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The Food Allergy Center at Mass General Brigham for Children is excited to be continuing the Food Allergy Buddies Program during the 2025-2026 year! This mentorship program fosters a supportive community by grouping high-school-age mentors (Bigs) with elementary-school-age (Littles) and middle-school-age children (Middles) who have food allergies.

Program Goals

The mission of the Food Allergy Buddies Program is to build a positive and supportive community for children, teens, and their families, promote self-efficacy, support quality of life, and have fun!

How to Join

Apply to join the Food Allergy Buddies Program

Big Buddies will also need to ask someone to fill in a character reference form.

Questions? Want to learn more about the program? Please email us at foodallergybuddies@mgh.harvard.edu.

T-shirt decorating is underway!

Dr. Mike leads a parent session in the park!

Upcoming Events

  • December 7th: Museum of Science
    • What: The Food Allergy Adventure: Build, Discover, and Create
      A creative, hands-on experience where participants can build 3D models of immune cells like mast cells, IgE, or helper T-cells, or design their own tools and ideas to promote food allergy awareness and safety. Together, we’ll celebrate curiosity, exploration, and the power of teamwork!
    • When: Sunday, December 7, 2025
      Bigs & Middles: Arrive at 11:30 AM
      Littles: Arrive at 12:30 PM
      Event ends: 3:00 PM — families are then free to explore the Museum of Science on their own
    • Where: Museum of Science, Boston
    • RSVP: This event is hosted by the Mass General Brigham Food Allergy Buddies Program. New participants, please register for the Buddies Program, and we ask all participants to RSVP for this Museum of Science event.
  • March 7th: Ice Skating (Details to come)
  • May 7th: Museum of Science - Scavenger Hunt (Details to come)

Sign up or email us at foodallergybuddies@mgh.harvard.edu to make sure you get email updates from us, including details about future events.

In the News

Article: Buddying Up to Help Kids Manage Food Allergies

Article: Food Allergy Buddies brings families together for allergy-friendly fun

Meet the Team

Michael Pistiner, MD

Dr. Michael Pistiner, Pediatric Allergist

Dr. Mike is the Director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention at Mass General Brigham for Children, Food Allergy Center. He is the father of a 21-year-old with food allergies and actively engaged in patient, family and community food allergy education and advocacy. He has particular interest in the impact of mentorship and community on school age children with food allergy.

Vivian Liu

Vivian Liu

Vivian Liu is a pediatrics resident at MGfC with a keen interest in Allergy. She grew up with (and continues to have) many food allergies in addition to other atopic diseases including eczema and asthma, which is her primary motivating reason to go into the field of Allergy. The opportunity to connect with people and discuss shared experiences is something she seeks, and what better way to start doing that than through the Buddies program! Outside of work she enjoys yoga, going on long outdoor walks, and planning short weekend getaway trips.

Maeve Clifford

Maeve Clifford

Maeve began volunteering with the Buddies Program as an Activity Coordinator during the 2023-2024 year. She has been working as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Food Allergy Center at MGH since May 2023, following her graduation from Stonehill College where she majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Psychology. She loves working with kids and wants to help foster a sense of community among children with food allergies. Having food allergies herself, she hopes to one day become a pediatric allergist! Outside of work, her hobbies include sailing, baking, and spending time with friends. Maeve is very excited to be part of the Food Allergy Buddies Program!

Isabela Haskell

Isabela Haskell

This is Isabela's first year volunteering with the Food Allergy Buddies Program. Since graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 2023, she has been working as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Stephen Liberles at Harvard Medical School studying cardiovascular regulation by the sensory nervous system. Having grown up with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds, she has long been fascinated by food allergies and other atopic diseases. She is very excited for the opportunity to work with the Food Allergy Buddies Program to provide community and empowerment to children with food allergies! In her free time, Isabela enjoys taking ballet classes, reading and exploring Boston with friends.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to the Food Allergy Buddies Parent Advisory Committee for their energy, effort, and time!

Thank you to our donors:

  • Genentech, ARS Pharma, Aquestive Therapeutics, and DBV Technologies
  • Food Allergy Buddies Family Donors 
  • Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Your generosity helps us to continue to provide programming for our food allergy community!