How to Choose a Pediatric Pulmonologist in Dubai

Choosing a specialist for your child is difficult precisely when you are least equipped to do it — worried, and unfamiliar with what separates one clinician from another. Some of the things families weigh heavily matter less than they think, and some of the things that matter a great deal are never mentioned.

Confirm the subspecialty training, not just the title

Pediatrician and pediatric pulmonologist are not the same. A pulmonologist has completed further structured training in children's lung and airway disease after general pediatric training. In the UAE, clinicians come from many different training systems, so it is reasonable to ask directly what the subspecialty qualification is and where it was obtained.

Recognised markers include UK CCT in Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, US board certification in Pediatric Pulmonology, or an equivalent European qualification. All practising doctors must hold a DHA, DoH or MOH licence, which you can verify through the relevant authority.

Ask which diagnostics are actually available

This is the question families least often ask and it determines what can be done without another referral. A full pediatric respiratory service should have access to:

• Spirometry with reversibility testing, with staff experienced at coaching children
• FeNO for airway inflammation
• Allergy testing — skin prick and specific IgE
• Sweat testing for cystic fibrosis
• Flexible bronchoscopy with a pediatric anesthetic team
• Sleep studies, including full polysomnography where needed
• Appropriate imaging with pediatric radiology input

If your child's problem is likely to need one of these, ask before booking rather than discovering later.

Match the expertise to the problem

Pediatric pulmonology has subspecialties within it. A clinician who runs a long-term ventilation service is not necessarily the best fit for straightforward asthma, and the reverse is equally true. If your child has a rare or complex condition — neuromuscular disease, primary ciliary dyskinesia, bronchiectasis, a complex airway — ask how many such children the clinician looks after. Volume matters in rare disease.

Ask about continuity

Chronic respiratory conditions are managed over years. Seeing a different doctor each visit means the longitudinal picture is lost, and that picture is often what makes the diagnosis. Ask whether you will see the same clinician at follow-up, who covers during absence, and how results are communicated between visits.

Consider the multidisciplinary team

For anything beyond simple asthma, the team matters as much as the individual. Respiratory physiotherapy is central in bronchiectasis, PCD and neuromuscular disease and is frequently the weakest link in private care. Ask about physiotherapy, dietetics, ENT and sleep technology support.

What matters less than families assume

• Hospital branding. Care is delivered by a clinician and a team, not a building. A large institution does not guarantee subspecialty depth in a narrow field.
• Waiting time as a proxy for quality. Being seen tomorrow is convenient; it says nothing about the assessment.
• Number of tests ordered. More investigation is not better care. A good assessment narrows the possibilities before testing.
• Star ratings alone. Reviews reflect communication and waiting times, which matter, but rarely reflect diagnostic accuracy.

Questions worth asking at the first appointment

• What do you think is going on, and what else could it be?
• What would change in management depending on the result of this test?
• Is there an alternative test that answers the same question with less burden?
• What should improve, and by when, if this treatment is working?
• What would make you want to see us sooner?
• Who do I contact if things worsen at the weekend?

A clinician who welcomes these is usually a good sign. So is one who says openly that they do not yet know, and explains how they intend to find out.

Practical notes for the UAE

• Check insurance network status before booking, and whether investigations require pre-approval. This causes more delay than anything else.
• Gather previous records, including from other countries. Previous chest X-rays matter enormously — a film from three years ago showing changes in the same lobe can shorten the diagnostic process substantially.
• Ask about continuity if you move. Families relocate frequently here; a clear written summary makes the handover far easier.
• Consider language. Being able to describe symptoms precisely matters. Ask what languages the clinician and team speak.
• Second opinions are reasonable and should not cause offence, particularly before a major intervention.

About Dr Omi Narayan

Consultant Pediatric Pulmonologist and Sleep Physician based in Dubai. Trained for 16 years in the UK's NHS, including as Consultant at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Dual UK board certification (CCT) in Pediatrics and Pediatric Pulmonology. 57 peer-reviewed publications.

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