Our Physicians

Allergy and Asthma Care of Fairfield County
Food Allergy Center of Connecticut
Dr. Kenneth Backman • Dr. Irena Veksler • Dr. Katherine Bloom

Our practice is located in Fairfield and Monroe, and staffed by compassionate professionals on all levels. Our physicians are highly trained, and experienced in both adult and pediatric allergy, asthma and food allergies.

Kenneth Backman, MD is the founder of Allergy and Asthma Care. He is board certified in Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, received his bachelor of science in Biology with distinction from Yale University, and his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. He completed his residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, and his fellowship training in Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Backman has published numerous scientific articles in the field of allergy, and has served on the Editorial Board of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. He is a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.  Dr. Backman is currently Chief of the Section of Allergy at Bridgeport Hospital. He and his family enjoy skiing, boating, and traveling, and he is on the regional board of the Anti-Defamation League.

Irena Veksler, MD is a board certified allergist and immunologist who joined Allergy and Asthma Care in 2005. She received her undergraduate degree with the highest honors in her major from New York University. She earned her medical degree at Cornell University Medical College, and completed her residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.  She completed her fellowship training in Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the State University of New York, Stony Brook Hospital in Long Island. Dr. Veksler in interested in educating public about allergic diseases and has done numerous lectures in the community. She is a member of American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. She was born in Kiev, Ukraine and is fluent in Russian. In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Veksler stays very busy with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling.

Katherine Bloom, MD, is a board certified adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist with expertise in the full range of allergic disorders, and particular interest in food allergy and immunodeficiency. Dr. Bloom received her undergraduate degree in Biology with distinction from Boston University, where she graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, where she was elected Alpha Omega Alpha, and completed her residency training at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Bloom completed her Allergy and Immunology fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she also participated in clinical and laboratory research in food allergy and immunology. In 2008, she received the Jaffe Food Allergy Research Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, which supported her research investigating immunologic mechanisms of food allergy. Dr. Bloom enjoys reading and traveling, but most of all, spending time with her husband and daughter.