Our Team

CapitaFX’s in-house staff of physicians includes board-certified specialists in orthopedics and physical medicine & rehabilitation. The clinical treatment team includes nurses, psychologists, counselors, physical and occupational therapists, exercise techs and case managers.

Physicians

Eric Kano Mayer, MD

  • Eric Auty Kanoalani Mayer, M.D., is a Supervising Physician, Medical Director for Capital-Fx in Austin, TX, and member ownership group of PRIDE-Rehabilitation Group.

    He has current academic teaching appointments as Adjunct Assistant Professor of PM&R at Texas A&M School of Medicine and Affiliate Faculty of PM&R at the University of Texas Dell Medical School and a

    Dr. Mayer received his medical degree in 2001 from Georgetown University School of Medicine and his bachelor’s degree Cum Laude in 1995 from Georgetown University. Dr. Mayer’s training has included a surgical internship at Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, IL, (2002); Residency at Harvard University Medical School/Spaulding Program in Boston, MA, (2005); and Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Mayer also has a certificate in Clinical Efficacy from Harvard-Chan School of Public Health.

    Dr. Mayer has earned dual board recertifications in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine

    Dr. Mayer has authored numerous book chapters and scientific papers, and he has lectured throughout North America. He also is a member of many professional societies and is activity involved in socio-economic matters for the North America Spine Society and AMA serving on several committees. He proudly volunteers nationally and internationally as adviser for North American Spine Society, Spine Intervention Society, AMA, American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, and American College of Surgeons. Most pertinently, Dr. Mayer serves on the Executive Editorial Board for the 6th Edition (2021 revised) AMA-Guidelines to Disability. His clinical/research interests include spinal interventional procedures, Spine Health, Sports Medicine treatment approach, Functional Restoration (FRP), clinical outcomes, clinical efficacy, neuromodulation, and electromyography (EMG).

    Dr. Mayer has been in Austin, TX since 2018 after serving several leadership positions at the Cleveland Clinic 2008-2018. Previously he had experience in private practice in Dallas, Texas.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Aaron Arel, DO

  • Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Arel graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University, where he was also the president of the club swimming team. He attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. As a medical student, he developed his passion for the musculoskeletal system and specifically the spine. Next, he completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Chief Resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

    After residency, Dr. Arel and his wife moved to Austin, Texas to escape the northeast winters. He completed advanced fellowship training in Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine at Texas Spine and Scoliosis in partnership with the University of Texas Medical School and Ascension Hospital System.

    Dr. Arel is eager to apply his skills in the diagnosis and treatment of spine and musculoskeletal disorders to help our patients reach their rehabilitation goals and “get back into life”.

    When he is not treating patients, Dr. Arel tries to keep up with his wife, Mandie, in beach volleyball. Also, his two dogs take him on hikes every chance they get.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Bill Defoyd, DC

  • Dr. Defoyd is the former Director of Designated Doctor Education at the Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers’ Compensation, retiring from TDI-DWC in 2018. Prior to joining TDI-DWC in 2008, he was the managing partner and Director of the Rehabilitation Department of The Spine and Rehabilitation Center, a multidisciplinary group Dr. Defoyd co-founded with George “Buddy” Tipton, Jr., M.D. in Austin, Texas in 1994.

    Dr. Defoyd received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Texas at Austin in 1979, and both a Master’s Degree in Human Performance from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Texas Chiropractic College in 1986. He became board certified in chiropractic orthopedics in 1990 and credentialed in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy by the McKenzie Institute in 1996.

    He has taught postgraduate courses to medical and osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and other health care providers on a variety of topics including impairment rating, return to work, extent of injury, rehabilitation, and orthopedics. Dr. Defoyd has authored three textbook chapters and several papers relating to the management of musculoskeletal disorders. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.

Chiropractor

Enrique Pena, MD

  • Dr. Pena is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

    He earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at New York University in New York. Dr. Enrique Pena received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School in Newark. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Morristown Memorial Hospital / Atlantic Health Systems in Morristown. Following his internship, Dr. Pena fulfilled residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Pena furthered his education by completing a fellowship in Interventional Spine, Musculoskeletal and Electrodiagnostic Medicine at The Spine Center at New England Baptist Bone & Joint Institute in Boston.

    Dr. Pena served as a Staff Physician and Clinical Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Tufts University Medical School, The Spine Center at New England Baptist Bone & Joint Institute in Boston.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation