Markita Lewis, MS, RD
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising public awareness about asthma and allergies, as well as their impact on people and families. Public awareness efforts extend beyond the general public to healthcare practitioners who may see families at the crucial point where food allergies can be prevented. As part of the National Peanut Board’s (NPB) continued outreach for allergy prevention, NPB exhibits at conferences that directly reach healthcare practitioners, including physician assistants.
In May, the American Academy of Physician Associates held its annual conference in New Orleans from May 15-19, 2026. More than 5,000 physician associates and student attendees gathered for networking, professional development, continuing education and engaging events. Markita Lewis, a registered dietitian and NPB marketing and communications manager, attended the meeting alongside Caroline Franklin from Golin.
Little Peanut was front and center at the conference, drawing the attention of many attendees. Practitioners and students alike showed strong interest in the messaging surrounding early introduction and the importance of making the topic approachable for parents and caregivers. NPB shared free early introduction resources that physician associates could use in clinical settings, distributed counseling guidebooks and answered questions about the latest research concerning early introduction.
The impact of NPB’s continued presence at conferences targeting healthcare professionals continues to be evident. Multiple attendees shared that they first learned about early introduction through the National Peanut Board’s exhibit booth over the years and have since either personally introduced peanuts early to their infants or made discussions about early introduction a standard part of their pediatric practices.
NPB remains a champion for early introduction and, with Little Peanut leading the way, continues to serve as a trusted resource supporting both healthcare professionals and students alike.
