Mike Marino, along with Cheryl Marino, founded Rehab Physical Therapy in 1983.  Mike is a native Staten Islander, attended Monsignor Farrell High School and then went on to Brown University where he majored in Psychology and Engineering.  His first exposure to physical therapy was at Brown where he was injured playing football and was treated by the team physical therapist. Despite his injury, Mike was named to All-Ivy Honors in 1971.

Upon graduation from Brown in 1972, Mike began his “first career” as a teacher and high school football coach.  Based on his experience at Brown, he developed an interest in the care of his athletes as well as in the field of physical therapy.  In 1975, this interest led him to do volunteer work in the physical therapy department at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital (now Bayley Seton).  Over the next two years, he spent much of his free time there where he developed the true passion for his current work.

In 1978, despite earning a Masters’ Degree in Education and about to gain tenure as a New York City teacher, Mike left his teaching and coaching career to return to school full-time for the prerequisites to enter physical therapy school.  Two years later, in an extremely competitive atmosphere, he applied for and was accepted to five different physical therapy programs. Mike chose Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where he graduated in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. During his training, Mike did clinical internships at Bellevue Hospital, the Sportsmedicine Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital and at St. Vincent’s Medical Center here on Staten Island.

Mike’s first job was at St. Vincent’s where he met his wife Cheryl who was a staff physical therapist.  After spending a year at St. Vincent’s, Mike and Cheryl started Rehab Physical Therapy on Cromwell Ave. in Dongan Hills. With Mike’s background in sports, he began volunteering his services (which he still continues to do), covering sporting events at the local high schools.

Through the years, Mike has taken numerous continuing education courses. His specific competencies have grown to include not only sports related conditions, but also joint mobilization and myofascial release techniques, neck and back problems, post-surgical rehab, joint replacement therapy, arthritis management, and protective bracing and orthotic evaluation.

Mike has given presentations at local schools and parent groups regarding the role of physical therapy.  He has been a guest of local cable TV shows, and written research articles.  He has been a CPR instructor for the American Red Cross and in 1992 he started the Staten Island High School Student Trainers Program.

He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, The American College of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy.

Mike continues his active role in treating patients at his facility at 4079 Richmond Avenue.  His commitment to quality physical therapy is evidenced by his focus on the importance of staff development, by which all professional staff can share ideas and benefit from his over 20 years of experience in this field.  This commitment ensures the continuation of quality care that has been the cornerstone of this practice since 1983.

Michael A. Marino, M.S., P.T.

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