My approach to treating patients has been to carefully listen to the history of the condition, discuss various approaches to management, render care, and ensure that the patient is aware of preventative measures. Above all, I like to get to know my patient. It is not unusual for me to ask a patient, “What is a typical week like for you in terms of your occupation, activities, and lifestyle?” My exceptional residency director during my postgraduate hospital training often said, “Doc, the foot is attached to a person.”

I am Board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS). Upon completion of residency in 2004 at Newark’s University Hospital, I joined a podiatry group as an associate prior to establishing my private practice Progressive Podiatry of North Jersey in 2007 located in Edgewater, New Jersey. Fifteen years later Curalta Foot and Ankle acquired the practice in 2022. I rendered services as a doctor of podiatric medicine within the Curalta network throughout 2023 while simultaneously cultivating a new career as a micropigmentation specialist for the application of permanent makeup.

After a two year hiatus from the field of podiatry I decided to provide podiatric services again with a specific focus on sports injury prevention and management through application of biomechanics. I am not affiliated with any health insurance plans as the state of insurance reimbursement was the main catalyst for selling my previous practice and re-evaluating in which capacity I would like to work as a podiatrist. As an avid runner and someone who enjoys an active lifestyle, a concentration on sports related foot and ankle pathology is my natural direction within this profession.

The trend in healthcare has evolved into a corporate endeavor. The unimpressive reimbursement from commercial insurance companies, Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicaid has been stagnant despite inflation.

Innovative treatments are deemed “experimental” and, therefore, “not covered” despite decades of evidence supporting favorable outcomes. Covered treatments are those that may have been considered “cutting edge” in the 1950s. Many doctors across all specialties have been selling their private practices to hospitals or corporate groups as the ability to sustain such an entity has been challenged. The alternative is to double book or even triple book patients in hopes that volume will equate to financial stability and maintaining the necessary overhead.

Experience as a healthcare professional compliments the permanent makeup industry due to my extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, skin healing, and infection control. With over two decades of performing procedures in the office setting and the operating room, utilizing my hands is second nature. Additionally, I enjoy the science and art behind micropigmentation. It relies on principles of dermatology, immunology, anesthesia, and infectious disease as well as needle theory, color theory, and the physics of pigment implantation. Permanent makeup allows me to interact one on one with clients while using my hands which also happens to be the foundation of podiatric care. The custom designed and custom fitted welded jewelry is just another creative outlet delivering a touch of glamour.

I am board certified by the American Academy of Micropigmentation with active Gold membership status, and I provide permanent jewelry and permanent makeup services at MicroMagik in Tenafly, New Jersey.”