The Emerging Face of Women's Healthcare in Manhattan: Truly A Family Affair

by: Bernadette Wallace

Unless you are a woman living in West Midtown or are a frequent reader of New York Magazine and have seen their ads, you've probably never heard of Shulman Women's Health Associates. That may all be about to change. Because what appears to be a dime-a-dozen OB/GYN practice may just be the latest step in progressive women's healthcare. And all because of what seems like a no-brainer: babies.

Started in 1991, Shulman Women's Health Associates, now Shulman-less since the retirement of founding partner Marc Shulman, MD in 2012, has been a successful practice since its inception. However, business has increased in the last five years to the point that the practice has expanded to take up nearly half of the building it inhabits and is turning away patients daily. Why is this? It's simple really, though revolutionary enough to making this working mom consider sitting on the waiting list indefinitely. Childcare is the answer.

Does childcare at your doctors office seem like a minor, unimportant thing to offer? Then you are most likely not a parent. And you are most definitely not a single, working mother. Most medical practices don't understand the value in this either, as evidenced by a shocking dearth of this benefit (that is from establishments that still accept patients with little or poor health coverage), and Shulman & Associates was the same. That is until one particular delivery changed everything.

"You don't realize what an expense or difficulty childcare is until you have children. Or at least I didn't. And while we're fortunate enough to be able to afford it, I realized that wasn't the biggest issue. I didn't want my infant 18 blocks away all day long. I wanted her close enough that I could be there if she needed me and see her during the day," says Mindy Lahiri, OB/GYN, and senior partner of Shulman & Associates.

Clearly a woman never to be denied what she wants, Dr. Lahiri did just that. She brought daughter Camille with her to work. First with the nanny, making room where she could in her office.

"Yeah, not everyone liked it. But when Mindy truly wants something, you can't stop her for long. I thought it was a great idea, though. It was great having her (the baby) here." Fellow senior partner Dr. Daniel Castellano comments. It's a progressive stance from Dr. Lahiri's business partner, and as her husband and father of baby Camille, it's an opinion that makes sense. "I didn't want to see my daughter only when I got home late or in between procedures. This way we didn't have to."

That was nearly seven years ago, and the level of childcare offered has grown just as quickly as little Camille Lahiri-Castellano, the now kindergarten-aged child who started it all.

"It was a little easier in the beginning when she slept for most of the day and was mostly quiet," Dr. Lahiri explains, glancing at a framed portrait on her desk of her, her husband, and the tiny newborn only days old. "And Jacqueline was such a saint, sitting patiently in my office or with Danny while the practice was preoccupied with the expansion. Then as Camille got a little older and started to become more vocal and move around, it became clear that she needed a more appropriate space to grow and receive a little stimulation. Also - and I won't name names - but a certain doting father was getting far too distracted with her being just a few feet away, constantly finding an excuse to play with her and getting to his appointments late. Thank God we have understanding patients, am I right?" (Note: when Dr. Castellano was interviewed and made aware of these claims, he simply answered with an unapologetic smile and a shrug of his shoulders, which are as good as any confession this journalist has ever witnessed.)

Needing a place for Camille to essentially call her own for the day, Dr. Lahiri and Dr. Castellano claimed an empty office on the first floor of the building and turned it into a makeshift nursery. It was an ideal set up: a place that was just an elevator ride away and far enough from other businesses, so the soon-to-be toddler could make as much noise as she desired without causing a disturbance. It didn't take long for her to thrive in the new, child-friendly atmosphere. None of these perks escaped the attention of nurses Tamra and Morgan Tookers, who asked to share the space and nanny once Tamra returned from her maternity leave after having their son, Toddrick.

"Dr. L was really cool when we asked her about keeping Toddrick here," Tamra recounts happily. "Talking mom-to-mom makes all the difference. And little Cam-Cam was so great around him. We ended up paying just as much, if not less, than what we would have if we had put him in one of those other shady daycares. Honestly, we would have gladly paid more for the convenience alone!"

While the addition of Toddrick might have been enough to make the doctors notice the potential in front of them, it was Dr. Castellano's kindness towards a patient in need that really drove the point home, especially for Dr. Lahiri, a mother.

"One of our patients, a woman who had just become a widow a few months prior, was having trouble keeping an appointment that she had rescheduled, like, four times," Dr. Castellano recalls. "She had two kids and an unreliable babysitter. She was about to cancel again when I finally told her to just come in and bring her kids with her. They played with Camille and Todd while she had her appointment. When we were done, my wife and I took her to the first floor to pick them up and she saw all of the children laughing and having a great time...she was in tears. She was so touched and just thanked us over and over again. I didn't think it was that big of a thing - the room was already there and she was here for a total of 40 minutes, tops - but it apparently meant the world to her." He pauses recounting this and smiles to himself, looking positively radiant with the arrival of a new memory. "As the patient left, Mindy turned to me, smiling with tears in her eyes, and just said 'Honey, this room could help a lot of women.' The rest is history, I guess."

And the rest is not only history, but also a bright future for the doctors, women and babies of Shulman & Associates. Lil' Associates opened its doors seven months later to fifteen adorable children and their relieved mothers, all patients of the practice (a requirement). The feedback they received was overwhelmingly positive.

"The task of finding a child care provider who is trustworthy and competent can be a source of major anxiety," says Dr. Lahiri as she takes me on a tour of the facilities. "So hearing these mothers sigh with relief and mention that this was one less thing for them to worry about is so rewarding because seriously, as far as professionals go, who's more trustworthy than your doctor?"

"We become a part of these families from the moment these women discover that they're pregnant until these same babies start school," Dr. Castellano adds. "The parents say it's a blessing for them, but we're just as lucky for the opportunity to witness their growth and remain in their lives a little longer than the profession normally allows us to."

Lil' Associates Daycare now has over 60 children enrolled from ages two months to five years old. The center has already experienced two successful expansions since its launch and with early talks of a third, competing practices have undoubtedly given serious thought to expanding the services they offer in hopes of mirroring some of Shulman's success.

Seeing the daycare for myself - multiple pristine rooms based on the different age groups, updated learning areas and a calendar of scheduled events and outings for the older children, the kitchen, even a brand new playground in the back - I had just one concern: was this care affordable?

"Definitely," Dr. Lahiri replies with pride. "You'll find that our tuition here is very competitive. Also, a sizable percentage of the enrollment is reserved at a sliding-scale rate for our patients with lower incomes. My amazing husband, who was raised by a single mother of two boys, insisted upon it. The upcoming expansion is exciting because we'll get to help even more of these families!" And with that, I am convinced that Lil' Associates is certainly the answer to the prayers of many mothers in the Manhattan area.

Not that it hasn't come with its downsides. Dr. Lahiri is not so quiet about her distaste for the care center calling her 3 year old son, Frank.

"His name is Anthony Francis, but this office has really loosened it's stance on nicknames." Clearly Dr Lahiri is not a fan of the moniker given her son, but that can't be blamed solely on the office.

When later asked about the topic Dr. Castellano grinned, looking away guiltily toward to door, as if his wife might be listening. "I don't discourage it. Frank is a good strong name. Don't tell Mindy I said that."

That secret, Dr. Castellano, is out. Along with the secret to success: find a way to help your business while truly benefiting others. Your community has taken note of this; now we can only hope others in the medical field are listening and follow suit.

- Gotham Magazine - October 2023 - Issue 201

Dan,

I know we said no Moving Day gifts, but you had to have known that I'd ultimately do what I want, anyway.

You know how much I adore your willingness to talk about your "incredible wife," but I just thought you could use a reminder of how integral your role is in every facet of of our lives. I'm sure you're wondering why I'd have these three deceptively ordinary, redundant pictures framed. I wanted you to have these candid pictures of you painting the nurseries of Camille, Anthony, and the daycare as proof of three things:

1. Your ass still looks fantastic in a pair of Wranglers. Yum x 1,000,000!
2. I'm everywhere.
3. Your hands - your hardworking hands - are so much a part of our foundation. Your passion, work ethic, and beautiful heart have built both our business and our family. You've woven your love into everything, Danny, and made it that much more extraordinary. You insist that I'm the idea woman of the family, and that's fine. But these ideas become realities at your hands. By that extension, you have literally made all of my dreams come true.

I love our life, I love our new home, and I love you.

Min

P.S. - The kids insist on giving you a Moving Day gift of their own: they want to get you a dog. They're also planning on approaching you for a loan for said gift. You have to appreciate their bravado.

A/N: With only one more chapter left, the authors would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to everyone who has shown support for this story. Your kind words have been a continued source of support and will continue to inspired until the very last chapter.