Medical Director

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. 

Originally from South Africa, he earned his bachelor of medicine (MB) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.  He obtained a Diplomate in Child Health (DCH) and served for over two years as a physician in the South African army.

In 1984, Dr. Lightman came to the United States to pursue a fellowship in asthma and immunology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

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 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.  Meet Dr. Lightman’s healthcare team at Total Family Care here.

Dr. Lightman speaks English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Afrikaans.