Center for Allergy and Asthma of Texas opens just prior to pollen season

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Spring is in the air, and so is the pollen. Tree and grass pollens can aggravate the senses, and the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Texas lists pollen as the primary allergy that affects Woodlands residents, so says Yoshiko Ogawa-Reel, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, FACP, who just opened her second location here in The Woodlands on March 6.

“Our primary goal is to serve the community’s needs,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel. “There are so many people in this area who are suffering from allergies, primarily from the pollen, because there are so many trees and grasses.”

This new clinic for allergy immunotherapy and allergy shots is conveniently located at 1111 Medical Plaza Drive, suite 250, in the medical district of The Woodlands, just south of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital. Yoshiko Ogawa-Reel, MD, is a board-certified Allergist who is a fellow member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, as well as the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Ogawa-Reel received her medical degree from the finest medical school in Japan: the University of Tokyo. She then went for training at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and became board-certified in Internal Medicine. She completed her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at University of Texas Medical Branch and served as a chief fellow. She is trained to treat allergic conditions in both adults and children.

The former Assistant Professor of Medicine, and Associate Training Program Director at Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of Allergy service at Ben Taub General Hospital, Dr. Ogawa-Reel approaches patient care through information and education.

“Dr. Ogawa-Reel will go above and beyond with patients to help them understand their allergy,” said medical assistant, Yumi Shinzato. “She really cares about the patients and is very thorough going over what is happening with their body and their treatment options.”

Patients can schedule their own appointments by accessing ZocDoc, an online medical care scheduling service, providing Dr.Ogawa-Reel and her team ample time for evaluation, testing, dialogue, and treatment.

Treatment of allergies delves further than treating the symptoms. Root cause analysis is essential to restore the body’s immune system; not only restoring the patient to a healthy body, but also alleviating the chronic symptoms like watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, persistent coughs, hives, dry and itchy skin, and more.

“Some people are not aware at all that they have an allergy,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel. “They’ve coped with it for so long, they’ve adapted to the symptoms.”

Among the many allergies the Center for Allergy & Asthma Center treats are asthma, hay fever, food and insect allergies, hives and eczema. Hay fever can be triggered by a myriad of allergens: pollens, molds, dust mites, etc., as well as non-allergenic irritants like smoke, perfume, spray, and household cleaners.

“Tree pollen is peaking at this time,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel, “then followed by the grass pollen which will begin in late March and run through June and July, peaking in April."

Dust mites are another large contributor to allergies in this region.

“We don’t get much of a break from allergens,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel. “Dust mites like heat and humidity, but they’re a problem even in winter because we’re indoors more, where there’s carpeting. The summer months are when allergies to mold spores spike.”

Once the allergy is properly identified and treated, Dr. Ogawa-Reel’s approach is to bolster the immune system to prevent having to take medications, thus the term ‘Allergy Immunotherapy,’ a preventative maintenance concept to aid the body in adapting to the environment and other allergy triggers. The concept is to take the latest research and apply it in a proactive approach.

“Allergy Immunotherapy is based on scientific research that prescribes a qualitative and quantitative therapy to alter the immune system for alleviation of the allergy,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel.

The doctor emphasized that the study of Allergy Immunotherapy is an evolving and ever-changing medicine. As new medical research is proven effective, it’s integrated into the practice: all the more important to be intimately involved in the evolution. Dr. Ogawa-Reel stays abreast of the latest medical methodologies through attendance at medical conferences and symposiums focused on Allergy Immunology Therapy.

“It’s most beneficial for patients to see a medical professional who is updated with the latest information,” said Dr. Ogawa-Reel. “I advocate and teach students and Fellows in this field.”

The doctor’s expertise has garnered referrals from other asthma and allergy specialists, and has become a tertiary specialist at the Texas Medical Center when other physicians need specialized consultative care.

“I feel privileged to have worked on difficult cases that were referred to me by other allergy specialists,” said the doctor. “It’s challenged me and furthered my knowledge in the area of allergy and immunology.”

Dr. Ogawa-Reel also credits a great support team with their success, enabling the business to grow and add this second location in the community they have chosen to make their home. Every member of the staff is a part of ‘the team.’

“We’re a team. We work together for process improvements,” said medical assistant, Shinzato. “The doctor has been a great mentor to me. We just work so well together.”

“Expanding our practice into the Woodlands was a natural choice for us and has always been a part of our plan from day one. Not only did I grow up in the area, but we live in the Woodlands. The staggering amount of growth the area will be experiencing over the next few years pushed us to work harder to make it a reality” said Brad Reel, Dr. Ogawa-Reel’s husband and business partner at the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Texas.

The move to The Woodlands seemed long in coming as the Reel's encountered being newlyweds, parenthood, then facing visa issues that forced Dr. Ogawa-Reel to return to Japan alone with their newborn child. This occured all in the span of the last six years, while trying to set up their medical practice. If that wasn’t enough, the massive 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011 shook them to their core, followed by the Fukushima nuclear accident, that occurred less than two weeks of Brad relocating to Japan to reunite the family. With the third anniversary of this horrific incident having just passed, they reflected on surviving the disaster while Dr. Ogawa-Reel worked through the visa process to relocate to the United States.

“I’m a Marine who served in two combat zones, and the stress of those encounters didn’t seem as bad as having my wife and newborn daughter suddenly being forced to move to Japan without me until we could work through the visa issues, then trying to get my family out of Japan after the earthquake and subsequently dealing with Immigration.” said Reel.

With all this and the stress of opening their new clinic in The Woodlands behind them, Brad Reel, a Montgomery County native from Conroe, is delighted to be back home and have his family back together. “The Woodlands is our home and we want to be an integral part of this community,” said Reel.

The doctor echoed this sentiment, “We love The Woodlands. This is where we’ve chosen to make our home, and we want to be more involved in the community. We want to deliver specialized quality care and come to the aid of suffering patients.”