Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a senior statesman amongst pediatricians, an internationally-recognized authority and diagnostician, a public speaker, expert witness and go-to resource for health issues in the Orthodox Jewish community and beyond. Originally from South Africa, he started his current practice, Total Family Care of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, PC in 1987. Dr. Lightman is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). Over the years, Dr. Lightman has served in a number of leadership roles: director of the adult allergy clinic at Louis Lasky Center, director of pediatric allergy and asthma at Queens General Hospital, and co-director of pediatric and adult outpatient allergy at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital. Dr. Lightman is also a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine. In addition, he is actively involved in teaching pediatric and family nurse practitioners through Columbia University, Pace University, Lehmann College, and Molloy College, as well as mentoring physician assistants through Touro College. As the Medical Director and a practicing physician, Dr. Lightman has an accessible and friendly manner with parents and children alike. He holds himself and the whole practice to the highest standards of medical excellence, whether it be a simple camp physical or a child with serious symptoms. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com
You may have heard about it from your pediatrician or pharmacist. And it’s true. There is a shortage of Infant’s and Children’s Tylenol and Motrin and children’s antibiotics to treat common sicknesses like ear infections and strep throats. Medications for ADD/ADHD are in short supply. What’s happening? Presently, we are in one of the most
It’s that time of year again. Camp is l-o-n-g over and now is “Bayn HashMashos.” The lack of structure is not an easy time for most families. How much time can Daddy and Mommy take off from work? Thankfully, it’s not open-ended. School begins imminently. And there’s much to be done. Each school has its
Polio, the highly infectious disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to spinal and respiratory paralysis, and, in some cases death, is making a comeback? The question mark is deliberate. Polio was eradicated in this country. Years ago. Since 1979, no cases of polio caused by the wild poliovirus have originated in the
Anxiety abounds today, including among children. Is there any reason to doubt why it’s rampant? Covid. The war in the Ukraine. Terrorist attacks in Israel. 45 families marking tragic first-year Yahrzeits on Lag B’Omer this week. Attacks in the local public transportation systems. A bomb scare at our own local JCC. Unfortunately, the list is
Another “C” word is presently putting fear in the hearts of parents and pediatricians alike. It’s called the Croup. The croup is a not uncommon illness of childhood. Yet this season, it has entered the stage of pediatric health care with a vengeance. Let’s take a moment to discuss the croup and what can be
Yom Tov is over. Time to turn our thought to influenza or flu season which is just around the corner. Flu season generally runs from October through May. My readers know I am a proponent of the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine assumes special importance this year. Let’s start with the flu vaccine during “ordinary”
My lifelong drive to do for people and for my community is one of the reasons I became a physician. But my drive is not just about doing. It’s about doing the right thing and doing it properly. Hence, what I’m about to say may not be popular. Yet winning a popularity contest has never
Uncertainty Noun 1. The state of being uncertain 2. Something that is uncertain or causes one to feel uncertain Uncertainty is part of life and it most certainly sums up the last five months of life in this world. Covid-19 barreled into our lives, turning almost everything upside down and inside out. Many people were
In transparency, these musings are being written over what should be my lunch time. However, I have no appetite (a rare occurrence) following a harrowing morning. The phones have been ringing off the hook, a scene that is repeated daily nowadays, and I understand why. But we all need to take one big collective step
We know summer as beach time. Playing in the sand and swimming in natural water. Sports. Hiking. Travel programs. Art programs. Learning programs. Pools. Barbecues on Bubby’s Grandpa’s deck. Sadly, summer 2020 is being truncated programmatically. This means many kids will be home this summer with plenty of time on their hands. Plenty of time
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Orthodox Union