I was born and raised on the New Jersey Shore – a Piney, “from my head down to my heiny!” I’m from Ocean County, and the little town of Forked River. It was a pretty great place to grow up, I feel. With endless woods to explore, creeks, cranberry bogs and the nearby Barnegat Bay, life was good. I come from a very loving and supportive family and have so much to be thankful for.
As a lad, I was very active in sports such as martial arts, wrestling and weight training, developing an enthusiasm for healthy living at an early age. We would swim down at the lakes and play until the streetlights came on, when mom would call us in for evening chow.
I did my best in school, but wasn’t exactly college material. So instead, I found my passion in service: upon graduating high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and spent the next four years in an infantry battalion. I took pretty well to military life, making the best of my peacetime service and earning regular promotions. By the end of my active service period, I attained the rank of Sergeant and squad leader, and had trained in sixteen different countries. It was a tremendous honor to serve my country and I will remember those USMC adventures and my brothers for the rest of my life. In 1997, I was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps and entered the civilian sector, intent on pursuing a college education.
I embarked upon my studies from the ground up and quickly found that the life experience and confidence gained through my Marine Corps duties would prove useful in the academic setting. At the time of this writing, I have completed a degree at every level of study, up to the doctoral level. Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I managed competitive scores and developed a genuine passion for learning.
Here are the degrees I earned:
- High School Diploma
- USMC School of Infantry (Squad Leader School, Close Combat Instructor School)
- Associate in Science *
- Bachelors in Professional Studies *
- Master of Science in Human Anatomy & Physiology Instruction *
- Doctorate of Chiropractic *
*Magna Cum Laude distinction
Speaking of education, over the past couple years I have added “professor” to my credentials, as I now teach anatomy and physiology at Gwynedd Mercy University. This instruction has really been very rewarding for me, both personally and professionally. I love my interactions with the students!
Chiropractic Experience
After chiropractic college, I was of a select group of individuals to be awarded an internship with the U.S. Navy. I was sent to my old duty station, Camp Lejeune, NC to treat military personnel and take part in rounds with doctors across health disciplines. This internship was a tremendous experience, which diversified my knowledge as a physician. It was also a great opportunity for me to revisit my Marine Corps heritage.
After the internship, I took a position as an associate in a large, multidisciplinary clinic in Pennsylvania. Working at this state-of the-art facility allowed me to hone my clinical skills. In short order, I earned the position of senior doctor, and later, Clinic Manager. I worked with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care for hundreds of patients on a weekly basis. I stayed in this position for approximately one year, and then decided to open up my own facility, using the knowledge and experience gleaned.
I opened Healthy Balance Chiropractic & Wellness Center in July 2005 and have been in practice for a dozen years now. Our facility specializes in the treatment of physical and nutritional maladies such as disc herniations, low back pain, neck pain, headaches, jaw(TMD), hand, wrist, foot, and lifestyle related conditions.
Our multi-tiered, drug-free approach to pain management and performance enhancement has been quite successful. Our philosophy is that when an individual’s plan to retain their health begins to fail, someone must step in and institute a new plan that is sustainable and unique to the needs of that person. We are not satisfied with merely reducing a person’s pain. Our mission is to fix the problem as best as possible and provide the tools to the patient to keep herself well.
One unique feature of the Healthy Balance approach is our Dr. Drill Instructor Program. This lifestyle change program addresses eating, exercise, and stress habits that often bog a person down. We have found that if these lifestyle factors are not identified and fixed, NO treatment may be effective in resolving the disease process. Using the Dr. Drill Instructor character, we have a platform to educate people on how to live well!
Licenses and Certifications
- Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic in the state of Pennsylvania
- Fully certified with the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners to render both Chiropractic and Adjunctive Procedures
- CPR and emergency cardiac care provider certified by the American Heart Association
Continuing Education
- Elite sports science training seminar, US Olympic training center-lake placid
- Hands on seminar focused on injury prevention and performance enhancement of elite athletes
- Society of wellness integrated specialists, annual symposium
- Seminar focusing on specific treatment strategies and management of weight training injuries
– I possess a genuine hunger for knowledge and its application. The scientific method and peer reviewed data are what I turn to in order to determine the course of treatment for my patients.
Affiliations
- American Chiropractic Association
- Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
- Human Anatomy & Physiology Society
- American Red Cross
- Marine Corps League
- Manna on Main Street
