Victor Rafa, DC
Victor Rafa, DC, provides integrative, whole-body care at Gateway Rehab and Wellness Center, Inc. in Mission Viejo, California. At the group medical practice, Dr. Rafa teaches patients not only how to get out of pain, but how to avoid it in the future.
Dr. Rafa graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1997 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in business. After graduating, Dr. Rafa worked at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach assisting in the operating room and the functional rehabilitation department. After an injury, chiropractic care helped Dr. Rafa recover and he’s been in love with it ever since. He then went back to school and graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences in Whittier in 2001 with a Doctor of Chiropractic. He opened his first office, Healthy Solutions, in 2002 and Gateway Rehab and Wellness Center, Inc. in 2006.
Dr. Rafa is a family man with a wife and two kids. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and is an avid mountain biker.
Vinod Malhotra, MD
Dr. Vinod Malhotra, MD is a Board Certified Internal Medicine and Cardiology specialist who has been practicing for 44 years. He graduated from Government Medical College Amritsar, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. Dr. Malhotra is the lead physician with the Bloodless Program. His bedside matters are beyond every patients expectations. He enjoys traveling and spending time with his two daughters.
Jack Schlingman
Dr. Schlingman began his pre-chiropractic education at Rutgers College in New Jersey where he studied the basic sciences such as inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, along with basic physiology and anatomy courses. After completing his study there, he was accepted at Life Chiropractic College in Marrietta, Georgia. During his four years at Life, courses included biochemistry, a major emphasis on anatomy and human physiology, X-ray, diagnosis, chiropractic adjusting techniques and patient care in the Life College Public Clinic. After graduating in 1982 Dr. Schlingman moved to the Saddleback Valley area in to establish his practice.
Dr. Schlingman is married to Anh and they have two children, Drew, and Logan.
Haleh Dejam, NP
Haleh Dejam is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner practicing in Orange County since 2017. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing at South University School of Nursing before finishing her internship at Hoag in Irvine, CA. Most recently, Haleh worked for Providence Mission Hospital, where she preformed cardiac care to support the Mission Viejo Community. Haleh’s areas of expertise and clinical areas of interest include: Internal Medicine and primary Family Care setting, from adolescent to geriatric. She believes patient education leads to better patient satisfaction with providers and their overall care. She is a strong believer that education plans increase patient compliance of treatment plans.
Leila Shahnavaz, NP
Leila Shahnavaz has worked as a clinician since 2008, focusing on women’s health and gastroenterology. She comes from a family with a strong tradition in healthcare, Leila’s passion for medicine was inspired by her father, a respected surgeon in Iran. Recently, at Gateway Rehab, she has discovered a newfound passion for treating patients with osteoskeletal pain, offering a variety of treatments such as trigger point injections and PRP therapy. This commitment to patient care has guided her throughout her career. When she is not working, she likes to spend time with her family and go on hikes.
Erek Antis, PTA
Erek’s dream growing up was to play football in the NFL. After sustaining 3 ACL reconstruction surgeries and 1 medial meniscus tear Erek was introduced to the world of Physical Therapy. Through 10 years of personal training and two undergraduate degrees in both psychology and kinesiology; Erek decided to further his education in Physical Therapy. In April of 2021 Erek began his PTA education at Stanbridge University. Through determination, grit and adversity Erek graduated and is now a licensed physical therapist assistant. Erek possesses years of experience but most of all shares his gift of quality care and compassion to aid his patients in the fastest and safest way possible.