Cardiologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Chiropractor providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dentist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dermatologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Family Physician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
OB-GYN providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Ophthalmologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Orthopedic Surgeon providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Pediatrician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Physical Therapist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Podiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Psychiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Philip M. Rojo, MLP-NP, is a highly skilled nurse practitioner passionate about delivering customized care. Through his work at Union Spine and Pain Management, which has offices in Union, Scotch Plains, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey, Philip helps patients feel more comfortable as they progress in treatment.
A lifelong learner, Philip earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick. He remains at Rutgers to complete a Master of Science in nursing, focusing on adult and geriatric care.
Philip is trained in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. He is also certified as an adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.
Philip’s professional experience includes working in emergency room settings and managing patient care across various crisis and trauma needs. He also brings experience in managing patient care after surgical interventions, in addition to treating numerous acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders.
Philip enjoys working one-on-one with those in his care, getting to know them and their unique health needs. He finds his work deeply rewarding, especially when patients overcome significant challenges in pain management.
Emergency Medicine Karen launched her clinical career in the fast-paced Emergency Rooms of Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center, where she spent a decade refining her skills in acute and emergency care. This experience honed her ability to make critical, life-saving decisions and adapt swiftly to high-pressure situations.
Primary Care & Urgent Care In 2020, Karen transitioned to urgent care settings in Central Jersey, broadening her expertise in Primary Care. This shift allowed her to cultivate meaningful patient relationships, manage chronic conditions, and address acute illnesses. Her adaptability and holistic approach became pivotal in delivering effective, compassionate care.
Specialization in Endocrinology Currently, Karen’s focus is on Endocrinology, a field she finds deeply rewarding. She specializes in managing intricate conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, and metabolic challenges. Her patient-first approach ensures tailored, evidence-based solutions that empower individuals to achieve better health and well-being.
Commitment to Professional Growth Karen actively engages in continuing education and professional development to remain at the forefront of advancements in medical science. She participates in seminars and workshops, ensuring her practice integrates the latest research and technologies.
Philosophy of Care
Karen’s approach to healthcare is rooted in empathy, respect, and collaboration. She believes that every patient deserves a customized care plan, clear communication, and a trusted partnership to navigate their health journey. Her philosophy combines medical expertise with genuine compassion to ensure positive outcomes.
Achievements
Clinical Excellence: Recognized for her exceptional diagnostic skills and patient rapport in both emergency and primary care settings.
Community Engagement: Participates in health awareness programs and local health fairs, promoting preventive care and wellness education.
Mentorship: Serves as a mentor to aspiring healthcare professionals, sharing her insights and fostering a commitment to compassionate care.
Personal Life
Karen is a dedicated wife and mother of three young children who keep her energized and inspired. She is also the proud owner of a Yorkie who completes the family. In her downtime, she channels her creativity into crafting and baking and unwinds with her favorite Netflix series. She loves outdoor adventures with her family and is passionate about maintaining a balanced life, both personally and professionally.
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Philip M. Rojo, MLP-NP, is a highly skilled nurse practitioner passionate about delivering customized care. Through his work at Union Spine and Pain Management, which has offices in Union, Scotch Plains, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey, Philip helps patients feel more comfortable as they progress in treatment.
A lifelong learner, Philip earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in New Brunswick. He remains at Rutgers to complete a Master of Science in nursing, focusing on adult and geriatric care.
Philip is trained in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. He is also certified as an adult/gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.
Philip’s professional experience includes working in emergency room settings and managing patient care across various crisis and trauma needs. He also brings experience in managing patient care after surgical interventions, in addition to treating numerous acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders.
Philip enjoys working one-on-one with those in his care, getting to know them and their unique health needs. He finds his work deeply rewarding, especially when patients overcome significant challenges in pain management.
Marlyn Alvarado, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner at Union Spine and Pain Management. The practice has locations in Union, Scotch Plains, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey. Proficient in English and Spanish, Marlyn brings a wealth of experience delivering comprehensive care to diverse populations of all ages.
Marlyn embarked on her nursing journey at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, where she earned her nursing degree. During this time, she served as a surgical nurse at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she cared for patients undergoing chemotherapy, dialysis, and surgery.
Continuing her work at Jersey City Medical Center, Marlyn served in pivotal roles as a transition discharge nurse and maternal child health nurse. Here, she managed patients with high-risk pregnancies, substance use disorder, and teen pregnancy, demonstrating her versatility in addressing complex healthcare needs.
She also served as a case manager at United Healthcare in West New York, New Jersey, and later as a wellness coach/chronic condition manager at Premise Health. These roles further developed her understanding of holistic healthcare management and patient support.
Passionate about advancing her nursing practice, Marlyn pursued her Master of Science in nursing at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. This led to her family nurse practitioner certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Marlyn holds additional certifications in neonatal resuscitation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and advanced cardiac life support from the American Heart Association.
In her role at Union Spine and Pain Management, Marlyn enjoys collaborating with the team, ensuring that she meets the diverse needs of her patients.
Wayne Fleischhacker, DO, DABA, DABPM, DAAPM, is the director of Union Spine and Pain Management with offices in Union, Scotch Plains, South Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Old Bridge, and Woodbridge, New Jersey. He has vast experience in anesthesiology and pain management, including minimally invasive pain management procedures and surgery.
Dr. Fleischhacker began his education at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology. He later achieved his medical degree at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury.
Shortly after, he completed a rotating internship at Massapequa General Hospital in Seaford, New York, followed by anesthesiology and pain management training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Fleischhacker is on staff at multiple hospitals and surgery centers in New Jersey.
He also served as the attending anesthesiologist and chairman of the anesthesiology and pain management department at Union Hospital in New Jersey and the Endo-Surgical Center as the director of anesthesiology and pain management.
Established in the medical field, Dr. Fleischhacker is a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology, the American Board of Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Management, and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
He is also a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the New Jersey Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Board of Pain Management, the International Spine Intervention Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and Director of the New Jersey Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.
Dr. Fleischhacker's dedication to patient-centered care and his commitment to enhancing medical knowledge continue to make a profound impact on the lives of countless patients and his team at Union Spine and Pain Management.
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Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mahmud Ibrahim, MD, at Revive Spine and Pain Center Marlton, Hamilton Township, East Brunswick and Northfield, New Jersey, holds dual board certification in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation and is fellowship trained in interventional pain management.
When treating patients at Revive Spine and Pain Center, his goal is to restore function, reduce pain, and promote an active, healthy lifestyle using conservative measures whenever possible.
Though Dr. Ibrahim treats pain from any cause, his special clinical interests include musculoskeletal medicine, non-operative spine procedures, orthopedics, sports medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and restorative therapy.
In addition to performing the full range of fluoroscopic-guided interventional pain-management procedures, he also uses diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound. He has extensive skill in minimally invasive procedures such as discectomies and percutaneous tenotomies.
After graduating from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, Dr. Ibrahim completed his residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai School (also in New York City). After receiving an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship, he stayed at Mount Sinai to subspecialize in sports and interventional spine medicine.
Dr. Ibrahim has published several articles on musculoskeletal medicine. He’s also a contributing author in a textbook on how to perform ultrasound-guided injections and the author of a book exploring what causes pain, how to reduce it, and ways to live with persistent pain.
Dr. Ibrahim has provided sideline coverage at football games, captained the medical tents at the New York City marathon, and was a ringside physician for the Golden Gloves of America boxing tournament and professional wrestling.
Michael Rizkalla, MD, a skilled physician with double-board certification in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation, founded Revive Spine and Pain Center in 2017. At the practice’s offices in Marlton, Hamilton Township, East Brunswick and Northfield, New Jersey, he provides a patient-centered approach to treating acute and chronic pain.
He begins each appointment by listening to patients who all too often say that they’ve been everywhere and no one listens to or helps them. After hearing and understanding each person’s unique story and completing a physical exam, Dr. Rizkalla creates a tailored treatment plan using evidence-based treatments drawn from traditional medicine, interventional medicine, physical therapy, and complementary and restorative practices.
Dr. Rizkalla received his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Miramar, Florida, then finished an internship in internal medicine before completing a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Rizkalla has a subspecialty in sports medicine, has fellowship training in interventional pain management, and is certified in contemporary medical acupuncture. In addition to diagnosing and treating pain, his clinical interests include spine and joint care, sports medicine, electrodiagnostic and neuromuscular medicine, and nonsurgical orthopedics.
He has extensive training in performing numerous interventional pain procedures and restorative injections, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate cells. Dr. Rizkalla is also proficient in using musculoskeletal ultrasound to diagnose and treat injuries.
“Dr.Rizlalla and the entire staff are well educated in treating your pain issues. I have been a patient since they opened this practice approx 7 years ago. I am being treated for chronic migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease and carpal tunnel syndrome . You will learn to how to manage your pain successfully.”
Michael Rizkalla, MD
Physiatrist
555 NJ-18
Suite 202
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
4.95(204)
Selorm Takyi, MD
Physiatrist (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) 32.0 mi
Dr. Selorm Takyi joined Revive Spine and Pain Center in 2020. He completed his physiatry residency at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, offered through the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. With a passion for teaching, he served as an academic chief resident and graduated residency in 2019. He then completed his fellowship in regenerative orthopedics and musculoskeletal medicine.
Dr. Takyi practices compassionate medicine and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2014 while attending Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Specializing in both ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopic-guided techniques to treat pain and sports medicine injuries, he is excited to share his goal of using non-surgical procedures to help restore function and quality of life to his patients. With his training in physiatry, Dr. Takyi enjoys creating comprehensive treatment plans for his patients. In addition to offering interventional spine injections such as epidurals and nerve blocks, he performs platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) injections to help treat a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. His clinical interests include regenerative medicine, rotator cuff tears, osteoarthritis, ACL injuries, and meniscus tears.
He has co-authored the physical modalities, therapeutic exercise, extended bedrest, and aging effects chapter in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Board Review 4th Edition and an upcoming publication, Atlas of Interventional Orthopedics Procedures chapter on autologous tissue harvesting techniques: bone marrow aspirate and adipose tissue. He is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Interventional Orthobiolgoics Foundation, Spine Intervention Society, and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. When not in the office, Dr. Takyi enjoys photography, exercising, and spending time with his family.
Elizabeth is a board-certified Physician Assistant with a deep-rooted passion for dermatology and a lifelong commitment to helping others. Born and raised on Long Island, Elizabeth completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Farmingdale State College, where she was a dedicated student-athlete, playing basketball and participating in community service. After graduation, she worked as a medical assistant at a dermatology office, where her love for dermatology truly began. While she always knew she wanted to become a PA, it was during this time that she realized dermatology was her calling.
Elizabeth went on to complete her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies at Touro University, where she participated in a 16-week Advanced Clinical Training Program (ACTT) at Allure Dermatology. During this program, she developed the skills to treat a variety of chronic skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as pigmentation disorders like melasma. She also gained experience in cosmetic dermatology procedures, including chemical peels and laser treatments.
Elizabeth is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. She stays updated on the latest advancements in dermatology to provide her patients with the most effective treatments.
As a Long Island native, Elizabeth takes pride in giving back to the community where she grew up. Her strong ties to the area inspire her to foster patient relationships built on trust, understanding, and compassionate care. Outside of her professional life, she values spending quality time with her friend & family and enjoys staying active, maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Ajay Kumar MD, DABPM, DABPM, is an interventional spine and pain physician at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management, which has locations in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Warwick New York
Dr. Kumar earned his Doctor of Medicine from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He is fellowship-trained in interventional pain medicine, board certified in physical medicine, and a diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine.
In India, Dr. Kumar was an orthopedic surgeon with specialized training in doing fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided minimally invasive pain procedures. He is one of the few physicians who have extensive training in prolotherapy. At New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, Dr. Kumar works with the patient to offer them various solutions for their problem. He routinely treats patients affected by musculoskeletal injuries that cause back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and shoulder pain. Dr. Kumar has extensive experience in NCV/EMG studies to diagnose the cause of the pain. He offers minimally invasive spine procedures and spinal cord stimulation trials as well as spinal cord stimulation permanent implants for various medical diagnoses.
Dr. Kumar's strengths include diagnosing difficult cases and offering sensible treatments that are logical and safe. He understands the ability of the body to naturally heal itself as a basis for his treatment protocols. Dr. Kumar also embraces multidisciplinary care, including physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic, to get well and stay healthy.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kumar and the team at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, call the office or book an appointment online today.
As a nationally recognized sports medicine physician and regenerative orthopedic specialist, Luga Podesta, MD helps to restore a better quality of life for patients of all ages at Bluetail Medical Group in the Naples, Florida office. For more than 25 years, Dr. Podesta has been treating patients from diverse backgrounds, including athletes, musicians, and weekend warriors, helping them safely heal and return to the activities they love. He specializes in the nonsurgical treatment of orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries.
Rated as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly in 2017, Dr. Podesta offers his wealth of knowledge and experience for those with shoulder, elbow, knee, and spinal injuries. He is also considered a pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine, an area of the medical field that holds the potential to repair damaged tissue fully without invasive surgical procedures.
Dr. Podesta earned his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and the New York Medical College. He went on to complete his residency in physical medicine & rehabilitation (PM&R) at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of New York City. He finished his post-doctorate sports medicine fellowship at Staten Island Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, Staten Island, New York, Thousand Oaks, and the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
With board certifications in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Podesta continues his work as a dedicated physician, educator, author, and lecturer around the world. He serves as a consultant for the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament, Major League Baseball umpires, and World Baseball Classic. He is also a sports performance consultant to Cirque Du Soleil-Iris.
In the past, Dr. Podesta served as a medical director, physician, and consultant for numerous Los Angeles semi-professional and professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers. He is also a contributing writer for DRUM! Magazine regarding health-related topics for percussionists and performing artists.
“Dr Podesta takes his time to listen to your concerns. He ask if you have questions about the treatment and recovery. Very kind and professional.
Very helpful staff as well.”
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