Dr. Michael Schatz, MD

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Get to know Allergist and Immunologist Dr. Michael Schatz, who serves patients in San Diego, California.

Dr. Schatz is a well-versed allergist and immunologist who served as Chief of the Allergy Department at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center from 2000 to 2011. He enjoys taking care of patients who have asthma and allergies because he can usually make a big difference in their quality of life. 

“We have a wonderful allergy department here, which I believe provides high quality, personal, and compassionate care and service. Our department has also been involved in clinical research for more than 40 years, which I think helps us stay up to date and provide cutting-edge care while we advance general knowledge in our field” as stated by Dr. Schatz.

Realizing that he wanted to become a doctor as early as the fourth grade, he thought it would be a wonderful way to use science to help people. He spent 11 years in Chicago for college, medical school, and postgraduate training. He obtained his medical degree from Northwestern University in 1970, after which he went on to complete his residency in internal medicine and his Fellowship in Allergy-Immunology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. 

Following his education, Dr. Schatz relocated to San Diego to fulfill a military commitment in 1975 and joined the Allergy Department at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center in 1977.

“I went back to school and received a master’s degree in epidemiology from Harvard in 2001, which has helped me be a better clinical researcher. I have also been active in our national professional association, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, and served as national President from 2004 to 2005. My main goal in my clinical work, my clinical research work, and my professional association work is to improve the health and lives of patients with asthma and allergic diseases” expressed the doctor.

Demonstrating expertise in all areas of immunology and allergy treatment, Dr. Schatz earned board certification in allergy and immunology through the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI). The mission of the ABAI is to improve the quality of medical care by the development and utilization of professional and educational standards for the initial certification and maintenance of certification of physician specialists in allergy and immunology. 

Furthermore, he earned board-certification in internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Outside of his work in clinical settings, Dr. Schatz has influenced the medical community through his career-related projects . Since 2012, he has been the Editor-In-Chief for the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. He has authored more than 340 publications in the fields of allergy and immunology and has edited four medical textbooks. Additionally, he was a member of two national panels that wrote guidelines on asthma during pregnancy, served as a member of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Expert Panel 3 (EPR3) that wrote the EPR3 national asthma guidelines, and served as a member of the NAEPP Expert Panel Working Group that authored the 2020 Update to EPR3.  

In addition to being a member of the American Medical Association, he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the American College of Chest Physicians. 

Allergy and immunology involve the management of disorders related to the immune system. These conditions range from the very common to the very rare, spanning all ages and encompassing various organ systems. An allergist / immunologist is a physician specially trained to diagnose, treat, and manage allergies, asthma, and immunologic disorders, including primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Celebrating many years’ experience in his professional network, Dr. Schatz has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. He received a Naval Commendation Medal in 1975, and a Distinguished Service Award and Distinguished Clinician Award from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2010 and 2015, respectively.

Identifying himself to be a workaholic, he considers his work to be extremely fulfilling, helping him to thrive in mind and spirit. Having had a weight problem all of his life, he lost 50 pounds through the Kaiser Permanente Optifast® program. He works hard to maintain that weight loss and exercises on the elliptical trainer 70 minutes every day and engages in weight training 3 hours a week. He also tries to eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in red meat.

Happily married to Carole for 53 years with one son, David, a psychiatrist in Northern California, Dr. Schatz enjoys exercising and watching sports in his spare time. 

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