SUMMARY
Kimberly G. Blumenthal, M.D., M.S., is a clinician-investigator in allergy and immunology. She focuses on improving population health and patient safety through clinical epidemiology, informatics and implementation science in drug allergy. Dr. Blumenthal's research advances understanding of the epidemiology and impact of allergic reactions to medications, particularly antibiotics in the penicillin and cephalosporin classes. She develops diagnostic and risk stratification tools and clinical pathways that have been adopted across major hospital systems and incorporated into national guidelines. Dr. Blumenthal's studies demonstrate how unverified drug allergies have impeded optimal medical care and increased infection risk and healthcare costs.
She leads multisite clinical trials, including the Diagnostic Approach to Cephalosporin Allergy Testing (DACAT) trial and cohort studies such as the United States Drug Allergy Registry. She is recognized internationally for advancing drug allergy diagnostics and management.
Focus areas
- Penicillin allergy label impact and de-labeling strategies. Dr. Blumenthal identifies the clinical, public health and economic impacts of unverified penicillin allergy labeling of patients, which affects over 30 million Americans. She pioneers methods to safely remove inaccurate penicillin allergy labels. Her work shows that most penicillin allergy diagnoses are not true immunologically mediated allergies, and avoiding unnecessary labeling of patients as allergic improves antibiotic prescribing, reduces antibiotic resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and lowers healthcare costs. These strategies have been implemented across multiple hospital systems and are part of national and international guidelines.
- Clinical trials in drug allergy diagnostics. As principal investigator of the DACAT trial, Dr. Blumenthal optimizes approaches for cephalosporin allergy testing and advances knowledge of beta-lactam antibiotic cross-reactivity. Along with other studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, these trials aim to refine reaction phenotyping and the mechanistic understanding of antibiotic allergies, advancing precision medicine and improving diagnostic accuracy.
- Severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Using informatics and epidemiological methods, Dr. Blumenthal defines risk factors and outcomes for severe cutaneous adverse reactions, such as drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Her work improves recognition and management of these life-threatening reactions and influences clinical guidelines and electronic health record documentation practices.
- Vaccine allergy and cutaneous reaction research. Dr. Blumenthal led one of the largest prospective cohorts studying allergic reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Her findings on anaphylaxis rates, delayed cutaneous reactions and vaccine hesitancy shape public health messaging and clinical practice. Her work also contributes to national guidelines on vaccine safety for patients with allergies.
- Health drivers and outcomes in drug allergy clinical care. Dr. Blumenthal investigates gaps in allergy documentation and care delivery, revealing differences in electronic health records and treatment decisions for various populations. Her research focuses on improving access to evaluation by allergy specialists.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Blumenthal's research helps medical professionals find out which patients are truly allergic to medicines such as penicillin. Many patients think they have a medicine allergy, but their reactions are not true allergies. This can make them take medicines that do not work as well or cost more. When patients confirm whether they have allergies, they can receive the right treatment, prevent more infections and lower their medical costs.
Dr. Blumenthal's work also helps make care safer for people with serious skin reactions to some medicines.
Professional highlights
- Member, editorial board, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global, 2022-present.
- Principal investigator, Antibiotic Allergy: Phenotypes, Endotypes, and Mechanisms, funded by the National Institutes of Health, 2025-2030.
- Principal investigator, Optimizing the Diagnostic Approach to Cephalosporin Allergy Testing Trial, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2024-2029.
- Member, editorial board, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 2019-2029.
- Principal investigator, Improving Equitable Access to Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2023-2028.
- Massachusetts General Hospital:
- Co-director, Rheumatology and Allergy Clinical Epidemiology Research Center, The Mongan Institute, 2023-2025.
- Director, Research, Drug and Vaccine Allergy Center, 2023-2025.
- Anne Klibanski Excellence in Mentoring Award, 2023.
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology:
- Chair, Anaphylaxis, Dermatology and Drug Allergy Interest Section, 2022-2024.
- Allen P. Kaplan, M.D., Lectureship, 2022.
- Harvard Medical School:
- KL2/CMeRIT Scholar, 2015-2016.
- Young Mentor award, 2022.
- Bram Rose Memorial Lectureship, Canadian Society of Allergy and Immunology, 2021.