Our Caring Team
Dr. Jack Engelberg, PT, DPT
Co-owner, Director of Physical Therapy at our Flatbush Office
Jack received his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Brooklyn College and then went on to earn his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Long Island University. He has experience working at NY Methodist Hospital and Sports PT of NY. Jack emphasizes the use of various manual techniques to assist in patient recovery. He has experience in many areas including sports-related injuries, joint replacements, back injuries, arthritic conditions, neurological disorders, fractures, cardiac rehabilitation and pediatric pathologies. He also has extensive experience and specializes in the treatment and training of athletes, marathon runners and triathletes. Jack frequently participates in local basketball, softball and football leagues, and tournaments as well as various running events.
Dr. Joey Weiss, PT, DPT
Co-owner, Director of Physical Therapy at our Boro Park Office
Joey began his undergraduate studies in SUNY Stony Brook and then received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Touro College School of Health Sciences. His interest in Physical Therapy stems from his love of sports and his appreciation for the human body and the way it moves. He has worked in various settings exposing him to pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. His experience includes treating patients with orthopedic, musculoskeletal disorders along with patients suffering from chronic pain, neurologic, and vestibular conditions. Joey utilizes stretching, mobilization, and soft tissue techniques to maximize the individual’s potential for success with his/her rehabilitation. He strives to tailor rehabilitation programs to better prepare athletes and individuals for their return to sports, exercise, work, and normal lives.
Dr. Richard Melville, PT, DPT, ATC
Partner and Director of Physical Therapy at our Staten Island Office
Richard is dual accredited having received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and being a certified Athletic Trainer. Richard treats a spectrum of orthopedic and neurological conditions having a background in the Mckenzie low back approach. He describes his philosophy for rehabilitation as a combination of movement based healing and manual, hands on work. Richard has worked with the Tampa Bay Rays under world renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews. He believes his experience as an Athletic Trainer has given him a unique approach to treating musculoskeletal injuries. “I have had the great opportunity to see an injury on the field, evaluate the athlete on the spot, decide a plan of care, rehabilitate the athlete over a course of time and then finally have them return to play.”
Currently Richard treats patients out of our Staten Island office specializing in spine and shoulder injuries. When he is not in the office he is working as the proud PT/ATC for the FDNY Bravest Football Team.
Dr. Aron Charach, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist at our Boro Park Office
Aron attended Lander College for Men for undergraduate studies and then graduated from Touro College in 2011. He has worked in various settings, seeing patients with many diagnoses and gaining much experience. Aron joined Refuah part-time in January 2014 and full time in April of 2017 and now works two days a week in the Flatbush location and three days at the Boro Park location. Aron enjoys working with different types of patients with various backgrounds and diagnoses, including, but not limited to musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, vestibular, and cardiac conditions. Besides for the many manual techniques, Aron’s approach is to see the patient as a whole, as he is able to focus on different aspects that may be missed that may be affecting their presentation, much improving rehab results. Aron has been biking all his life and recently got into road biking. He joined Refuah in Bike for NCSY two years in a row and did the TD Five Boro Bike Tour this year.
Dr. Yuriy Babadzhanov, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist at our Madison Office
Yuriy graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Psychology. He received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Long Island University.
Prior to joining Madison Park Physical Therapy, he acquired experience in Methodist hospital in the acute care and rehabilitation setting, while working as a home care physical therapist.
Yuriy has taken several continuing education courses including Introduction to Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) Techniques (part I), Getting Results Faster using principles of NDT (part II), Functional Mobilization I, and received certification in Vestibular Rehabilitation. On his spare time, he enjoys biking, hiking, camping, and playing chess.
Dr. Elizabeth Hellman, PT, DPT, CKPT
Physical Therapist at our Madison Office
As an avid and diverse high school athlete, Liz’s interest in physical therapy was ignited from personal physical therapy treatment for sports-related injuries, as well as a high school sport medicine class. She attended Seton Hall University where she received her Bachelor Degree in Biology and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has gained a wide spectrum of experience through clinical rotations and work experience in the following settings: outpatient and school-based pediatric, hospital acute inpatient and currently outpatient orthopedic. Liz is a Certified Kinesio Taping® Practitioner which allows her to utilize kinesiotape to facilitate healing, provide support and stability and/or promote proper and improved mobility in a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological, post-surgical and pediatric conditions. She has also taken several continuing education courses focusing on Pilates as a treatment approach and has become proficient in utilizing Pilates Reformer within physical therapy treatment.
Leah Brez, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant at our Flatbush Office
Leah received her Bachelor of Science from Towson University in Exercise Science and her Physical Therapist Assistant License from Kingsborough CC. Her interest in Physical Therapy came from her appreciation of watching her clients improve through coaching gymnastics, swimming, and personal training. Leah uses a variety of manual techniques and patient education to assist in optimal recovery. She has experience treating patients of all ages and in many areas including sports injuries, pediatric pathologies, pre/post surgery, back injuries, arthritic conditions, neurological disorders, vestibular disorders, and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Diane Walz, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant at our Staten Island Office
Diane is a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and a graduate of Kingsborough Community College with an Associate degree in Physical Therapy. Diane’s interest in physical therapy stems from her interests in yoga, sports and physical and mental wellness.
Gedaliah Newcomb, COTA
Occupational Therapist Assistant at our Boro Park Office
Gedaliah has been practicing Occupational Therapy for 14 years treating the pediatric, adolescent, and geriatric population. He has worked in various settings including private practice, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home care. He is experienced in many therapeutic treatments and modalities. With children these include but are not limited to writing skills development, focus and attention training, fine and gross motor enhancement, sensory and tactile integration, transitioning, balance and coordination development, vestibular tolerance and proprioception awareness. His jolly personality and ability to relate to children help them feel comfortable and look forward to coming back to therapy. With geriatrics his experience ranges from various post injury recovery treatment to muscle strengthening and balance including the use of modalities and devices such as ultra sound, TENS unit, retrograde massage for edema control and more. His background in athletics and weight training gives him the perspective he needs to guide the rehabilitation process.
Sarah Barninka, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist at our Boro Park Office
My name is Sarah Barninka and I have been working as a Registered and Licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) in New York State after graduating from Long Island University with a B.S./M.S. in Occupational Therapy in 2012. I am also currently a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. I’ve been an occupational therapist in private practice for over 5 years working with children and adults of all ages, from infants to older adults, carrying out assessments and then creating individualized treatment plans. I have treated children with a variety of diagnoses including ASD, PDD, SPD, torticollis, ADD/ADHD, and general developmental delays, focusing on fine motor and gross motor delays, attention issues, visual motor and perceptual difficulties, executive functioning challenges, and sensory processing challenges.
When working with adults and older adults, I have treated clients with conditions including fractures, CVA, OA/RA, CTS, DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis, and various other orthopedic and neurological conditions, through the use of therapeutic exercises and activities, manual therapy
I am a passionate clinician, who enjoys providing therapeutic services in a fun and friendly, yet professional manner. By doing so, I am able to help each client gain or regain independence in meaningful, functional activities at home, school, work, and in the community.
Melissa Scripa, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant at our Flatbush Office
Melissa graduated with an Associates Degree from Onondaga C.C. and received her license as a Physical Therapist Assistant in 2011. She specialized in shoulder rehabilitation for three years and completed continuing education for advancement on the shoulder and knee through Cincinnati Sports Medicine. She also had experience instructing aquatic therapy and treating patients post CVA, sports injuries and various diagnoses such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. She uses a variety of different manual techniques and enjoys teaching her patients how to reach their goals and return to sports/daily activities.