Dr. Vladimir Barayev Honored for Dedication to Youth on Staten Island
By Danielle Wiseman, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Vladimir Barayev, Board Certified Pediatrician and Owner of Barayev Pediatrics, is not your ordinary pediatrician. Often seen sporting a rainbow tie-dye lab coat, Barayev is dedicated to changing how parents see healthcare, one patient at a time.
Originally from Uzbekistan, Barayev immigrated to the United States at the age of four and spent his formative years growing up in Queens. As a high school senior, Barayev was one of 90 students chosen by the City University of New York (CUNY) Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, which provided a fast track for students interested in primary care professions. The program allowed him to complete college, and subsequently medical school at New York Medical College, in just seven years. Among the 90 students chosen for the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education was the woman who would later become his wife and the woman who eventually drew him to Staten Island.
“My parents were not rich, to say the least, and my childhood in the United States started on welfare while we lived in a shared basement with another family. In return for being studious at school, New York City invested in me,” says Barayev. “I love this city, and I’ve always felt a debt of gratitude toward it for investing so deeply in me. Even though I was always interested in working with kids, that’s ultimately what helped me decide on pediatrics; I wanted to give back to the future of New York.”
Upon graduating from New York Medical College, Barayev completed his residency at Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center, also known as the “jewel” of Northwell Health, in Long Island. Fans of Netflix’s Emergency NYC should be well-acquainted with the hospital and its doctors, who mentored Barayev throughout his residency and propelled him on his path toward pediatrics.
Barayev began his medical career in Hamilton Heights, New York and in 2017 moved to Staten Island to work with the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which provides medical services to underserved and underprivileged communities of color. Barayev’s wife, a fellow pediatrician, was born and raised in Staten Island, and upon having their first child, the Barayevs transitioned to Staten Island.
After several years working with the NHSC, Barayev decided to open a private practice on Staten Island. Due to the affordability and accelerated nature of the Sophie Davis program, Barayev was able to minimize his student loan debt, enabling him to fund and operate his own practice.
However, during his first months operating the practice, Barayev quickly became disillusioned with the organization of American healthcare. “If you go through insurance, the price is astronomically high, it’s an arms race, and it often doesn’t correlate with quality,” emphasizes Barayev. “I decided to go with a different route.”
As a result, Barayev’s New Springville-based practice, Barayev Pediatrics, offers pediatric concierge care to families. Barayev learned about this improved model of care from colleagues starting their own practices outside of the “insurance controlled” typical medical office model. One of Barayev’s closest friends and mentors, Dr. Nitin Gupta of Dobbs Ferry NY, was a pioneer and national leader in the pediatric concierge care arena who encouraged Barayev to follow his model. This transformed structure allows Barayev to spend more one-on-one time with patients, who become more like family under his personalized care.
Barayev Pediatrics is entirely focused on meeting the individual needs of every patient, prioritizing thoroughness and attention to detail when treating children. In addition to traditional office visits, Barayev also sees patients in their homes, providing a much-needed level of comfort for patients who struggle with medical care or newborns who can’t be exposed to pathogens. Barayev also offers virtual care in the form of video calls, phone calls, and text messages.
Barayev consistently goes above and beyond for his patients, developing lasting relationships that continue even once a patient has aged out. Barayev pays close attention to children’s social and emotional development as well as their physical development, allowing him to assess the child as a whole and make appropriate recommendations for care.
“You can’t form a doctor-patient relationship in a once-per-year 15-minute visit,” states Barayev. “My philosophy is that I want you to trust me because I’m your friend, your family member and, a member of your community. My patients’ families have my cell number and can reach me whenever they need to; that’s the level of care I’m trying to provide.”
Barayev is also an advocate and warrior for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Proudly stating that his niche is working with children with special needs, Barayev connects incredibly well with children with autism and works tirelessly to uplift and empower them. Due to the nature of traditional medicine within the United States, many diagnoses can be overlooked in children. Barayev is actively working to create a community that brings awareness to these issues and supports the autism community in early intervention.
“I've seen children with autism whose diagnoses have been completely missed, and I've seen how devastated families can be as a result,” says Barayev. “I have also seen the ethnic and racial disparity in the medical world. If you're a Black or Hispanic child, you are far less likely to get diagnosed and far less likely to get the care you need. I’m working hard to break this pattern, especially on Staten Island.”
As Barayev changes the way people view medical care, he continues to keep his eye toward his ultimate goal: bettering the community through quality care and personal attention. Barayev is a staunch supporter of Staten Island and jumped headfirst into the community when he moved here in 2017.
For his accomplishments, Dr. Vladimir Barayev is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which he will receive in the Emerging Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.
Barayev is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Staten Island, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber’s Business Guild II and Young Professionals Group (YPG). He has also served on the Board of Directors of the GRACE Foundation of Staten Island, a nonprofit that works to enhance the lives of those living with autism.
Current occupation and title: Pediatrician/ CEO of Barayev Pediatrics.
Hometown: Great Kills.
Past occupation/s and titles: General Pediatrician, Director of Medical Education-Pediatrician.
Community involvement: The GRACE Foundation, Rotary Club of Staten Island, Young Professionals Group, and Business Guild 2.
Some of my life goals include: Build a school for kids with special educational needs.
The best part of my job: Unlocking potential in children.
The most difficult part of my job: Having to calm overactive kids.
My life philosophy: Focus on things within your control and let go of everything else.
I am most proud of: My marriage.
Something that no one knows about me: I can’t swim.
Personal interests and hobbies: Stoic philosophy, origami, basketball, nature walks in parks and beaches.
I laugh at: Parenting memes.
I am really good at: Motivation.
I admire: Plato.
Some important things I would like you to know about me: I love spicy food.