Dr. Thomas Shen, MD

Dr. Thomas Shen, MD is an Allergy & Immunology specialist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive care at his clinic in Leesburg, FL. He is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice). Your Allergy & Immunology specialist is your primary partner in preventing allergic reactions, managing asthma, treating immune disorders, and creating a personalized, long-term health plan that coordinates screenings and promotes overall wellness. He serves all ages, and is currently welcoming new patients to begin their proactive health journey. Please call (352) 314-2929 to schedule.

Dr. Thomas Shen is Board Certified in Allergy & Immunology by the American Board of Allergy & Immunology. With over 30 years of dedicated experience in Allergy & Immunology care, he brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to his patients and their families. He earned his medical degree from Saint Louis University School Of Medicine in 1992, followed by an internship at St John's Mercy Medical Center in 1995. Further specializing, he pursued fellowship training at University of Tennessee - Memphis in 1997, deepening his expertise in this specific area of patient health. Dr. Shen is a valued member of the community, having served the Lake County area for 20 years, and he is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to medicine, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. Dr. Shen provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Thomas Shen is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Thomas Shen can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Thomas Shen provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Anaphylactic Food Allergies: Understanding your food allergies and taking steps to avoid triggers is essential in preventing the progression from mild symptoms to a severe, potentially fatal, anaphylactic reaction.
• Moderate Asthma: Moderate asthma needs attention; regular check-ups with your doctor and careful adherence to your asthma action plan will help you prevent potentially life-threatening asthma attacks.
• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is a chronic skin condition that can be managed through proactive skincare and identifying triggers to prevent flare-ups and long-term complications.
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Managing eosinophilic esophagitis effectively involves proactive strategies such as identifying and avoiding food triggers and adhering to prescribed medication to prevent further esophageal damage and improve quality of life.
• Rash: A rash can be a sign of an allergic reaction, so recognizing it early helps prevent more serious complications like anaphylaxis.
• Hives: Hives, or urticaria, are itchy welts that can signal an allergic reaction, and recognizing them early can help prevent more serious complications.
• Mast Cell Diseases: Mast cell diseases are conditions where your mast cells, immune system cells, malfunction and release too many chemicals, causing symptoms like itching, swelling, and fatigue; early diagnosis and proper management can help prevent serious complications.
• Acute Sinusitis: Preventing acute sinusitis from developing into a chronic condition protects your overall well-being and reduces the need for extensive medical intervention.
• Food Allergy: Food allergies, if left unmanaged, can lead to severe reactions, so early identification and careful avoidance of triggers are crucial for preventing life-threatening complications.
• Pollen Allergy: Proactive management of pollen allergies, such as through immunotherapy or medication, helps prevent long-term damage to your respiratory system.
• Bronchospasm: Early detection and treatment of bronchospasm is key to preventing more severe respiratory distress and potential long-term lung damage.
• Anaphylactic Fish Allergy: Early detection and careful management of an anaphylactic fish allergy is critical; this prevents emergency room visits and ensures you can live a normal life while avoiding potentially life-threatening reactions.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Thomas Shen offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Food Desensitization Therapy: This therapy is a proactive step to overcome food allergies by gradually increasing your tolerance to specific foods under careful medical supervision.
• Allergy Shots: Take control of your allergies with allergy shots—a proactive treatment that helps reduce the severity and frequency of allergic reactions.
• Allergy Testing: Early allergy diagnosis through testing empowers you to take control of your health, preventing the progression of allergy symptoms and avoiding severe complications.
• Drug Allergy Testing: Take control of your health with drug allergy testing; it pinpoints specific medications you're allergic to, preventing potentially life-threatening reactions.
• Patch Testing: Patch testing helps prevent unnecessary suffering from skin allergies by revealing the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms, so you can make informed choices about your environment.
• Radioallergosorbent Test: Take control of your allergies with a RAST; this simple blood test pinpoints your sensitivities, enabling you to avoid triggers and prevent allergic reactions.
• Honeybee Desensitization Therapy: For individuals with life-threatening bee sting allergies, honeybee desensitization therapy offers a proactive approach to significantly reduce the risk of anaphylaxis and its potentially fatal consequences.
• Drug or Food Challenge: This controlled test helps identify the root cause of your symptoms, allowing for proactive management and avoidance of future allergic reactions.
• Allergy Skin Testing: Proactively identify and manage your allergies with a skin test: it's a crucial step in preventing serious reactions and customizing your treatment plan.
• Food Challenge: To prevent severe reactions, a food challenge can safely assess your sensitivity to certain foods, guiding dietary changes and reducing the risk of future episodes.
• Desensitization: By gradually introducing small amounts of allergens, desensitization helps your body build tolerance and prevents severe reactions, improving your quality of life.
• Aeroallergen Hyposensitization Therapy: Take control of your allergies with aeroallergen hyposensitization therapy – a proactive approach to lessen the severity of your symptoms from things like pollen, mold, and pet dander.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Allergy & Immunology in Florida.

Dr. Thomas Shen is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By working closely with a specialist, a family learned to identify potential triggers and develop a personalized action plan, significantly reducing their anxiety and increasing their confidence in managing their child's anaphylactic food allergies.
• By following a personalized asthma action plan and attending regular check-ups, a patient effectively managed their moderate asthma, ensuring a healthier and more active lifestyle.
• By identifying and managing environmental triggers, a family successfully reduced eczema flare-ups, improving their child's comfort and quality of life.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Allergy & Immunology care with Dr. Thomas Shen:

What is an Allergist / Immunologist?

An allergist/immunologist is a doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions related to the immune system, including allergies and immunodeficiencies. They help identify triggers and develop strategies to prevent reactions, improving your overall well-being.

What can I expect during my first allergy consultation with Dr. Thomas Shen?

Your first consultation with Dr. Shen will be a detailed detective process, focusing on a thorough history of your symptoms, potential exposures, and family history. He will also likely perform diagnostic tests, such as skin testing, to pinpoint specific triggers and create a personalized prevention plan.

What is immunotherapy (allergy shots), and how does it prevent allergies?

Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, retrains the immune system. Gradually increasing doses of the allergen help the body build tolerance over time, effectively preventing future allergic reactions. It's the only treatment that can change the underlying disease and provide long-term prevention of allergy symptoms.

I have asthma. How can an allergist help prevent attacks?

Dr. Shen understands the strong link between allergies and asthma. By identifying and treating underlying allergic triggers, he can significantly reduce asthma flare-ups. He will also use pulmonary function testing to create a personalized Asthma Action Plan for prevention.

What is anaphylaxis and how can I prevent it?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Prevention involves strictly avoiding known triggers, carrying an epinephrine auto-injector, and having a clear Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan, which Dr. Shen will help you create.

Can my child outgrow a food allergy?

Some food allergies, like milk, egg, and wheat, can resolve with time. However, allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and seafood are less likely to be outgrown. Dr. Shen can monitor this with testing and an oral food challenge when appropriate.

How do you test for a food allergy?

We begin with a skin prick test or a blood test (IgE test). While these are helpful, the gold standard for diagnosis is an oral food challenge, performed in our clinic under medical supervision.

How are chronic sinus infections related to allergies?

Chronic sinus infections are often linked to allergies because uncontrolled allergies cause chronic inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages. This blockage can hinder sinus drainage, leading to recurrent infections. Treating the underlying allergies is crucial for preventing chronic sinusitis.

8245 County Road 44 Leg A Ste 1
Leesburg FL 34788
Phone: (352) 314-2929

Dr. Thomas Shen, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1194795807

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Allergy & Immunology like Dr. Thomas Shen are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your allergy & immunology about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.