Dr. Battista grew up on Long Island and graduated from Massapequa High School in 1985. He then attended college in western NY at St. Bonaventure University and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor degree in Biology in 1989. Next, he attended medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and was awarded a one-year fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. During his rotations in medical school, he developed an interest in the specialty field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitative Medicine. He graduated from medical school in 1994 and completed a one-year internal medicine internship at Long Beach Hospital. Soon after, he completed a 3-year residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Nassau County Medical Center located in East Meadow, NY. He served as chief resident during his final year. In his first year of residency, he met his eventual wife Jennifer, who worked at the same hospital as a Physical Therapist. During his residency, he authored a chapter titled “Physical Modalities and Manipulation for pain reduction” for a Pain Textbook published in 1998.
In searching for his first job, he and his wife had grown tired of urban living so they moved to Central New York in July of 1998. Dr. Battista started practicing as an attending Physiatrist in a private practice in Utica, NY. There he practiced both outpatient and inpatient Physical and Rehabilitative medicine. He became board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in June of 1999 and is now a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
After working for 5 years as an attending Physiatrist, he realized the integral part that competent pain control had in the progress and outcome for his patients. He then spent 2 years completing all the necessary course work through the International Spinal Injection Society to learn comprehensive pain management and spinal injection techniques. He achieved board certification in Pain Medicine in 2005. He served as the medical director for the acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Faxton-St. Luke’s hospital from 2005 to 2012.
Dr. Battista then cofounded his current practice, CNY Spine and Pain Medicine, LLC., with his partner Dr. Martin Schaeffer in June of 2013. They have grown the practice significantly with offices in Utica and Liverpool, NY.
He most recently developed a new injection technique for hip joints which improves efficacy and lowers risk. The article was published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in August of 2019. Dr. Battista maintains hospital privileges at the Mohawk Valley Health System, St. Joes Hospital, Crouse Hospital and Oneida Hospital.
He continues to reside in New Hartford, NY with his wife Jennifer and children, Louis and Alexa. He enjoys skiing, traveling, barbecuing and time with his family.