Meet Our Team

Dr. Calzaretta is the director and founder of the Chiro-Medical Group. He has been in practice since 1985, and has successfully pioneered the design and operation of a multi-disciplinary health care facility. He has traveled extensively both nationally and abroad treating professional and world class athletes.

Dr. Calzaretta was a founding board member of F.I.C.S (World Governing Body of Sports Chiropractic). His knowledge and experience in treating athletes was a key factor in his appointment as a team doctor in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea.  He is a State Appointed Qualified Medical Evaluator and Certified Industrial Disability Examiner.  Dr. Calzaretta has taken his experience in sports and rehabilitative medicine and has successfully integrated them into the comprehensive health care approach offered by the Chiro-Medical Group.

Education/Certificates:

• University of Delaware: Pre-Medical Undergraduate Program 1982
• Life Chiropractic College, Doctor of Chiropractic 1985
• Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician 1988
• Certified Industrial Disability Examiner 1990
• State Appointed Qualified Medical Evaluator, California, 1991
• American College of Sports Medicine Certified Team Physician Program 1991/2004
• Certification in Manipulation Under Anesthesia, Staff Privileges  SF Surgery Center 1994
• Titleist Performance Institute Medical Professional Level 3 Certified  2007
• Independent Medical Evaluator for the State of Alaska
• SpineCor Accredited for Dynamic Bracing of Scoliosis 2008

Professional Associations:

• American Chiropractic Association
• American Chiropractic Association Sports Council
• American College of Sports Medicine
• American Association of Sensory Medicine
• California Chiropractic Association

Professional Appointments:

• XXIV Olympic Games, Seoul, Korea
• World Martial Arts Championships
• Jr. Olympics of Taekwondo
• World Corporate Games
• World Power lifting Championships
• North American Powerlifting Championships
• All African Championships
• World Championships of Athletics
• Coors Light Professional Cycling Team
• United States Olympic Freestyle Ski Team, World Cup Competition
• Sports Medicine Committee of the United States Taekwondo Union (former)
• Assistant to the President, Federation Internationale de Chiropratique Sportive(former)
• Professional Theatre Tour (Cats, Rockets, Damn Yankee, Wizard of Oz,etc.)
• Team In Training Running & Cycling Club
• Bill Graham Presents, Another Planet Entertainment-On Call for Bay Area Concert Tour

Presentations:

• International protocols for Multi-disciplinary Sports Medicine; Los Angeles College of Chiropractic
• Chiropractor’s Role in a Multi-disciplinary Spine Center; American Back Society, San Francisco, CA
• Chiropractic Treatment for the Scoliosis Patient: Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, CA
• Sacroiliac Syndrome; Rome, Italy
• Management of the Extremity Injury as Part of the Sports Medicine Team; Montreal, Canada
• Chiropractic Care of the Elite Tennis Player, STMS UCSF Medical Center Sports Medicine, Indian Wells, CA
• Instructional DVD, Bodyrev Back 2007, exercises for the back (prevention & rehabilitation)

Taylor Rabbetz, D.C., has practiced chiropractic in the Bay Area since 2000. He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West, cum laude, and specializes in the treatment of sports-related injuries. Dr. Rabbetz utilizes a functional approach as to how the spine and the extremities are truly integrated when an injury occurs with extensive knowledge of soft tissue and repetitive strain injuries. He strongly believes in an integrated approach to health care that combines the effectiveness of several disciplines to provide a more rounded approach to health care.

Having completed postgraduate programs in active release techniques, Graston and is a graduate of the American College of Sports Medicine Team Physician program, Dr. Rabbetz has served as team physician for many sports teams and events, including the Olympic Club Rugby Team, the US 1/2 Marathon and IronMan Triathlon medical staff. He has lectured to various athletic groups on preventative measures to minimize exposure to injuries as well as the best steps to take once injured.

Dr. Rabbetz hails originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada where he earned his undergraduate degree form the University of Calgary.

Dr. David Suarez is a UCSF and Stanford-trained physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician. He is fellowship-trained in sports medicine, regenerative medicine, and interventional spine care, and is board-certified by the American Board of PM&R. He specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, including sports and spine injuries, using the latest ultrasound technology and advanced regenerative medicine and orthobiologic practices, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, bone marrow and adipose cell procedures (aka stem cell procedures), and prolotherapy. He will be incorporating fluoroscopy-guided spine procedures in the future. His philosophy is to use a multidisciplinary team approach to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunction.

Dr. Suarez is a fluent and native Spanish-speaker who has called the Bay Area home for the last three decades, including 12 fantastic years in San Francisco. He was Chief Resident at Stanford and participated in multiple research and community projects at UCSF. In his free time, he enjoys taking advantage of all the cultural and outdoor activities the Bay Area has to offer with his family.

Dr. Brooke Bennis is an Osteopathic Physician who is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  She specializes in Regenerative Medicine with a focus in diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and sports injury. Through specialized regenerative procedures such as, Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP), and Stem Cell injections Dr. Bennis’ goal is to achieve and restore function and improve quality of life with the least invasive treatment available.

Dr. Bennis began her medical career as an Osteopathic Medical Doctor at Virginia Tech and subsequently completed a specialty residency at Indiana University. Following her residency, Dr. Bennis instructed physicians and therapists in musculoskeletal ultrasound and specialized in regenerative and therapeutic musculoskeletal medicine. In addition to regenerative medical procedures, Dr. Bennis treats patients for interventional pain management, sports medicine, and performs Botox procedures for both therapeutic and cosmetic benefit.

Dr. Bennis focuses on the whole person in diagnosis and treatment of all conditions. She joins Chiro-Medical Group with the belief that an integrated team approach can provide successful outcomes and the highest quality of patient care.

Dr. Nick Santos, from Chicago, IL, graduated from North Central College with a BS in Exercise Science. He received his Doctorate in Chiropractic from National University of Health Sciences. He is skilled at treating a variety of musculoskeletal disorders including back and neck pain, as well as conditions of the extremities (shoulder, knee, ankle etc.).

Dr. Santos utilizes many different treatment techniques including chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue mobilization, corrective exercises and rehabilitation. He is currently pursuing credentials in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). The McKenzie Method is an assessment that uses the patient’s response to specific movements to treat musculoskeletal pain and associated conditions. This therapy gives patients the ability to understand the causes of their discomfort and empowers them to be in control of their own symptom management.
Dr. Santos was on the receiving end of chiropractic care while he was a high school and collegiate wrestler. As a life-long athlete, he learned how beneficial chiropractic care can be for treating injuries and preventing them too. He maintains an active lifestyle by participating in CrossFit workouts and enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing.

Dr. David M Hicks has spent the majority of his career working in posture and scoliosis correction. He has worked in hospitals and private specialty clinics in Indonesia, China and The United States over the last 12 years, most recently completing a three year assignment as Director of Scoliosis Rehabilitation in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Hicks' specialty is spinal biomechanics, and he brings The Spinal Analysis Software System with him to his new home here at Chiro-Medical Group. When he is not treating patients he enjoys practicing martial arts, and weight training.

Dr. Vicki Garfola was born and raised in Michigan, where she attended Michigan State University. She was first introduced to chiropractic care when she was pregnant with her first child and experienced immobilizing low back pain. After experiencing firsthand the benefits of chiropractic she became committed to becoming a Chiropractor so that she too could have a positive effect on another person’s health.

Dr. Garfola graduated from Palmer West Chiropractic College in San Jose, California. She built a successful private family practice in the South Bay and worked there until she and her family relocated to France. Upon returning Dr. Garfola set roots in the North Bay. Dr. Garfola believes that healthcare is a collaborative partnership with the patient, as well as other healthcare providers.

Dr. Garfola utilizes a variety of techniques when treating patients including Diversified, Thompson drop, and Cox Flexion/Distraction; soft tissue techniques such as Graston and Trigger Point therapy; and instrumented assisted Activator technique. Dr. Garfola utilizes therapeutic ultrasound therapy, cold laser, Kinesio tape, and rehabilitation exercises to enhance patient outcomes and decrease the likelihood of future flare-ups. 

On a personal note, Dr. Garfola enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children, vacationing, exploring new destinations, camping, hiking, boating, and eating Mexican food!

Payal is an experienced physical therapist with advanced knowledge of orthopedics, having completed her post-doctoral residency at John Hopkins Hospital. While she was with Cottage Health System in Santa Barbara, California, she helped develop post-operative protocols for knee/hip replacements and ACL reconstructions. Payal also developed unique skills while she worked internationaly as a traveling personal physical therapist for the Saudi Royal Family. She worked alongside orthopedic surgeons from Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom to provide pre- and post-operative treatment.

Sharlene (Shar) Shu has over 17 years of experience in orthopedic physical therapy in San Francisco. While she is skilled in hands-on work, she believes that careful analysis and correction of faulty posture and biomechanics is key to recovery from injury. She believes in empowering the patient with the tools necessary to be in control of his/her problem. Shar received her doctorate in PT from Duke University in 2002. In her formative years, she spent 10 years as a competitive gymnast; and she was the United States Western Regional Champion in 1986. She received her bachelor’s degree in dance from the University of California, Irvine in 1992. She spent 10 years as a professional modern and ballet dancer. Specializing in African-Caribbean technique, she toured with world-renowned Garth Fagan Dance. Her experience in sports and the arts gives her a unique perspective on human movement. She currently enjoys yoga, guitar, and spending time with her children.

Originally from the Bay Area, Harrison returned after completing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California. Knowing that the learning never stops, even after graduation, Harrison continuously strives for professional development and growth - both in and out of the clinic.

As a Physical Therapist and former competitive swimmer, Harrison hopes to not only serve as a resource for injury prevention, but more importantly, help people understand their body, how it moves, and how to live an active lifestyle without discomfort. Harrison shows his patients how subtle changes in ones daily life can lead to significant improvement in how the body feels. 

When not in the clinic, you can find Harrison swimming in the pool, going on food adventures, taking pictures, spending quality time with family and friends, and cheering for Team USA Swimming, the Golden State Warriors, and all UC Berkeley and USC Athletics.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Pollie graduated from Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. He attended Physical Therapy Assistant school at Gurnick in San Mateo, CA. Pollie has experience working in acute care and ICU. Most recently he worked in the outpatient department at the David Grant Hospital on Travis Air Force Base. In his free time, Pollie enjoys snowboarding and playing basketball.

Erica Hemenway is a California native and a 10-year Bay Area resident.  A woman of many skills, she graduated summa cum laude from California State University of Monterey Bay with a degree in theater and film.  She completed the massage practitioner program at Monterey Penninsula College (349 hour program).  She also travelled the world working at an animal rehabilitation center in Ecuador, teaching English is Ghana, doing coral reef research on the Meso-American Barrier Reef, and working on a United Nations development project in the Mayan community of Señor, Mexico.  All this before returning to school to earn her degree as a Phyiscal Therapy Assistant at the College of the Sequoias, where she graduated as her class Valedictorian.
Having worked in skilled nursing, acute care, ICU and out-patient orthopedics, Erica’s approach to physical therapy is to utilize an integration of manual techniques with neurological retraining in combination with traditional (and sometimes non-traditional) exercise.

When not at Chiro Medical Group, Erica’s can usually be found training capoeira, riding her bike, performing improv comedy or taking photos.

Nick grew up in the Bay Area and currently lives in Pleasant Hill, CA. He completed his undergraduate studies at San Francisco State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.  He was first introduced to Physical Therapy back in High School where he had to rehab his shoulder from a baseball injury. He's interested in physical therapy because the human body is a fascinating puzzle and he enjoys building relationships with patients through the process of their rehabilitation. "Nothing is more satisfying then seeing patients come in on crutches and watching as they progress to running and doing agility drills." His professional goal is to become a Physical Therapist so he can help people get back to moving functionally. Things that he enjoys are taking naps, stuffing his face with food, playing sports, being outdoors, and torturing people with rehab exercises.

Erin grew up on the east coast and moved from New York City to Berkeley, California to pursue a career in physical therapy. She comes from a background in health and fitness journalism and is also an experienced running coach, helping individuals train for road races and triathlons. After noticing the most common questions she got from her clients were about injuries and how to mitigate pain, she became more and more curious about the human body, and eventually decided to go back to school. In her spare time, she enjoys running, spending time outdoors and contemplating her next race.

Gianna is a Bay Area native. She earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Health Science from Cal State East Bay in 2019. As an active member of Alpha Phi, she served as Vice President. Gianna is a people person and loves to help others. She hopes to begin Physical Therapy (PT) school in 2020. She enjoys seeing the results of PT--increased function, independence, confidence, and improved quality of life. In her spare time, Gianna enjoys going to Orange Theory Fitness, cooking, exploring new restaurants, and hanging out with her friends and her dog.

Johnnie is a BOC certified Athletic Trainer. He is a Bay-area native; born and raised in Menlo Park. He attended Eastside College Prep for high school where he found his passion for athletics and sports medicine. After graduating, he attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey where he completed the 5 year dual-degree program in Athletic Training. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences and his minor in Psychology in 2018. He then received his Master of Science in Athletic Training in 2019. Johnnie gained extensive clinical training experience during his time in the Master's program. During his clinical rotations in this program, he worked with Division 1 collegiate athletes and high school athletes. Some of his clinical rotations included Seton Hall University, Monmouth University, Union Township high school and The Pingry school. Working at Chiro-Medical Group, he continues to expand his inter-professional and clinical rehabilitative skills providing patient-centered care. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing basketball and spending time with friends and family.

William Fuller is a Certified Massage Therapist and Wellness Educator working in San Francisco, California. William's extensive background in sports science has prepared him to combine multiple massage styles with holistic principles to achieve effective body tension release and positive structural change. Prior to moving to California, William taught a vast range of sports, abilities, and ages in England, Kenya, and Kuwait. In 2010, he enrolled in a unique physical rehabilitation training program founded by Dr. Meir Schneider that combines in-depth knowledge of the human body with movement and self-care techniques.

William specializes in therapeutic massage for both Chiro-Medial patients and his own private clientele. To contact William about services offered through Chiro-Medical Group or private inquiries, please visit his website at www.visionbodymind.com.