CFAAR in the Spotlight

Photo Credit: Taara Parthasarathy

Introduction

Every summer, high school students across the country are given the opportunity to participate in the CFAAR Ambassadors Program. It is sponsored by Northwestern’s Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at the Feinberg School of Medicine, located at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Chicago, Illinois, and founded and directed by Dr. Ruchi Gupta. The week-long schedule encourages students to more deeply understand the science behind food allergies and asthma, explore the vast field of public health, and enrich their leadership skills as they become the next generation of leaders.

Numerous high schoolers have applied for it because they have been diagnosed with food allergies or asthma, or know someone who has, and want to make a meaningful contribution to their community after experiencing what comes with the conditions. 

“I have two food allergies, and I knew I wanted to do a program over the summer,” 2025 ambassador and then-incoming junior Hailey Macgregor said. “I [sought out] opportunities revolving [around] that topic, and I came across CFAAR. [Through it,] I hoped to gain new perspectives on food allergies to boost my self-confidence when it comes to my personal allergies.”

What to Expect

The program runs from Monday through Friday, typically in mid-to-late July. Each day, students should expect to listen to talks given by professionals across the health field as well as pre-med and medical students, participate in activities such as resume-building advice and campus tour scavenger hunts, and most importantly, be organized into groups based on the aspects of public health they are the most interested in and put together research presentations that they will share with their fellow ambassadors. It is perfect for those who are unsure about which careers to pursue in the future, are interested in the medical field but seek information about the different paths available, or want to make a meaningful and connected contribution to their society, both small-scale and large-scale.

These aspects were exactly what 2025 ambassadors like then-incoming sophomores Trudy Roeber, Kailee Desmond, and Morgan Cole hoped to see. Roeber said, “I hoped to get a better understanding of the different career paths in the world of medicine and public health, as well as what the required education looks like for these fields.” Desmond and Cole both sought to learn about the “emerging innovations” and “cutting-edge research [that would] help solve the pervasive problem of food allergies,” and CFAAR proved to satisfy their interests.

Dr. Melissa Engel, a Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow who works for CFAAR and at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, gave a speech at the 2025 conference. “[I presented] to the ambassadors to introduce them to the field of pediatric psychology and provide an overview of common social and emotional challenges related to living with food allergies. I am very passionate about both food allergy and psychology, as well as education and outreach, so this was an exciting week,” Engel explained. “I also got to lead role-playing sessions of awkward social situations related to food allergies[.] It was really rewarding to lead this activity, acknowledge the everyday difficulties of being a teenager with food allergies, and help all the teens with food allergies see that they are not alone!”

Role Breakdown

High schoolers who participate are ambassadors. They absorb information from professionals and collaborate on hands-on projects, and, in doing so, become impactful figures in their communities.

Scholars are undergraduate, graduate, and medical students who participate in the similar CFAAR Scholars Program, an internship opportunity that allows them to delve deeper into epidemiological and clinical studies and apply what they learn to their own research projects. They also mentor groups of ambassadors with their projects.

Speakers are health professionals or students in the field who volunteer to share with ambassadors and scholars about their lines of work and journeys to provide advice, encouragement, and insight to the future generation.

A Word from Participants

The best part for Engel was getting to spend time with teens with food allergies. “Since I myself have food allergies, it was very gratifying,” she said. “I was especially excited to meet several teens with food allergies that I knew virtually from leading FARE Teen Talks but had never before met in real life. It was such a special week!”

“I loved listening to the different talks and stories from the various healthcare professionals and students. Some of the stories were really heartwarming and inspiring, and it made me all the more excited to pursue a career in medicine,” Roeber said.

“[I got] to collaborate with amazing staff and students who are advocating and supporting the food allergy cause like myself,” explained Desmond.

“[Listening] to experts in the field and hearing about their research and its process [was the most fulfilling part,]” noted Cole. “It was incredible to experience the community that has formed around food allergies.”

“The most fulfilling part of the program was connecting with peers whom I relate to without feeling judged,” Macgregor brought up. “Food allergies can be seen as a burden. But when I was at Northwestern, everyone was aware and comfortable with talking about their allergies or [those] they knew [who had] allergies. It was a really unique experience to be able to connect with such a big group [of] people who face similar everyday challenges… I realized that everyone has their own setbacks but it opens the door to new opportunities and it’s important to keep pursuing your dreams.”

Extras

Aside from the program content, many attendees are not from the Chicago area. Cole enjoyed touring Northwestern and Chicago with her group of fellow ambassadors during the campus tour scavenger hunt. “We had so many amazing opportunities to explore the city!” she said.

“I fell in love with Northwestern University and the city of Chicago,” mentioned Desmond. “Everyone was so welcoming and kind.”

Another side feature the program offers that will entice applicants as much as the educational content is the convenient lunch options for those with food allergies. Catering is careful, diverse, entirely nut-free, and includes individually packaged top-9 options. Attendees can bring their own lunch if they wish, and MadeGood treats are offered each morning as well.

I was also an ambassador at the 2025 convention. I do not live in or near the Chicago area and have not visited the city before CFAAR. During my time there, I discovered Frío Gelato, a cross-contact-safe frozen dessert spot for individuals with food allergies and a sweet tooth at the same time that is a must-visit for anyone’s Chicago itinerary and perfectly in tandem with the themes of food allergy and summer during the CFAAR program.

Conclusion

The deadline to register for this year’s CFAAR conference is June 21st, 2026. Interested high schoolers, mark your calendars, apply quickly, and get excited about a transformative world of knowledge and connection!