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Phone: 844-777-0910
Fax: 201-560-0712
Dr. Robert A. Kayal is the Founder, President and CEO of Kayal Orthopaedic Center, PC. Dr. Kayal considers it an honor, blessing and privilege to help restore an active lifestyle and joyful life to each of his patients. He gives all his thanks to God for his talents and skills and prays his practice will always be used to honor and glorify God.
“What you’ll find here isn’t just state-of-the-art facilities. It’s an entire philosophy,” says Dr. Kayal. With New Jersey locations in Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Westwood, Paramus, North Bergen, Wyckoff, Midland Park, Garfield and Paterson and an additional center in Stony Point, NY, the award-winning practice prides itself on offering advanced orthopaedic treatments in a compassionate environment. As a patient, “you aren’t just a number,” says Dr. Kayal. “We’re focused on building lifelong relationships, accelerating rehabilitation and inspiring quality of life.”
Specializing in partial and total joint replacements as well as sports medicine and arthroscopy, Dr. Kayal knows the importance of staying abreast of the latest technologies. By keeping his finger on the pulse of innovation, he can provide beneficial treatments to help patients recover quickly. “I use cutting-edge advancements in customized total knee replacement surgery that utilizes high-resolution MRI technology to create a 3D blueprint of the patient’s arthritic knee. Proprietary software removes all of the arthritis from the joint and sizes, shapes, aligns and perfectly fits a new knee in its place. Then, 3D printing is used to create customized Patient Specific Instrumentation, which is shipped to the operating room and sterilized for my use,” says Dr. Kayal. “This state-of-the-art technology allows me to perform a virtual knee replacement in advance of surgery and create a new knee that’s customized specifically to a patient’s body.”
Besides the Kayal Orthopaedic Center, Dr. Kayal’s practice includes the Kayal Pain & Spine Center, Kayal Rheumatology Center, Kayal Physical Therapy, Kayal Osteoporosis Center and the Kayal Medical Imaging Center. These facilities allow him to provide a wider range of musculoskeletal treatments and therapies. “I believe our patients do their homework and choose this practice because of our training, skill, experience and innovation,” Dr. Kayal says. “But what they also find from us is patience, compassion and a genuine concern and commitment to each and every one of them.”
Dr. Edward C. Friedland is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who has been active in the medical community throughout the 50+ years he has been in practice.
After completing his undergraduate degree, medical school, an internship and a general surgical residency, Dr. Friedland served two years as a medical officer in the U.S. Air Force. Upon completing his military tour, Dr. Friedland moved to New Jersey, where he finished an orthopaedic surgical residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. He has been in the active practice of orthopaedic surgery here in New Jersey since August 1968.
Dr. E. Jeffrey Pope has been involved in sports medicine and adolescent orthopaedic care from very early in his training and continues this interest into his current practice. He cares for numerous adolescent and high school athletes as well as the “weekend warrior.” Dr. Pope is the author of multiple articles in orthopaedic literature, where he focuses on both sports medicine and general orthopaedics.
Dr. Pope completed his residency at the prestigious New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases and then chose to further train in complex arthroscopic procedures at the renowned University of Chicago. Dr. Pope specializes in arthroscopic procedures of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and ankle. He is skilled in trauma, as well as shoulder, hip and knee replacement surgery. He is proud to serve the Bergen County, NJ, community where he was raised. Outside of the office, he enjoys hiking, golf and, most importantly, spending time with his wife and twin boys.
Chad W. Rappaport, DPM, FACFAS, evaluates and treats the entire spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. From simple athlete’s foot to complicated surgical reconstructive procedures, Dr. Rappaport prides himself on his bedside manner and constant search for innovative treatment of the foot and ankle.
Dr. Rappaport is among fewer than 600 of the nearly 15,000 podiatrists in the country who are board-certified in Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery and Foot Surgery by the highly selective American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
His training included numerous surgeries under the supervision and mentoring of John Feder, MD, Long Island’s first foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon. He also worked with Mark Myerson, MD, the highly regarded author of numerous scientific papers and surgical textbooks that are considered to be the ultimate reference source for foot and ankle surgeons. In early 2017, Dr. Rappaport made history by performing the first total ankle replacement at HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.
Dr. Rappaport is proud to serve the Franklin Lakes, NJ, community where he grew up.
Dr. Theresa Ronna was raised in Passaic County and aspired to be a professional dancer. She initially attended Montclair State University as a dance major, but realized she needed a back-up plan. Dr. Ronna’s love for science and interest in sports medicine changed her direction to pre-med. She has trained with many highly regarded pioneers in the field of sports medicine. She received a stipend from Harvard Medical School to attend its summer research program and was published as a result of her work there. Dr. Ronna also did an internship with Dr. Lyle Mikali, a Harvard Medical School professor and orthopaedic surgeon who is an expert in dance medicine. She spent two subsequent years in clinical observation with William Hamilton, MD, a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon who is considered the father of dance medicine.
Dr. Ronna has trained with many highly regarded pioneers in the field of sports medicine. She has been part of the medical team for several NYC marathons; pre-Olympic games; The Fourth All African games in Nairobi, Kenya; the World Games in Rome, Italy; and the Can-Am Rugby tournament in Lake Placid.
Dr. Amit Sood specializes in the comprehensive management of all disorders involving the shoulder utilizing shoulder arthroscopy, reconstruction and replacement. He has received advanced training in the United States and France on total and reverse shoulder replacement surgery through his fellowship at Harvard and brings his expertise to Bergen County, NJ. Dr. Sood has also authored multiple research publications and book chapters in the orthopaedic literature and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS). In addition to comprehensive management of the shoulder, Dr. Sood also treats conditions involving the hand, wrist, hip, knee, foot and ankle. Treatments include trauma/fracture care, sports treatment/arthroscopy and joint replacement surgery.
August 2005-May 2009
Medical College of Wisconsin
August 2001-May 2005
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
August 2014-July 2015
Harvard Combined Orthopedic Surgery Program
Boston Shoulder Institute
Dr. Jon JP Warner and Dr. Laurence Higgins
March 2015-April 2015
European Visiting Fellowship
July 2009-June 2014
UMDNJ/Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
2017- Present: NJ Top Docs Top-Rated NJ Orthopaedic Surgeon Award
2014: Fred F. Behrens Award for Outstanding Resident
2014: Resident Research Award for Best Research Project During Residency
2014: Golden Apple Teaching Nominee. Nominated by the New Jersey Medical School students for outstanding teaching
2013: Elected Administrative Chief Resident for the 2013-2014 Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Academic Year
2013: American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) 11th Annual Resident Leadership Forum selected attendee. June 11-12, 2013. Denver, CO
2011: Golden Apple Teaching Nominee. Nominated by the New Jersey Medical School students for outstanding teaching
2002-2005: Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honors Society, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Delta Chapter
2001-2005: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign National Dean’s List and Dean’s List. Graduated with Edmund James Scholar Honors. Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies
Dr. Edward A. Lin grew up in Flushing, Queens, and attended Stuyvesant High School in New York, where he distinguished himself with a perfect 1600 SAT score. He subsequently enrolled in the eight-year combined BA/MD program at New York University, where he graduated summa cum laude with honors in biology. He completed his medical degree at NYU School of Medicine, where he received multiple awards and graduated with honors in orthopaedic surgery. Dr. Lin went on to complete his orthopaedic surgery residency at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York, one of the highest-ranked orthopaedic residency programs in the country. He finished his training at the renowned Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Lin is an expert in the management of all upper extremity conditions, including those affecting the finger/hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. As a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, his practice also includes general orthopaedic conditions and injuries affecting the spine, hip, knee, ankle and foot. He is the author of numerous publications in the medical literature and has written on topics including cartilage regeneration, bone fracture healing, nerve injury and joint replacement. He has given numerous lectures and presentations to other orthopaedic surgeons throughout the country.
Dr. Steve M. Aydin is chief of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Interventional Pain Management at Kayal Orthopaedic Center, as well as clinical assistant professor at Northwell Health-Hofstra School of Medicine. In 2010, after completing a pain management fellowship at the University of Michigan Health System, he began working in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital, where he was appointed clinical assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2013.
In addition to specializing in pain management, Dr. Aydin is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He completed his training at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey. He has taken an avid interest in interventional pain management and regenerative medicine and has published, lectured and taught on these topics on the national and international level.
“Physical medicine and rehabilitation focuses on musculoskeletal medicine—the body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones,” said Dr. Aydin. “This training offers a better understanding of how an injury or problem in one part of the body can affect other parts, which is important when developing nonsurgical strategies to help people regain normal function and pain control.”
Originally from Dallas, TX, Dr. Aaron J. Greenberg specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic conditions of the spine. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Dr. Greenberg returned to Texas for medical training. He was elected into the AOA honor society after finishing in the top of his medical school class at Texas Tech University. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
Dr. Alan Zalkowitz, with over 40 years experience, started the Arthritis and Rheumatology Fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC and started the Lupus Foundation of New Jersey.
Born in New York City, Dr. Zalkowitz received his Bachelor of Science from Brooklyn College. He graduated from the Catholic University of Louvain Medical School in Belgium, one of the premier rheumatology centers in Europe and affiliated with the Rockefeller Institute. Dr. Zalkowitz then interned in the McGill University program in Montreal, Canada, followed by his residency at Yale University New Haven and its affiliates.
Thereafter, Dr. Zalkowitz helped run the arthritis, lupus and gout clinics at Mount Sinai Hospital for several years. He has been recognized for 20 straight years by Castle Connolly and the last five years in the New York Times as one of the foremost rheumatologists on the East Coast.
He is available to see patients.
Dr. Rajesh K. Pandey is a born-and-raised New Englander who received his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1998. He then worked at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Dermatology and Wellman Laboratory of Photomedicine until entering Ross University Medical School, where he graduated with an MD in 2006. Dr. Pandey completed his residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in 2009. Dr. Pandey then completed his fellowship in rheumatology at Albany Medical Center in 2012 under the mentorship of world leaders in rheumatology.
Dr. Pandey entered private practice in Bergen County in 2012 and has since remained dedicated to the community. He has performed thousands of ultrasound-guided injections including carpal tunnel and knee injections. He also remains current with the latest advances in rheumatology and osteoporosis treatments.
Dr. Pandey is board certified in internal medicine, specializing in rheumatology. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology.
“As a rheumatologist, my goal is to provide a fresh atmosphere of compassion and knowledge where my expertise and interests can make your every encounter invaluable. Every patient deserves as much insight into their clinical concerns as medically possible, and I am confident you will not leave disappointed.”
Dr. Victor Ortiz is the chief of hip services at Kayal Orthopaedic Center. He is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who earned his medical degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He perfected his skills in minimally invasive hip preservation procedures, including the direct anterior approach and hip arthroscopy, during his orthopaedic surgery hip preservation fellowship at the American Hip Institute in Westmont, IL. He also completed a fellowship in orthopaedic surgery sports medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago, IL. Dr. Ortiz is specially trained to perform Mako robotic-assisted hip surgery. He is the author of numerous publications in the medical literature in the field of hip preservation surgery. He has given numerous lectures and presentations to fellow orthopaedic surgeons throughout the world.
Dr. Irina Raklyar hails from New York City. She recognized medicine as her calling at an early age, choosing to attend a prestigious medical program, one of a few in the country, which enabled her to accelerate her medical studies. She completed the Coordinated B.A./M.D. Honors Program at the City University of New York, Brooklyn College, graduating magna cum laude and with honors. She earned her medical degree at the State University of New York at Downstate, College of Medicine, where she was bestowed the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Initiative for her community volunteer work. Dr. Raklyar completed her Internal Medicine residency at Georgetown University at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., and stayed to complete her fellowship in Rheumatology, with scholarly research experience in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Dr. Raklyar has been serving patients in northern New Jersey for over 10 years as a board-certified rheumatologist, specializing in arthritis and autoimmune diseases. She prides herself in staying current and offering modern, evidence-based medicine. She has advanced her practice with experience in musculoskeletal ultrasound for both diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. As a certified clinical densitometrist, she is qualified in the interpretation of bone densitometry and treatment of osteoporosis. Dr. Raklyar combines care and concern with a scientific approach and tailors it to the individual patient.
Dr. Michael E. Loreti is a sports medicine specialist in Bergen County who has served as the school physician for his alma mater, St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford, NJ, for 22 years. Dr. Loreti has been a presence at St. Mary’s since his graduation in 1974. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been a figure at all high school football games and most of the school fundraisers since his graduation. Dr. Loreti was an outstanding athlete throughout his high school career and was voted an All-American in football.
He attended Seton Hall University on a football scholarship. Upon graduation, he completed his medical school training at St. George’s Medical School in Grenada. He is a medical consultant for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority where he has covered college and professional games, including Super Bowl XLVIII, NFL championships, Stanley Cup finals, NBA championships and the Final Four.
Before joining Kayal Orthopaedic Center, he had a thriving practice in Paramus and Garfield. He attributes his success to the spiritual values and work ethic he learned at St. Mary’s.
Staff Physician
Team Physician
Dr. Mark Sheehan is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine who completed his residency training in Forefoot Surgery as well as Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle Surgery at Hoboken University Medical Center. During his residency, he took part in multiple research projects, including “Surgical Fixation of Ankle Fractures with a Posterior Malleolar Component” as well as “Pediatric Pes Planovalgus Reconstruction: A Multicenter, Retrospective Review,” which he presented at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Annual Scientific Conference. Dr. Sheehan takes pride in staying up to date on the latest research in his field so that he can provide his patients with the highest quality care. When he is not practicing medicine, he enjoys reading, exercise and travel with his wife.
Dr. Jean Carlo Gallardo-Varela was an attending physician in multidisciplinary pain management from 2019 to 2021 at Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY, and a staff physician focused on spinal cord and spine disorders from 2014 to 2015 at the University of Puerto Rico’s Comprehensive Spinal Cord & Spine Disorder Center.
Dr. Gallardo is fluent in English and Spanish. His interests and hobbies include surfing, running, playing guitar, traveling and spending time with family.
He has a passion for volunteer work. His activities have included: organizing workshops to train Veterans Affairs physicians about proper care of musculoskeletal conditions; on-field care of athletes with musculoskeletal injuries at the Interuniversity Athletic Games of Puerto Rico in 2016; and several initiatives in Ponce, PR: a free community Health & Prevention Fair; Teddy Bear Hospital, a medical awareness outreach program for children to help reduce children’s fear of physicians and improve communications in pediatrics; Family Medicine Health Prevention Clinic, diabetes and hypertension screenings/education at nursing homes; and the Elderly Community Project, health education for the elderly.