Career and Passion for Herding

Dr. David Slotwiner, the chief of cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, specializes in cardiac electrophysiology. During the weekdays, he dedicates his mornings to tending to patients and ensuring their heart health.

However, on Sundays, he transitions from the hospital to a sheep farm in Hackettstown, New Jersey. There, he devotes his time to herding his Border collies, Cosmo and Luna, among the sheep, using a whistle and commands to train them effectively. This unique blend of medical practice and herding reflects his approach to leadership in his profession.

Morning Routine

Dr. Slotwiner’s weekdays begin at approximately 5 a.m., but he allows himself a more relaxed start on Sundays, waking around 6:30 a.m. to read the latest news from The New York Times on his iPhone while still in bed.

SoulCycle Session

At 7:30 a.m., he partakes in a SoulCycle class in Bronxville, characterized by its rhythm-based cycling format. Post-pandemic, he has moderated his weekly attendance to ensure balance between health and fitness.

Breakfast Meet-Up

By 9 a.m., Dr. Slotwiner meets his wife at Caffè Ammi in Pelham for breakfast. Their morning ritual includes latte, a warmed cranberry scone, and occasionally, an indulgent almond croissant. His wife brings their dogs along in her vehicle, as his is too small for the trip to the farm.

Journey to the Farm

After breakfast, Dr. Slotwiner embarks on a 75-minute drive to Wayside Farm while listening to podcasts, including Hard Fork and the NewYork-Presbyterian podcast Health Matters. He also enjoys insights from John Mandrola’s This Week in Cardiology, appreciating diverse perspectives.

Herding Training

Upon arriving at the farm around 11 a.m., Dr. Slotwiner dons his headset and takes his position on the training field. Under the guidance of Gene Sheninger and Teri Rhodes, the farm’s owners, he refines the skills necessary for herding.

Training Techniques

The first lesson for the dogs involves directional commands—“come by” for clockwise and “away” for counterclockwise. They learn to maneuver the sheep without causing panic and eventually work towards the goal of separating them into distinct groups.

Communication at a Distance

At significant distances, whistle commands become essential. Competitions can occur over vast fields, requiring dogs to trust their handler’s commands even when they cannot see the sheep.

Transitions Back to Medicine

Dr. Slotwiner wraps up his herding training around 12:30 p.m. and heads back toward Pelham, often finishing a podcast to prepare mentally for his next role. Each fourth weekend, he is on-call at the hospital, making pit stops at local eateries like Juqi for their famous soup dumplings before his shifts.

Patient Care

After returning around 2 p.m., he changes into scrubs and checks in on his patients, balancing direct care with administrative responsibilities, which may include reviewing manuscripts.

Evening Routine

Dr. Slotwiner often sports a bow tie, a choice that began when a patient gifted him one fifteen years ago. His bow tie collection has since grown to over fifty.

Dinner Plans

Evenings often involve family gatherings, typically meeting his son Harry and daughter-in-law for dinner in Williamsburg, or dining with his parents in Battery Park. Cuisine preferences vary from skirt steak to grilled branzino, paired with red or white wine.

Home Activities

After dinner, he engages his Border collies with Frisbee play to help them unwind after their active herding session.

Wind Down

As the day concludes, he retires to bed around 11:30 p.m. to read on his Kindle, often enjoying novels that help clear his mind. His reading habits allow him to switch between physical and audio formats, enhancing his commuting experience.

Dr. Slotwiner typically falls asleep close to midnight, embracing a night owl’s lifestyle while balancing his demanding career and unique passions.