Melanie Dispenza, MD, PhD
Allergy and Immunology
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Young Adult 18-25
- Adult 26-64
- Older Adult 65+
Languages
- English
In-Network Plans
View All Accepted Plans (12)Gender
FemaleJohns Hopkins Affiliations:
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Melanie Dispenza
Primary Academic Title
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Physician
Background
Dr. Dispenza evaluates and treats adults at the Johns Hopkins Asthma & Allergy Center located on the Bayview campus. Her clinical interests include mastocytosis and anaphylaxis. She is an active member of the American Initiative in Mast Cell Diseases. Additionally, as co-director for the Johns Hopkins Center for Anaphylaxis and Drug Hypersensitivity, her research focuses on IgE-mediated mechanisms of allergies and novel strategies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of anaphylaxis.
Find a Clinical Trial
View all trials by this principal investigator.
Selected Publications
B Arce, NM Vilela, KA Sokol, S Alvarez-Arango, L Iacobelli, ET Oliver, D Croote, BS Bochner, DW MacGlashan, Jr., MC Dispenza. The Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor acalabrutinib aborts ongoing acute food-induced anaphylactic reactions in humanized mice. Epub 2025 Jul 17. PMID: 40683570.
RV Suresh, C Dunnam, D Vaidya, RA Wood, BS Bochner, DW MacGlashan, Jr., MC Dispenza. A phase 2 study of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibition for the prevention of anaphylaxis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2023. August;133(16):e172335. PMID 37384412.
MC Dispenza, RA Krier-Burris, KD Chhiba, BJ Undem, PA Robida, BS Bochner. Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibition effectively protects against IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2020. Sept;130(9): 4759-4770. PMID: 32484802.
MC Dispenza, JA Pongracic, AM Singh, BS Bochner. Short Term Ibrutinib Therapy Suppresses Skin Test Responses and Eliminates IgE-Mediated Basophil Activation in Adults with Peanut or Tree Nut Allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2018. May;141(5): 1914-1916. PMID: 29360526.
Locations
- Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
- 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Allergy & Asthma Center, 2nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21224
- Get Directions
- phone: 410-550-2300
- fax: 410-550-3256
Expertise
Education
- Fellowship: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2018
- Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern, Internal Medicine, 2015
- Medical Education: Penn State College of Medicine, MD, 2013
- Graduate School: Penn State University, PhD, 2011
Board Certifications
- Allergy and Immunology: American Board of Allergy and Immunology, 2018
- Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2016
Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
4.9 out of 5
32 ratings, 18 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/24/2026
Love my provider, she cares and listens to me, she is motivated and up on the newest treatment possibilities. I also enjoyed her assistant I believe her first name is [staff], last name I am not sure. Both are awesome and knowledgeable.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/2/2025
Very patient and takes the time to really listen
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/11/2025
Dr Dispenza had a lot of information to share. She was great.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/4/2025
Very thorough, concerned attentive listener,knowledgeable regarding my condition
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/14/2025
Knowledgeable, friendly
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/23/2025
Dr. Dispenza and her assistant were very professional and caring.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/16/2025
My provider is a specialist I have for MCAS. I do not see her on a regular basis. She is helping me regulate idiopathic anaphylaxis. And she is using my info for her research about MCAS. I am hoping in the future there may be a cure for this disorder.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/2/2025
I was so pleased that I could see Dr. Dispenza when I needed to do so and that she was so thoughtful in her care and suggestions.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/22/2025
Talked where I could understand my illness
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/22/2025
Dr. Melanie and her Fellows are caring, and very knowledgeable. However, the condition that I am contending with is very complex and no one knows ALL about it. Taking that into account they who seem very knowledgeable of this condition; will eventually comes to the reality that they did not know as much as they thought; and they will come to realize that my way of interpreting things thus is more in line with the scope and vastness of this disease.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/15/2025
Very pleased, easy to talk to, understands my problem.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/8/2025
I really appreciated the time Dr Dispenza spent to explain to me what was happening with my medical issue.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/17/2025
Very good
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/17/2025
Very caring
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/17/2025
Dr. D is great. And her fellows have also been great. Good listeners. Show genuine concern. Knowledgeable
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/6/2025
Amazing doctor. Greatest I've ever seen. Can't give enough praise for her
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/29/2025
Excellent Explains well and listens well
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/22/2025
Dr. D was great so was [staff].