
Dr. Michael J. Light, MD, FAAP
Pulmonologist (Pediatric) | Pediatric Pulmonology
1580 Nw 10th Ave First Floor Miami FL, 33136About
Dr. Michael J. Light practices Pediatric Pulmonology in Miami, FL. Dr. Light treats children who have breathing problems, or a problem with his or her lungs. Pediatric pulmonologists often treat children with chronic cough, difficulty breathing, recurring pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, apnea, chronic lung disease in premature infants, noisy breathing, and conditions that require special equipment to monitor and/or help with breathing at home.
Dr. Michael J. Light, MD, FAAP's Videos
Education and Training
Guy’s Hospital Medical School at the University of London medical degree 1967
Board Certification
American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
PediatricsAmerican Board of PediatricsABP- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
Provider Details

Dr. Michael J. Light, MD, FAAP's Expert Contributions
I'm having shortness of breath and feeling weird?
First question is it difficult to breath in or breath out. If the former I suspect vocal cord dysfunction when the vocal cords tend to close rather than open when you breath in. Relaxation techniques, possibly assisted by a speech therapist, will remedy this. Also possible that you are have acid reflux GERD which can be managed by pepcid 20 mg breakfast and dinner until resolved. On Friday, July 4, 2025 at 035023 PM CDT, Patient Question answers14155081116414dfb358d7fd21703b1a3aef0f9831f993expert.findatopdoc.com wrote You have a new patient question! All you have to do is reply to this email to answer. All questions and answers are for informational purposes only. One of your patients has asked you a question Click here to view this request online Dr. Light Question Alert You Have A New Patient Question Simply reply to this email with your answer. Im having shortness of breath and feeling weird? I have been getting really bad shortness of breath. Example I would just be talking or standing like normal and suddenly I feel like I cant breathe and it scares me. This also happens when I am laying down. Plus, I have had little chest pains right near below the ribcage, but not in the ribcage If that makes sense. It also happens when Im eating food any food. I am not taking any medications at the moment. Age 14 Gender Female Duration 1 month Medications none Conditions none Reply to this email to answer, or Login to see all questions. IT IS SAFE TO PARTICIPATE. Answering this question does not constitute medical advice or establish a doctorpatient relationship. All questions and answers are for informational purpose only. All question submitters are advised to seek the care of their local medical provider. Find A Top Doc, 1350 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, United States Of America, 866 664DOCS Unsubscribe Manage preferences READ MORE
Tender neck vein?
I suspect you are having different issues. Please understand this is an opinion based on your description, better to have done a physical examination. I propose that the problem is not the vein but rather the stellate ganglion. And that the issue with shortness of breath is vocal cord dysfunction. Good luck.Michael Light, MDmlight39yahoo.com On Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 021902 PM CDT, Patient Question answers1392928111641475817fc2c61524d33e6f4956f0accf12expert.findatopdoc.com wrote You have a new patient question! All you have to do is reply to this email to answer. All questions and answers are for informational purposes only. One of your patients has asked you a question Click here to view this request online Dr. Light Question Alert You Have A New Patient Question Simply reply to this email with your answer. Tender neck vein? I am a 16 year old female. This problem has been going on for years and I felt I should at least try to get help because I found nothing on the internet. When I touch my neck near my collarbone, I have a very tender vein there in the right side, and touching it hurts but not a lot but it makes me really uncomfortable and its just tender overall. Other symptoms I have are a constant itching in my ears which stops sometimes but then starts again and I clean my ears multiple times a day. I also have this breathing problem that never goes away really. When I breathe in I cant get enough air in my lungs and it feels like I cant breathe. I sometimes have muscle pain in different areas of my body but its not so serious. Age 16 Gender Female Duration Years Medications none Conditions none Reply to this email to answer, or Login to see all questions. IT IS SAFE TO PARTICIPATE. Answering this question does not constitute medical advice or establish a doctorpatient relationship. All questions and answers are for informational purpose only. All question submitters are advised to seek the care of their local medical provider. Find A Top Doc, 1350 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, United States Of America, 866 664DOCS Unsubscribe Manage preferences READ MORE
Help me please?
Recommend both cardiac and pulmonary evaluation. Also need to exclude mast cell activation syndrome a rare cause of these symptoms. Good luck. READ MORE
Breathlessness?
Simple answer is this is not normal. Whether this is a heart problem or a lung problem is unclear and you may need to get an appointment to both specialties. READ MORE
What are the diagnostic tests for shortness of breath?
First, history and physical examination. In sequence: Chest xray, spirometry, body plethysmography (body box), CT scan, heart ultrasound, exercise test. These evaluate degree (severity) but may not provide causation. READ MORE
Does a pulmonary embolism show up on a CT scan?
The simple answer is yes, but not necessarily on a scan without contrast. Recommended is CT pulmonary angiography. READ MORE
Can pneumonia be diagnosed with an X-ray?
If there are sufficient respiratory symptoms including fever, cough, breathing more than 20- 25 breaths per minute, and chest pain, then yes, pneumonia is possible. The chest x-ray is confirmation because if it is normal, then pneumonia is unlikely. A routine chest x-ray is not necessary if the symptoms are mild. Also important is age, and whether there are any co-morbid conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Hope this helps. If the symptoms are getting worse, then medical help is necessary. READ MORE
Does thoracentesis require anesthesia?
Local anesthetic is usual. READ MORE
Can CT scan miss pneumonia?
Very unlikely that a negative CT scan indicates pneumonia. Occasionally acute bronchitis has a negative CT. What does your physician say? READ MORE
Do I need to get a lung CT scan after recovering from a COVID infection?
Not immediately, and not at all if your symptoms improve. If you have increased difficulty breathing chest x-ray first and possible CT. READ MORE
How to treat a child with an upper respiratory infection?
The usual "cold" typically lasts 5-7 or perhaps 10 days and so this is not usual. My question is then is this how he usually responds to a cold and are there additional symptoms. I ask: is there a cough, is there a fever, any chest or face (sinus) pain? The simple answer to the question is that the pediatrician is the physician to deal with this. Unless there are symptoms (sneezing, itchy eyes) that would suggest an allergy issue or if there is a cough that persists that would suggest referral to an allergist or pediatric pulmonologist respectively.Please email me if you have more information or additional questions. Michael Light, MD, pediatric pulmonologist READ MORE
My son keeps vaping. How will this affect his lung health?
He has got to stop READ MORE
What is the difference between chronic bronchitis and asthma?
One of the causes of asthma is neutrophilic rather than eosinophilic. At this age asthma is more commonly eosinophilic, allergy related, and the chronic bronchitis tends to be bacterial (neutrophilic). Asthma is essentially reversible airway obstruction. Chronic bronchitis tend to be more productive cough than wheeze. READ MORE
My son lost his inhaler. What should I do?
Definitely do not use someone else's inhaler. Rescue is albuterol but you need to get to the primary physician. READ MORE
What can be done for children with cystic fibrosis?
Please follow in your local CF center. READ MORE
My daughter has had pneumonia more than once. Should we be concerned about her lung health?
She should see a pediatric pulmonologist who can answer your question READ MORE
My son died of cystic fibrosis when he was a teenager. Is it possible for his brother to get it too?
If he has the same father there is a 25% chance of having CF. Your obstetrician will answer the question for you. READ MORE
How can I control my son's asthma attacks?
He probably will benefit from inhaled corticosteroids READ MORE
Professional Memberships
- American Thoracic Society
- American Academy of Pediatrics
Fellowships
- Brompton Chest Hospital pediatric pulmonary and critical care
Dr. Michael J. Light, MD, FAAP's Practice location
Miami, FL 33136Get Direction
Orlando Pediatric Pulmonary Associates
8820 Bay Villa Ct -Orlando, FL 32836Get Direction
Children\'s Lung, Asthma & Pulmonary Specialists
11325 Lake Underhill Rd -Orlando, FL 32825Get Direction
Dr. Michael J. Light, MD, FAAP's reviews
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Get to know Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr. Michael Light, who serves patients in Florida.
Dr. Light specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic lung disease of infants, children, and adolescents. He has worked in 10 countries and has been a practicing pediatric pulmonologist for over 50 years.
His latest venture is soon to be “Light Fantastic Holistic” which is weight loss using LED light treatments with a guarantee. It will be located in the Venezia Plaza in Dr. Phillips, Orlando.
Professionally, Dr. Light serves patients at The Children’s Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Children’s Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists is a fully independent, private pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine practice that offers state-of-the-art care with topline diagnostic equipment at all of its facilities. It is the only practice of its type in the State of Florida to offer full pediatric sleep medicine services.
On the subject of his academic career, he earned his Medical Degree from Guy’s Hospital Medical School at the University of London in 1967. He then went on to complete the equivalent of a fellowship in pediatric pulmonary and critical care at the Brompton Chest Hospital in London.
Upon relocating to the United States in 1973 he directed the neonatal ICU in the 1970s and the pediatric ICU in the 1980s in Hawaii. In 1989, Dr. Light moved to the University of California in San Diego, where he worked as a pediatric pulmonologist. In 2000, he continued his work as a pediatric pulmonologist at the University of Miami. From 2004 until 2006, he served as the Chairperson of the Section of Pediatric Pulmonology with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Among his many accomplishments, he is the author of Clinician’s Guide to Pediatric Chronic Illness and Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Handbook of Pediatric Pulmonology. Additionally, he has participated in multiple clinical research studies of treatments, especially nebulized antibiotics, for the management of cystic fibrosis.
In addition to being a member of the American Thoracic Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the doctor maintains board certification in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). The ABP is an independent, nonprofit organization that was founded in 1933. It is one of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Pulmonology is a medical specialty that deals with diseases involving the respiratory tract. Pediatric pulmonologists, like Dr. Light, diagnose, treat, and manage children from birth to 21 years old with breathing and lung diseases.
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Nearby Providers
- Dr. Tarig Muzamil ali -dinar M.D.,1580 Nw 10th Ave Miami FL 33136
- Dr. Carolina Miranda torres M.D.1611 NW 12th Ave Miami FL 33136
- Monica Raquel Cardenas1611 NW 12TH AVE MIAMI FL 33136
- Dr. Mitra Shafieian M.D.1611 NW 12th Ave Miami FL 33136
Nearest Hospitals
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HOSPITALl
1400 NW 12TH AVE MIAMI FL 33136JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITALl
1611 NW 12TH AVE MIAMI FL 33136ANNE BATES LEACH EYE HOSPITALl
900 NW 17TH ST MIAMI FL 33136ORLANDO HEALTHl
52 W UNDERWOOD ST ORLANDO FL 32806FLORIDA HOSPITALl
601 E ROLLINS ST ORLANDO FL 32803NEMOURS CHILDREN'S HOSPITALl
13535 NEMOURS PKWY ORLANDO FL 32827