MEET OUR STAFF

Dr. Ali Bijan Rafie, B.S., D.C.
Licensed Chiropractic Physician, Acupuncturist

Dr. Ali Rafie graduated from National College of Chiropractic in 1997, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of McMaster in Canada. He has also completed studies in acupuncture and actively practices. Dr. Rafie has been practicing in Chicago since 1997 and is currently operating six clinics including one at Saint Anthony's Hospital.

Dr. Rafie has been an active member of the Chicago community since 1993 when he headed the World Cup Opening Ceremonies medical team. He has also worked with the medical team of the Chicago Marathon and the Triathlon in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and in 2003 assisted in an Iron Man in Brazil. His philosophy of care is to carefully assess each patient and diagnose the problem in conjunction with his wide network of health practitioners. Dr. Rafie's clinics currently offer chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture and physiotherapy. He actively refers, and is referred to, by podiatrists, orthopedics, neurologists and neurosurgeons.

Dr. Rafie offers his services to a wide variety of patients, including those who cannot afford to pay for their services and those with limited access, such as those on Medicaid.

In conjunction with his community service Dr. Rafie is expertly experienced in helping patients navigate through any Workman's Comp or Personal Injury claims making sure all paper work is filed in a timely fashion so that each patient gets the amount of care they need to keep them on the road to recovery. Last but not least, Dr. Rafie is also able to communicate with his patients in English, Spanish, Italian and Persian.

Dr. Danielle S. Dever, D.C.
Licensed Chiropractic Sports Physician, Webster Certified

Dr. Dever received her B.S. in Kinesiology from Indiana University, and her Doctor of Chiropractic, Magna Cum Laude, from the Life College of Chiropractic.

She is board-certified as a Chiropractor and as a Chiropractic Sports Physician, and has done post-doctoral work in Chiropractic Sports Medicine.

Prior to joining the staff at American Back Center, Dr. Dever was the lead Chiropractor at the Center for Physical Therapy at Midwest Sports Medicine in Elk Grove, Illinois.

Nancy Gomez, D.C.
Chiropractic Physician & Nutrition Specialist

Dr. Gomez is an authority on natural health care. In addition to being a licensed chiropractic physician and massage therapist, Dr. Gomez is a functional medicine specialist—trained through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Gomez is a member of the Foundation for Wellness Professionals (FWP)—a national group comprised of physicians dedicated to lowering healthcare costs through prevention awareness and community education. The members of this nonprofit foundation volunteer their time and service, presenting disease-prevention and natural-healing methods to the public on a weekly basis.

Please note, Dr. Nancy Gomez currently sees patients at Chicago Back Center. Please contact us for further details, or visit www.ChicagoBackCenter.org,

Purvi Shah, PT
Licensed Physical Therapist

Purvi Shah began her career as a physical therapist in 2004, where she worked at a private clinic in India treating orthopedic patients –post surgical and sports-injuries cases.

In 2007, after moving to Illinois, Mrs. Shah worked at Oak Park Healthcare Centre; there, she received in-depth training on treating rehabilitation cases.

In addition to her experience caring for orthopedic and rehabilitation patients, Purvi Shah has specialized training in utilizing integrated manual-therapy methods to boost effectiveness, and has continues to advance her knowledge in regards to evaluating and treating chronic/complex musculoskeletal conditions.

Mrs. Shah prides herself on providing all of her patients with the physical, emotional, and educational tools necessary for successful prevention and healing.

Allison Preston, PTA
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant

Allison Schacht has always been passionate about working with people and helping them heal. Her particular interest in the world of sports medicine drove her to study it after high school. Mrs. Schacht received her P.T.A. degree at Owens Community College in Ohio and her Bachelor's Degree in Applied Health Science at Bowling Green State University.

Before joining the Midwest Chiropractic & American Back Center team, Allison had a variety of work experiences, including: 3-and-a-half years spent caring for patients in the Acute Care Physical Therapy Department and the Trauma Step Down Unit at the Medical University of Ohio; geriatric patient treatment at a longterm care facility; nearly four years spent treating orthopedic patients at Chicago Health & Physical Therapy, and a summer stint treating patients at Evangel Hospital in Nigeria.

Allison Schacht enjoys the relationship-development facet of her job as a P.T.A., as well as the rewarding challenges that come along with pinpointing new diagnoses and executing successful treatment plans.

Danielle Decelles
Nutritional Consultant & Lifestyle Educator

Danielle is originally from Connecticut but has lived in many cities before relocating to Chicago. Danielle was raised like most of her patients: with a standard American lifestyle. It wasnt until she truly learned about nutrition and the food source in this country that she changed her ways and began following to a healthy life. Through the knowledge that she gained, she found that her happinesses resided most in educating others about what she had learned.

Her end goal with the people she works with, is to make a long-lasting difference in each of their lives. Danielle believes that, to live a healthy lifestyle, we must learn to have a positive relationship with food. The programs that she provides her patients not only generate fat loss, but - more importantly - a proven way to reverse chronic disease through lifestyle education.

Announcement: Danielle Decelles has bought a revolutionary weight loss program to American Back Center: HCG Homeopathic Weightloss. The first available appointments for this program are in mid October. Click Here now to schedule your *free HCG consultation!

Rebecca Rosenthal Maxwell
Director of VAX-D

Rebecca Maxwell has been with American Back Center since its inception, and has helped guide thousands of patients through successful treatment programs.

Due to Rebecca's firsthand knowledge of chronic pain, she is able to empathize well with American Back Center patients. About ten years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that left her with severe chronic back pain.

"I wasn't prepared for the effect this pain would have on my day to day life," she recalls. "I was certain that time, or a series of traditionally-used treatments would eventually cure my pain and let me get back to my life."

She was wrong. Months later, no treatments were working, and time hadn't healed a thing.

Then she discovered VAX-D, which worked for her like a dream.

"Because of my positive experience with VAX-D, I made the decision to dedicate my professional life to promoting its benefits to each and every sufferer of neck, back, and sciatic pain," she explains.

If you or someone you know suffers from chronic neck or back pain, Rebecca would love to talk to him or her.

A free consultation with Rebecca can be scheduled by calling
(312) 939 - 4121 or by Clicking Here.

Ed Cruzat
VAX-D Technician

Ed Cruzat joined the American Back Center team in 2010 as a assistant to our Chiropractic and Physical Therapy team. He has more than five years of experience in the field of therapeutic, functional and performance-based exercise. During high school, he developed an interest in physical rehabilitation and wellness and enjoys guiding patients through rehabilitation exercise sessions, formulating exercise plans and helping people achieve optimum health.

Ed holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is certified as a VAX-D Technician, in Red Cross CPR/First Aid, and is currently seeking certification as an ACSM personal trainer. In his free time, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, relaxing, and volunteers his time playing music for Sunday School students.

Jo Walker, L. Ac, Herbalist, LMT
Acupuncturist & Massage Therapist

Jo Walker is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, and massage therapist. She is a graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine located in San Diego, California and has pursued post graduate studies at Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hubei Hospital of the People’s Republic of China. While in China, Jo focused her studies on pain management, as well as gynecological, and respiratory disorders. Jo is nationally board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine by the NCCAOM. She is also a NCBTMB certified massage therapist.

Although she views herself as a general practitioner, Jo has receiver specialized training in sports medicine, gynecology (including infertility and menopause disorders), and acupuncture facial enhancement. As a massage therapist she focuses on health and wellness with firm Swedish massage, sports massage, and pre/post natal massage. For over ten years Jo maintained a private practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and she assisted women in labor and delivery at Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospital. She was a dedicated student of Dr. Yang, Jwing Ming in tai ji chuan and qi gong and studied Chinese philosophy and language at the Chinese language institute in Chinatown MA.

Jo has recently relocated to Chicago and will be practicing in the Loop. As a practitioner of Chinese medicine, she believes in whole body health and wellness, educating her patients, preventing injury and illness.

As a practitioner of medicine, Jo is here to offer her service in acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage therapy, cupping, and diet and exercise strategies.