When you were a kid, did you ever run into one of your teachers at a restaurant on a Saturday afternoon and almost not recognize her? How different does your doctor look when you see him without his white lab coat? Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the professionals with whom we typically engage in a particular manner as having lives outside of what they do for a living.

The veterinarians at Plumtrees Animal Hospital (PAH) are no exception. They’re more than their professional bios: All three have their own hobbies and preferences, their own backstories and fears.

Here’s an inside look at the veterinarians of PAH.

QUESTION #1: When and how did you decide you wanted to be a veterinarian?  

Dr. Baff: I was 22 and applying to law school while working for my dad, who was also a veterinarian. I really enjoyed working there and decided to change paths.

Dr. Goldstein: Since I was two years old. We have a home video of my nursery school graduation, where they announced I wanted to be a veterinarian.

Dr. Kotwal: Senior year of college. I adopted a sick cat and had to take her to the vet frequently, which made me interested in the field.

 

QUESTION #2: What’s your favorite part about being a veterinarian?

Dr. Baff: Every case is a puzzle. I enjoy meeting the challenges that come with a difficult case and prevailing despite the odds.

Dr. Goldstein: The relationships I develop with my clients and their animals, and performing complicated surgeries.

Dr. Kotwal: Developing long-term relationships with clients and their pets.

 

QUESTION #3: If you had to choose a new career, what would it be and why?

Dr. Baff: Photographer, because I enjoy taking and editing photos.

Dr. Goldstein: Human soft-tissue surgeon because I don’t like bones (orthopedic surgery).

Dr. Kotwal: Perhaps a human dermatologist.

 

QUESTION #4: Bar soap or body wash?

Dr. Baff: Body wash.

Dr. Goldstein: Body wash.

Dr. Kotwal: Body wash.

 

QUESTION #5: Coke or Pepsi? 

Dr. Baff: Whichever is available in a glass bottle.

Dr. Goldstein: Seltzer.

Dr. Kotwal: Pepsi.

 

QUESTION #6: Wine, beer, or the hard stuff?

Dr. Baff: Red wine (any Chianti) or Sam Adams Boston lager. For the hard stuff: margarita with salt.

Dr. Goldstein: Wine.

Dr. Kotwal: I don’t like the taste of alcohol.

 

QUESTION #7: Dog or cat?

Dr. Baff: Cat.

Dr. Goldstein: I’m a crazy dog lady… I love all dogs, especially pit bulls and Chihuahuas.

Dr. Kotwal: Dog.

 

QUESTION #8: Beach or mountains?

Dr. Baff: Mountains.

Dr. Goldstein: Mountains

Dr. Kotwal: Beach.

 

QUESTION #9: Read a book or run a 10k? 

Dr. Baff: Ragnar! I’ve run five Cape Cods and one Napa course on behalf of the Jessica Rekos Foundation

Dr. Goldstein: Run.

Dr. Kotwal: Read a book.

 

QUESTION #10: Chocolate or vanilla? 

Dr. Baff: Chocolate.

Dr. Goldstein: Vanilla.

Dr. Kotwal: Depends on my mood.

 

QUESTION #11: Downtown life or rural life?

Dr. Baff: Somewhere in between. I enjoy both. But if I had to choose, it would be rural.

Dr. Goldstein: Rural.

Dr. Kotwal: Downtown.

 

QUESTION #12: Barefoot or shoes?

Dr. Baff: Always shoes. I’m too afraid of splinters and hookworms.

Dr. Goldstein: Shoes.

Dr. Kotwal: Shoes.

 

QUESTION #13: Where can you be found on a typical Friday night? 

Dr. Baff: Watching Dateline on the couch.

Dr. Goldstein: On my couch eating Thai food with my husband and our dogs after the baby goes to bed.

Dr. Kotwal: At home watching Netflix and eating takeout.

 

QUESTION #14: Do you have pets? 

Dr. Baff: A 2-year-old male human.

Dr. Goldstein: Two dogs: Max is 8 years old (I got him my third year of vet school) and Gino is 2 years old (I adopted him from Puppy Kisses).

Dr. Kotwal: Millie is our 13-year-old cat.

 

QUESTION #15: Are you married? Do you have children? 

Dr. Baff: I am married to Shalmalee Kotwal, also a veterinarian and a new addition to PAH. We have one son together named Gupko.

Dr. Goldstein: I am married with a 5-month-old son named Dylan.

Dr. Kotwal: Yes. I have a son.

 

QUESTION #16: What do you do for fun? 

Dr. Baff: Baseball, spend time on my boat, and build terrariums.

Dr. Goldstein: Hike with the dogs.

Dr. Kotwal: Cook. Sing.

 

QUESTION #17: What’s your biggest fear?

Dr. Baff: Losing the ability to laugh and have fun. Ambivalence.

Dr. Goldstein: I wasn’t sure, so I asked my husband and he reminded me that it’s bugs!

Dr. Kotwal: Maggots.

 

QUESTION #18: What’s something about you that might surprise others?

Dr. Baff: I have an exceptionally high spice tolerance.

Dr. Goldstein: I hate public speaking.

Dr. Kotwal: I’m double-jointed.

 

Now that you really know the PAH veterinarians, come see them doing what they do best: taking exceptional care of pets. Call us to schedule an appointment for your pet’s next preventive care visit.