If you have a child with an acute or chronic respiratory (lung and breathing related) condition, you can count on the experts in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine to provide outstanding care delivered with a compassionate touch. We are a leader in diagnosing and managing common concerns like cough, asthma, and sleep disorders to more complex issues including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial lung disease, and lung transplantation.
In addition, we specialize in caring for children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), from evaluation to diagnosis and treatment, providing access to clinical trials and helping patients manage their symptoms to improve their quality of life and longevity.
Through all of our comprehensive programs, our pediatric pulmonologists work with the entire family, providing answers to your biggest questions and supporting you and your child throughout the patient journey.
What is a pulmonologist?
A pulmonologist is a medical specialist who treats conditions and diseases affecting the respiratory tract. Our pediatric pulmonologists work together, taking a team approach to helping patients manage a range of pulmonary (breathing and lung) conditions.
Our depth of experience in treating pulmonary conditions
Our division is widely recognized for the breadth of services we provide and the depth of experience our clinicians bring to each patient. Every year we conduct more than 15,000 outpatient visits and care for hundreds of inpatients. While some of our patients come from the local area, others travel across the country, or even around the world, for our unmatched expertise in treating rare and complex conditions. Our clinicians draw on their extensive experience, coupled with our state-of-the-art diagnostic capacity, to assess each patient and develop a highly personalized treatment plan. For long-distance patients, we also coordinate with their local doctors to help them manage their conditions over the long term.
We also have one of the most comprehensive neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and pulmonary follow-up programs. In addition, Boston Children’s pediatric pulmonologists are proud to serve as a resource for many local and regional NICUs, which count on us for our highly specialized care.
Taking a collaborative approach to pulmonary care
Our team consists of a broad range of clinicians who are trained in treating children with pulmonary disorders, including pediatric pulmonologists, pulmonary nurses, nurse practitioners, fellows, respiratory and physical therapists, nutritionists, and social workers. All of these experts work collaboratively to care for the needs of each patient and ensure their physical and emotional well-being.
Our experts also partner with colleagues from other disciplines across Boston Children’s to create a comprehensive treatment plan for children with multi-symptom complex conditions that involve the lungs, such as tracheomalacia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We leverage each other’s strengths and expertise to optimize the results for each patient.
Meet Caitlyn
Caitlyn has interstitial lung disease, which affects the cells and tissues of her lungs. Learn more about her story and about a special visit she received.
Advancing treatment for pulmonary disorders through innovation and research
Our clinicians are paving new ground in a variety of ways in an effort to improve outcomes for children with lung disease. For instance, we have one of the only designated vaping services in the nation, caring for young people who are suffering from pulmonary effects caused by using e-cigarettes. Our Pulmonary Genetics Program, one of the few at a pediatric hospital, can help families find a genetic cause for pulmonary conditions or breathing problems that may affect their child or family members.
Many of our clinicians are also engaged in research efforts that are deepening our understanding of a range of pulmonary conditions. These findings translate into better diagnostic and disease management techniques.
Our areas of pulmonary research include:
- managing the largest volume of pediatric pulmonary clinical trials in New England and one of the largest volumes in the country
- serving as a major site for cystic fibrosis research and clinical trials, providing patients with early access to the latest medications, and leading a variety of efforts to test interventions and identify innovative ways to support people with CF
- studying bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients who also have the diagnosis of asthma, specifically focusing on environmental factors and lung function
- exploring how genetics may play a role in BPD disease susceptibility and lung growth
- trialing the use of remote oxygen saturation monitoring for infants discharged home on supplemental oxygen to see if this improves outcomes
- looking at the molecular determinants of lung disease in general as well as in asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and rare lung diseases
- mapping genes that cause different diseases
Planning for your visit
Please access MyChildren's Patient Portal to view upcoming visits, fill out new or return patient questionnaires, and send messages to your pulmonary care team.
Learn more to prepare for your visit to Boston Children’s Hospital.
