Dr. Atif Malik, co-founder of American Spine, Awarded New Jersey Top Doctor

FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey, including five physicians recognized again as New Jersey Monthly Top Doctors, offers unparalleled orthopedic care, sports medicine, pain management and rehabilitation medicine. Using a unique blend of surgical and nonsurgical options, doctors here have improved the quality of life for thousands of patients.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131023/FL03229)

Dr. Teja, one of the practice's highly skilled orthopedic surgeons, completed his residency at Kennedy Memorial Health System. He specializes in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. Pain management physicians Drs. Alptekin, Castro, Gutkin and Malik are well-versed in physical medicine and rehabilitation, alternative medicine and anesthesiology. They offer exceptional, compassionate care with nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatment.

"We integrate the latest techniques to serve our patients," says Dr. Gutkin, a pain management and no operative spine care expert who trained at NYU Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases. Dr. Alptekin is a Harvard-trained specialist in pain management and intensive care. Dr. Malik, also Harvard trained, is an expert in minimally invasive spine procedures and pain management. Fellowship trained at UMDNJ, Dr. Castro specializes in pain medicine and electro-diagnostics. With their colleagues and professional staff, these doctors minimize pain, restore function, and return people to healthy, active lifestyles. "We work together to bring patients the best possible care and outcomes," says Dr. Teja.

Atif Malik, M.D., grew up in Houston, Texas, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at the Houston Baptist University. Graduating with Cum Laude honors in Fine Arts, Biology and Chemistry, Dr. Malik went on to finish his Medical Degree from St. George's University School of Medicine. Dr. Malik completed his residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine where he was then chosen to serve as Chief Resident. He then went on to sub-specialize by completing an Interventional Pain Fellowship from Harvard Medical School at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He further trained in percutaneous and endoscopic spine surgery under world renowned spine surgeon, Dr. Thomas Hoogland of the Alpha Klinic in Munich, Germany and fellowship trained in advanced spinal surgical technique developed by Wooridul Hospital in Soul, Korea. Dr. Malik has been one of the first physicians to educate and train endoscopic spine surgeons in the United States in a bloodless and minimally invasive technique to preserve normal disc tissue.

As one of the of the original founders of Spine PulseTM treatments, Atif B. Malik, MD, has dedicated his practice to the advancement of minimally invasive spinal surgery and endoscopic spine surgery.  Additionally, he has served as a spinal consultant to numerous companies related to minimally invasive spine products and has also been involved in the development of intradiscal transplantation of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma, laser thermodiscoplasty, percutaneous and endoscopic discectomy / foraminotomy, and the use of laser, radiofrequency and bipolar technology. He is an advocate of redefining the algorithm for the treatment of degenerative spinal disorders and the preservation of spinal segmental motion using minimally invasive techniques. Furthermore, he has authored peer-reviewed research journal articles, scientific abstracts, reviews, and book chapters in the field of pain and spine medicine.

This vision has led Dr. Malik, to co-found American Spine, a multi-specialty practice that offers the least invasive alternatives to open-back operations. These alternatives take the form of percutaneous and endoscopic outpatient spine procedures which allow neck and back pain sufferers to find relief, recover quickly, and improve function while minimizing short and long term complications. Using Spine PulseTM technology, American Spine practitioners challenge the current open-spine surgery and offers comprehensive, least-invasive surgical options for common ailments that plague the back and neck.

To contact American Spine, please visit us at www.americanspinemd.com.

SOURCE American Spine