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Dear Dr. Shetye and Staff

         My name is AV and I was a patient of yours for a few years.  Your office helped prepare me for maxillo-facial surgery and treated me afterwards.  I wanted to express my gratitude and let you know that I really appreciate your dedication to your work.  

      You were always professional yet personable and very patient with my parents and I who often had many questions about treatment.  I understand that most adult patients do not have their parents accompanying them to each appointment but since we live upstate, each visit was a family trip basically.

       Everyone working there was very friendly and helped put me at ease. Your staff was exactly what one wishes their healthcare providers to be: courteous, patient, sympathetic and encouraging.  There were numerous times that I felt nervous or unsure but was reassured by the competency of the staff and Dr. Shetye.

       Dr Shetye exceeded my expectations. I could not have asked for a doctor with a better bedside manner and care for his patients.  I have had numerous orthodontists treat me at this point in my life and I would have to say that Dr. Shetye has been the best by far and his staff is as impressive as him.  The office came to feel so comfortable and familiar to me that I never had anxiety about going there for appointments. 

     I know that your office treats infants and young children with cleft lips and/or palate. I think that your work is amazing and so crucial to enhancing the lives of your patients.  I admire the work that your office does. 

    Once again, I just wanted to express my gratitude to the staff and Dr. Shetye for providing top-notch care.  Even though I am extremely pleased with the results of my surgery, a part of me will miss going into the office every few months.  I know that my parents are also as pleased and grateful as I am with the treatment that I received.  

     Keep up the great work!

AV & Family

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Dear Dr. Shetye and Staff

        We are writing this letter although our journey is still ongoing just to tell you how thankful we are to all of you for the amazing care that you have given our son R. From the first day we walked into your office discouraged and overwelmed; you made us feel that everything is going to be all right.

        Dr. Shetye, you have done wonders for R with NAM treatment. Your expertise is amazing. Your bedside manner and demeanor has comforted us and gotten us through this process. Your staff, as we are sure you already know, is truly wonderful as well. They have been so supportive and uplifting, as well as kind and professional. Every single person we have encountered in your office has been truly a blessing to our family.  

        From the minute we walk into appointments, your front desk staff are always smiling and willing to help us in any way they can. Your dental assistants have been utterly wonderful to us -giving us as much information that they can and encouraging us this road be bearable and that we will get through it.

        We stand humbled today and forever grateful to you all for your services and compassion. You have treated R with utmost care and concern. We make sure that R always remembers and appreciates what you have done for him and for our family.

       We would recommend any patient to you and your office anytime. 

Sincerely, 

RP Family

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Essay

         As I reached for the door, my hand wrapped around the heavy glass doors and easily opened, a sharp contrast to the little boy who struggled with all his might to pry the door open. Today, walking into the office in New York City, the excitement rebounded throughout my body. My final appointment with Dr. Pradip R. Shetye, a Craniofacial Orthodontist, my miracle worker. I have come to the Craniofacial Unit at NYU hospital since I was 3 weeks old and this day, I walked in a month after my 18th birthday. I was born with craniofacial malformations: no palate on the roof of my mouth, my chin was recessed, and my tongue would roll into my airway and cause me to turn blue. ...................

         Today, on the football field you can hear my voice roar, breaking down the huddle and leading the Varsity team as Captain. Looking back, Dr Shetye was always willing to push the boundaries in science to ensure I didn't have to look or sound different or undergo more surgeries.........

         When you see me today, the scars have faded but they are a reminder of who I am and how I have persevered through the challenges. I was the boy who was desperate to blend in but was destined to stand out and became the voice for all to hear.

        The good news is that since I turned 18 my face is considered grown and the endless doctor visits have come to an end. Through this lifetime experience, I have learned the best way to measure a person is through the way they treat others. The author of Wonder, R.J. Palacio writes “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.”

         Dr. Shetye’s compassion, his everlasting dedication and his genuine concern for my well-being have taught me that even when you’re at the top we can always do more, be more, but above everything else, be kind..............

KM