How to accidentally become a researcher

“It doesn’t have to start with a huge trial. It starts with a patient and it starts with a problem.” —Dr. Gord SussmanHow do we move from the exam room to the frontlines of discovery? On this episode of The Allergist, Dr. Mariam Hanna talks with Dr. Gord Sussman about how curiosity—not a research grant—launched his decades-long contribution to allergy science. From identifying the early signs of latex allergy to shaping the treatment landscape for urticaria and hereditary angioedema, Dr. Sussman shares what keeps him asking the next question, and how any allergist can get involved.On this episode:Why Dr. Sussman initially thought he’d never pursue research—and what changed his mindHow one nurse's anaphylactic reaction to latex launched a field of studyWhat it was like to design and run early research trials for food allergy challenges and peanut desensitizationWhy recruiting patients for trials has become harder—not easier—over timeWhat makes a good research coordinator and why infrastructure is criticalHow to identify patients who may be open to research, and when not to pushWhy some promising drugs never reach market—and what frustrates Dr. Sussman mostWhat advice he gives to allergists who are research-curious but hesitantYou don’t need a lab coat to help change practice. Just curiosity, commitment—and maybe a really good clinical coordinator.Have an idea for the show or a comment, send us a text!Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyFind an allergist using our helpful toolFind Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_caThe Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions