I didn’t experience a miracle myself, but as a teenager, I saw first-hand the effectiveness of chiropractic. In the late 1970’s, my father, a chronic back pain sufferer, had gone from medical doctor to medical doctor in search of relief. Traditional medicine offered him little help other than the advice of rest and prescriptions for pain relievers. Finally, my dad was referred to a chiropractor by a good friend.
After seeing the great results my father had without the need for drugs or surgery, I became very interested in chiropractic and natural health. As this was my senior year in high school, I had already applied and been accepted to aeronautical school. I met with his chiropractor several times before I made my decision to change my career path and the rest as they say…is history!
During my undergraduate studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey, I carefully explored the different chiropractic colleges throughout the United States and decided to attend Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, the birthplace of chiropractic. During my time at Palmer, I was amazed at how similar a chiropractor’s education is to that of a medical doctor. The first half of our training is nearly identical in terms of anatomy, physiology, neurology and body systems. The second half is where a chiropractor’s training focuses on radiology and various methods of delivering chiropractic care.
Over the past 20+ years as my practice has evolved from a solo chiropractic practice to the multi-doctor, multi-specialty facility it is today, neither I, nor my staff have ever lost sight of the fact that our number one goal: to provide our patients with a first class experience…from friendly and experienced staff to our providers who deliver your treatment with care, compassion and clinical excellence. To this end, I have always strived to constantly better my clinical skills through continuing education and trained my staff to treat our patients the way they would like and EXPECT to be treated!
Chiropractic has been a part of my life since my teen years so I’ve raised my family and have educated many of my patients to think: Chiropractic first, drugs second, surgery last!
While drugs and surgery certainly have their place in today’s healthcare model, there is a BIG difference between taking a pill to mask the pain as opposed to finding and correcting the underlying cause of their pain. I strive to educate my patients to think in this manner. An ounce of prevention IS worth more than a pound of cure! You don’t go to the dentist only when you have a toothache, do you? Of course not! It would be silly to let your teeth decay and degenerate to the point where they cause pain, wouldn’t it? Yet, your teeth CAN decay, fall out and be replaced with virtually no impact on your life. Consider what would happen if your spine degenerated to the point where you had thinning discs that caused permanent pressure on a nerve. In addition to being painful, it could become debilitating enough where it would prevent you from enjoying the activities you love like golf, dancing, gardening, etc. That would cramp your lifestyle, wouldn’t it? Lack of activity then becomes a vicious cycle and can lead to progressive degeneration, depression, weight gain, etc. Yet, most people are more diligent at maintaining their teeth and their car than they are at maintaining their spine!
Dr. Jahangir Salik, DC
Hello ASPT practice and community members, my name is Jahangir Salik. I have the distinct pleasure of joining the Academy Spine and Physical Therapy team here in Fair Lawn. After immigrating from Bangladesh at the age of eleven, my family and I have lived in nearby Paterson for more than 18 years and have recently relocated to Clifton. As I attended elementary and high school in Paterson, I have started to develop a passion for helping others while gaining interest in the health and sciences field. Consequently, I pursued a career in healthcare to learn more about the human body. I am extremely thankful for all the opportunities that have been available to me, particularly being able to get a higher education and pursue my dreams.
My interest in learning about the human body led me to search for a profession which would allow me to work with its frame and resolve conditions at the root of its cause rather than chasing the symptoms. This pursuit of a career in healthcare drove me to volunteer at local hospitals and shadow various healthcare professionals. I started to refine my search to professions that had a conservative approach to treatment. I eventually chose chiropractic because none came close to what that profession offered to its patients. I distinctly remember one particular patient that came to see a chiropractor that I was shadowing during my time at Rutgers University. The patient came into the office in severe pain: she could barely walk into the office and even needed assistance getting out of her car. The chiropractor performed a detailed evaluation, administered therapeutic modalities, and performed hands-on myofascial release techniques as well as a few very specific chiropractic adjustments of the spine. The woman walked out of the office without much pain or assistance and stated that “I feel like I just walked out of heaven”. Needless to say, I was amazed by her experience and results. This one patient along with countless other successful patient outcomes solidified my pursuit to practice chiropractic in order to help provide relief and wellness. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other complaints.
After researching several chiropractic colleges, I decided to attend New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) in upstate Seneca Falls, NY. NYCC’s chiropractic program focused on the “principles of academic excellence and patient-centered care through the analysis of evidence, utilization of best practices and incorporation of patient values in clinical assessment, diagnosis, chiropractic technique, case management, and documentation”. While attending NYCC, I have taken several elective courses and professional certification seminars to improve my craft and to better prepare myself for patient care. I have taken the following courses in functional movements: kinesiology taping (RockTape), Nimmo Soft Tissue technique, Advanced Lower Extremity Movement Analysis (Foot levelers orthotics). Furthermore, I have taken courses in Activator methods, instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation (Rock Blades), ConnecTX and Gonstead Methods. In conjunction with chiropractic manipulation, these certification and elective courses allow me to treat and manipulate the spine and its related structures using a variety of different approaches to achieve the best possible outcome. I am also constantly looking for ways to further develop my skills as a clinician through continuing education courses.
I decided to join Academy Spine and Physical Therapy because of their focus and dedication to the needs of each individual patient. In addition, they treat each practice member with respect and an unmatched level of professionalism. Dr. Cintineo and I strive to offer our patients the best possible care. We work alongside other healthcare disciplines to co-manage our patients offering an integrated approach and referring when appropriate.
Over the years I have developed the belief that “a life dedicated to giving, is a life worth living.” I am dedicated to your wellness and I hope you will allow me to invest in your health as well. I am looking forward to the opportunity to meet you in person to discuss your specific health concerns and to explore the various treatment options available at our office.
Michael Errichiello, DC
Dr. Michael Errichiello is a graduate of St. Johns University in 1972 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. Dr. Errichiello received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in 1979. Dr. Errichiello practiced in Palisades Park for 20 years before joining Chiropractic Healthcare Associates in 2001 where he practiced until 2020. He joins the Academy Spine & Physical Therapy team in providing superior patient care.
Professional Organizations
Academy of Chiropractic – Trauma Team Qualified
Association of New Jersey Chiropractors
American Chiropractic Association
Civic Organizations
1984-1988, 1990-1991- President of the Palisade Park Chapter of UNICO
1982-present- Member of the Fort Lee Rotary
1985,1996- President of the Fort Lee Rotary
2000- present- Board of Directors Leonia Tennis Club
2005- present- Bergen County Tennis Association- Member of the Board of Directors
2007-present- Fort Lee Chamber of Commerce- Member of the Board of Directors
Khaled M. Abozeid, DPT
Dr. Khaled Abozeid is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a board certified specialist. He has over 12+ years of experience in a variety of professional settings. Khaled believes in providing patients with absolute, thorough, and relevant medical information and treatment to make better decisions about their rehabilitation process and to return back to their previous level of function.
Khaled has a variety of experience in the treatment of sports injuries as he was an integral part of the Physical Therapy team of the national football team in Egypt. He is also a geriatric certified specialist since 2020 and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Dominican College, Orangeburg, NY.
During his time off from providing medical care, Khaled volunteers in the community, attends swimming and jiu jitsu classes, reads his favorite books and goes fishing.
Marzena “Maya” Tarkiewicz, PT, DPT
Marzena Maya Tarkiewicz earned her Bachelor of Physical Therapy Degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude from CUNY Hunter College in 1998. She then received her Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy with High Honors recognition from the University of St. Augustine in 2010. She is an active member of the Sports and Orthopedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association. She is licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey and in New York. With over 15 years of extensive clinical experience she brings passion for treating patients with orthopedic and neurological impairments, sports injuries and other musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr. Tarkiewicz is certified in performing Functional Capacity Evaluations for injured workers. She applies evidence based research to her clinical decision making and has a special interest in the Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tears, Knee Meniscal and ACL tears and in Spinal Discopathies. She focuses on injury rehabilitation utilizing biomechanics assessment, movement impairment analysis, manual therapy, ergonomic training, therapeutic exercise and kinesiotaping techniques. Her goal is to return her clients to the activities of daily living, work and sports as soon and as safely as possible. When not working, Dr. Tarkiewicz enjoys scuba-diving, kayaking, golf, skiing and bicycling. She loves to travel and read books in her spare time.
Sofiya Topchishvili, LAc., Dipl. OM, MSOM
Ms. Sofiya Topchishvili, L.Ac., Dipl. OM, MSOM, is a licensed acupuncturist and certified herbalist in New Jersey and New York. She is a graduate of the Tbilisi State Institute of Medicine, the New York College of Health Professions, and is a board-certified Diplomate of Oriental Medicine, recognized by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Sofiya treats various conditions and works closely with chiropractors, physical therapists, and pain management specialists to ensure maximum benefit for her patients. Through her expertise in acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, and nutritional counseling, she provides her patients relief and equips them with the tools to pursue their own well-being. Sofiya focuses on full-body treatments tailored to each individual that help restore and maintain balance between Yin and Yang, thus improving both the physical and emotional state.
When she is not practicing medicine and working with her patients, she enjoys yoga, meditation, hiking, playing the piano, and spending quality time with her family.