Two established Butler respiratory therapists are bringing an allergist to Allergy and Asthma Wellness Centers, a new practice opening in Pullman Center Business Park in August.

Kelli Thompson and Jodi Nogan, who own and operate Lung and Wellness Centers of Western Pennsylvania, have enlisted Dr. Deborah Gentile, an allergist, for the allergy and asthma practice opening Aug. 6.

Allergy and Asthma Wellness Centers will be at 200 Renaissance Drive, Suite 105, near the Lung and Wellness Centers office in Suite 103.

“There is a need. There are a lot of patients in our area (who) suffer from allergies and asthma,” Thompson said. “We will test and provide treatment for all allergies in children and adults.”

Allergies fall into three categories — food, environmental and medication, she said.

“There's actually a shortage of allergists. We were fortunate enough to partner with a renowned allergist in our region. We have the established business, so it made a lot of sense to provide a service that is nonexistent in Butler at this point. She is the only allergist in our area,” Thompson said.

Gentile, who has worked for various health care providers over the years, and her staff of medical assistants will test for allergies to food, environmental factors and medication in adults and children and provide treatment, Thompson said.

Nurse practitioners and physicians assistants will be hired as the practice grows, she said.

“I've been in allergy practice for 20 years,” Gentile said. “I just wanted to have my own practice to run it the way I want to serve my patients best.”

There are not enough doctors specializing in allergy and asthma treatment, she said.

“There's a shortage of allergy and asthma specialists in Pennsylvania right now. They're not training enough to replace retirees,” Gentile said.

She said she knows of 32 openings in the field statewide.

“In school, they try to forecast what they think they're going to need. They tried to get me into primary care when I was in medical school. It's hard to predict the future needs in health care,” Gentile said.

Thompson said she and Nogan, who have worked together since 2001, own several other medical practices.

In addition to the Lung and Wellness Centers, which has a second office in Natrona Heights, they own Sleep Wellness Centers, which has offices in Butler, Moon Township and Natrona Heights, and Center Pointe Sleep Associates, which has offices in Butler, Natrona Heights, Sharon and McMurray.