Dr. Paul Shah stands in the waiting room at the Lawrence office of Healthy Kids Pediatric Group. (Staff photo by Lexie Yearly.)
By Jessica Oates
As a child, Dr. Utpal “Paul” Shah always knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.
His father, Dr. Suresh Shah, opened Healthy Kids Pediatrics Group—originally called East Windsor Pediatric Group—in 1974, with the goal to provide the best possible healthcare to children of the community. Today, his son, a board certified pediatrician, carries on his vision.
“My dad was a pediatrician,” Paul Shah said. “When he started our business 40 years ago, it was really all that I knew. Of course I wanted to be involved. I got lots of exposure to this kind of work as my father’s son, and I am proud to be carrying on the business today.”
After graduating with a B.A. in biology from Cornell University in Ithaca in 1994, Shah attended Ross University School of Medicine, one of the leading Caribbean medical schools, located in Domenica.
From there, he went on to complete his pediatric residency at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, located in New Brunswick, in 2001, and has since been the managing partner of Healthy Kids Pediatrics Group, working out of both the East Windsor and newer Lawrence office.
The Lawrence office is the newest addition to the business. According to Shah, it has only been open for about three years.
“My father has been retired for several years now, but I try every day to carry on his dream of providing excellent healthcare to children in our community. It is really amazing to see the kids grow up. To see them grow and change and mature over the years is the most rewarding part of the business,” Shah said.
One of the many things that separate Healthy Kids Pediatrics Group from other pediatricians’ offices is that there are no nurses on staff; all medical advice is delivered by doctors.
There are nine physicians on staff, including Shah’s wife, Dr. Maritoni Calon Shah. The Shahs live in Plainsboro with their two children.
Shah made it clear that building a relationship with each patient and their parents is a fundamental part of his business.
“We spend a lot of time with the patients,” he said. “‘Well’ visits are typically scheduled for 30 minutes, and we make it a point to schedule appropriately.”
The doctor explained that it is important to establish a bond with children during each and every appointment to build trust and help children feel at ease for future visits.
On its website, Healthy Kids Pediatric Group states its mission is to treat your children like their own. With several very positive testimonials available for parents to view before making their child’s first appointment, the doctors of Health Kids Pediatric Group seem to be doing just that. One mother writes:
“Dr. Paul Shah, Dr. Maritoni Calon-Shah, Dr. Bob Bidabadi, Dr. Aimee Goodman, and Dr. Brian Marcus have all provided exceptional care for our two boys over the past four and a half years. They not only bring their medical knowledge to each patient encounter, they bring their own personal experiences as concerned, loving parents.”
The practice provides routine healthcare as well as acute visits for infants through young adulthood. Both offices are currently welcoming new patients.
The Lawrenceville office is located at 2 Princess Road in Lawrence, and the East Windsor Location at 300 B Princeton Hightstown Road, Suite 201 in East Windsor.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment at the Lawrence or East Windsor offices, call (609) 448-7300, or go online to the Healthy Kids Pediatric Group website at healthykidspeds.com.
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