areas of focus: Asthma · Atopic dermatitis · Food allergies · Pediatric immunology · Translational allergy research
Visit practice website → - 2
Russell A. Settipane, MD
Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island
East Providence, RI
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyBoard-certified in Internal MedicineDr. Settipane is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School and co-director of the Asthma, Nasal Disease and Allergy Research Center of New England, which has conducted more than 150 clinical trials. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Food Allergy and Director of the Eastern Allergy Conference, and has published more than 100 scientific articles and book chapters.
Areas of focus: Allergic rhinitis · Asthma · Food allergies · Clinical research
Visit practice website → - 3
Marcella R. Aquino, MD, FACAAI
Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital & Hasbro Children's Hospital
Providence, RI
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyFellow of the ACAAI (FACAAI)Dr. Aquino is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Clinician Educator at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School, practicing at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital. She is the recipient of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's 2024 Woman in Allergy Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field.
Areas of focus: Allergic skin disease · Atopic dermatitis · Drug allergy · Allergic contact dermatitis · Pediatric allergy
Visit practice website → - 4
John F. Zwetchkenbaum, MD
Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island (AAPRI)
Warwick / Providence, RI
Board-certified in Allergy & ImmunologyDr. Zwetchkenbaum is the founder and chief allergist of Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island, the only practice in the state to offer oral immunotherapy for food allergy. He earned his BS from Brown University, his MD from Boston University, and completed his allergy/immunology fellowship at National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. He was recognized with a 2026 TopDoc award.
Areas of focus: Food allergies · Oral immunotherapy (OIT) · Asthma · Allergic rhinitis
Visit practice website → - 5
Alan D. Gaines, MD
Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island
Cumberland / East Providence / Warwick, RI
Board-certified in Allergy & Immunology (Adult & Pediatric)Dr. Gaines holds a BS from MIT and earned his MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has been in private practice in Rhode Island since 1988 and joined the Allergy and Asthma Centers in 2000, where he sees patients at multiple locations across the state. He completed his fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.
Areas of focus: Adult and pediatric allergy · Asthma · Allergic rhinitis · Immunotherapy
Visit practice website →
Allergy Season in Providence
Oak, birch, and maple push counts up through April across Rhode Island. Grass peaks in late May and June, and ragweed runs from mid-August to the first hard frost, usually in mid-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 Providence for tree, grass, and weed levels plus a 5-day forecast
- Providence air quality for ozone and particle pollution, which make pollen symptoms worse
How We Picked These Providence Allergists
Our editorial team reviewed allergy and immunology specialists practicing across the Providence area and selected these 5 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 Providence?
Our editors picked 5 board-certified allergist-immunologists practicing in the Providence area: Tao Zheng, MD at Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital in Providence; Russell A. Settipane, MD at Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island in East Providence; Marcella R. Aquino, MD, FACAAI at Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital & Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence; John F. Zwetchkenbaum, MD at Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Rhode Island (AAPRI) in Warwick; Alan D. Gaines, MD at Allergy & Asthma Centers of Rhode Island in Cumberland. All are board-certified in Allergy & Immunology.
When is allergy season in Providence?
Oak, birch, and maple push counts up through April across Rhode Island. Grass peaks in late May and June, and ragweed runs from mid-August to the first hard frost, usually in mid-October.
See today's pollen count in Providence →Do I need a referral to see an allergist in Providence?
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 Providence?
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 Providence pollen levels to match your flare dates →Are these Providence 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 Providence pollen levels today
- See all Rhode Island allergists
- Read our allergy guides on symptoms, seasons, and relief