The Joint Chiropractic - Fort Wayne North

Dr. Tanner Perkins became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2024, serving residents at the Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne North clinics, continuing the work he finds so rewarding.

“I like helping people get back to doing what they enjoy without being in pain,” he says. “When I administer adjustments and they’re relieved of their joint and muscle pain, I feel like I did my job. I like to stay active and on my feet all day, and the chiropractic profession has a lot of active days providing hands-on adjustments.”

Originally from Michigan, Dr. Perkins grew up in Battle Creek and previously worked in Coldwater and Albion. He spends a lot of time with his son, who loves monster trucks and racing Matchbox race cars.

When he’s not working, Dr. Perkins enjoys working out and watching college football and professional hockey. He loves the outdoors, including hiking, fishing, and hunting, and he spends time going for long walks with his son and his parents.

Dr. Perkins attended Western Michigan University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He earned a Doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

“I hurt my lower back deadlifting in the gym when I was in college, and after three weeks of chiropractic care I was back in the gym working out and deadlifting again,” he says. “I knew after that experience that I wanted to be a chiropractor so I could help others, just like I was helped.”

One of the things Dr. Perkins enjoys most is seeing his patients improve. “It's amazing to see progress in patients, not only their pain going away after a few appointments, but hearing that they can do things they haven't been able to do for a while because of their discomfort,” he says.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Dr. Perkins always has coffee creamer in his refrigerator. “I am a huge coffee drinker in the morning and I need my cream with it,” he says.

If he could plan the ideal dinner party including famous guests, Dr. Perkins would invite:

• Kobe Bryant - “I used to watch him play basketball when I grew up”
• Brantley Gilbert - “Country music is in my roots”
• Sylvester Stallone - “He's my favorite actor”
• Brian Regan - “He's my favorite comedian”

One of the greatest experiences of Dr. Perkins’ life was serving on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. “It really touched my heart and changed my attitude about not taking the little things for granted and really appreciating everything that life has to offer,” he says.

If Dr. Perkins had some advice to share, it would be: “Don't let failure describe you and discourage you. Learn from it and take what you learned to make yourself smarter and better in the long run.”

Dr. Dale Vallotton joined The Joint Chiropractic in 2023 when he became part of the team at the Fort Wayne North clinic, where he does the rewarding work of helping people as their local healthcare provider.

“I have been practicing chiropractic for more than 23 years and it still makes my day when I see changes in the pain relief and posture of my patients after just one adjustment,” he says. “I like contributing to the health of their immune systems while correcting their spines.” Born in Baton Rouge, La., Dr. Dale, as his patients call him, spent his childhood living in various parts of the United States including Tennessee, Kentucky, New Mexico, Arkansas, Michigan, Alabama, and Colorado. He has worked as a chiropractor in Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Guam, Indonesia, and Singapore.

His wife, Elena, is originally from Eastern Europe. They have one son and four grandchildren who all live in Kentucky.

In his spare time, Dr. Dale enjoys working on a mini-farm they recently purchased where they raise Americana and Murano chickens. “We have a large wooded area with a lot of deer and other wild animals that like to play in our yard,” he says.

For his undergraduate degree, Dr. Dale studied at Maysville Community College and Morehead State University in Ky., as well as Park University in Parkville, Mo. He earned a doctorate at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, Kan.

“When I was 8 years old I saw my mother carried into the chiropractor’s office after she had a fall and she walked out,” he says. “When my son was young, he had grand mal seizures that ceased after being treated with a chiropractic adjustment. I also went to the chiropractor many times after injuring my back working as a union millwright. At the age of 30 I decided I didn't want to continue injuring myself and I wanted to help others. That was when I went to school to become a chiropractor.”

As a chiropractor, Dr. Dale is most interested in how unique and interconnected the human body is. “It cannot be compartmentalized,” he says. “For instance, I have found that most plantar fasciitis begins with a compressed nerve at the L5 level in the low back. Sinus problems often stem from a C2-3 misalignment in the neck, and femur head misalignments at the top of the leg can cause low back and knee pain. But the biggest occurrence is the first rib compressing the nerves going down the arm and causing shoulder, arm, and hand pain, with hand and finger tingling and numbness. I work with these situations every day.”

What he likes most about working at The Joint in Fort Wayne North is the atmosphere in the office. “We have the time to take care of all of our patients and we don't have to rush,” he says. “The staff is great.”

In Case You Didn’t Know

He always keeps fresh spring water on hand so he’s not drinking chemicals from the tap or bottled water.

If he could plan the ideal dinner party including four famous guests, Dr. Dale would invite Jesus, Adam, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Jefferson. “I don't think anyone would say much except for Jesus and the rest of us would be asking him questions,” he says. “I would like to get Adam's view of what the earth looked like during his time.”

Dr. Dale had some of his most memorable experiences while traveling across the globe. “I've visited 37 countries and I have met all kinds of people and experienced their cultures,” he says. “I lived in Asia for 11 years. I've learned that most people in the world are nice and we should treat people the way we want to be treated.”

His favorite book is The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone. “This book changed the way I looked at work and success,” he says.

Some of the best marital advice Dr. Dale has ever received is: “You can be right or you can be happy; you can't be both.”

If he had advice to give to others, it would be: “The most common phrase that will ruin your health is ‘I thought it would go away!’”

Dr. Monica Ebbing became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2024 when she began serving residents at the clinics in Fort Wayne, continuing the work she finds so gratifying.

“The best thing about being in the chiropractic field is the ability to relieve stress on the nervous system and give patients relief without surgery or medications,” she says. “I believe that our care allows the body to heal itself naturally. I can meet my patients where they are at, provide great care, and help them get back to their optimum again.”

Dr. Monica, as her patients call her, appreciates being surrounded by other health professionals who are like-minded and have a passion for patients. “In this field there are many who are passionate about helping patients get back to living their lives and doing what they love,” she says. “We have the ability to give patients relief and bring a sense of hope to their lives.”

Originally from Celina, Ohio, Dr. Monica was on track to go to medical school, but began treatment by a chiropractor and it changed the trajectory of both her health and career plan.

She has a Maltese Shih Tzu named Gizmo “that is probably the cutest pup of all time,” she says. “He will stand on his back legs and beg when he would like you to play. He is also very ornery and energetic, which I love.”

Dr. Monica is a traveler. “When I'm not immersed in books or honing my skills to serve you, you'll find me chasing adventures around the world,” she says. “I am most likely found outside where I enjoy rollerblading, hiking, skiing, fishing, and traveling. I am currently deepening my knowledge of Germany and the German language, because my boyfriend is from there.”

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Doctorate of Chiropractic at Life University in Marietta, Ga. Specialized areas of study included pediatric and perinatal care, functional neurology, and functional medicine.

Dr. Monica found her life's purpose during her high school years, when she suffered a severe concussion during a volleyball tournament. The post-concussion syndrome resulted in crippling migraines, hormonal imbalances, and additional health issues that dampened her hope for healing. After consulting numerous specialists and finding only pharmaceutical solutions, Dr. Monica’s mother recommended a chiropractor for treatment. Within one month of care she was free from medications and her migraines were minimal. With continued care the migraines subsided and allowed her to improve focus, memory, mental capacity and more.

After witnessing the miracles of holistic chiropractic care that addressed not only physical symptoms but also tuned in to her as a whole person, Dr. Monica enrolled at Life University where her passion for healing deepened. She dove into holistic health and functional medicine to find root causes of her own hormonal imbalances and galvanized her commitment to see that others didn't endure similar pain.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Dr. Monica always keeps bone broth on hand. “I love bone broth and its health benefits!” she says. “Not only can you use it in cooking and soups, but you can also drink it like tea and make shakes with it to be sure you're always nourished.”

If she could plan the ideal dinner party including famous guests, Dr. Monica would invite:

• Mother Teresa - “To speak with her about her experiences of working with those in need, the miracles she witnessed, and to truly just connect with her and her mission”
• Pope John Paul II - “I would love to talk with him about his life and passions, his experiences on his travels to 129 countries and learning to speak eight languages fluently”
• Saint Monica - “I am named for her and I would love to discuss her difficult life, how she stayed devoted to her faith while maintaining prayer through everything”
• Robin McGraw - “As Dr. Phil’s wife, I love how she stands up for herself and appears to be a genuine person who cares deeply for her family and others”

A mission trip to Thailand was the greatest experience of Dr. Monica’s life. “It was incredible to work with the locals on their health, with children in the schools, and help the community with their conservation efforts,” she says. “In addition to caring for students, it was amazing to see their dedication and care for the elephants and turtles. I learned so much about their culture and language, but also about myself and how I can do my part to provide for others.”

A book that has meant a lot to Dr. Monica is Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo. “This book was not what I expected, but truly changed my perspective on life and why I'm doing what I'm doing,” she says. “It allowed me to take a step back and to put action to my purpose and make no excuses for what I'm dealing with at the time. I've learned that everything is ‘figureoutable’ and nothing is too complex if I get down to doing what I need to do and take the action steps.”

Dr. Laura Bonin joined The Joint Chiropractic in 2024 when she became part of the team at the Fort Wayne North clinic, where she does the rewarding work of helping people as their local healthcare provider.

“The best thing about being in the chiropractic field is the ability to help people not only get out of pain, but to also optimize their body function and facilitate healing,” she says. “I appreciate the chance to offer people a more holistic view of effective healthcare.”

Dr. Laura, as her patients call her, previously worked in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana where I played soccer,” she says. “It caused multiple injuries and chiropractic was able to help me recover.”

Her husband, Cooper, also grew up in Fort Wayne and they met during high school. They have a black, short-haired cat named Sushi. “He loves the outdoors and we actually take him on walks and hikes,” she says.

In her spare time Dr. Laura enjoys going to coffee shops, spending time outside, playing soccer, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

She attended Barton College in Wilson, N.C. where she earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. She earned a Doctorate of Chiropractic at Life University in Marietta, Ga. Among other coursework, Dr. Laura studied exercise science, anatomy, physiology, sports physiology, and pediatric and prenatal chiropractic techniques.

“I went to a conference and a chiropractor was talking about a patient of hers who wasn’t able to get pregnant,” Dr. Laura says. “The patient had tried fertility treatments but was told she would never have children. After six months of chiropractic care the patient found out she was pregnant and she now has three biological children. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a chiropractor, to allow every person’s body to function at its best.”

One of the greatest experiences of Dr. Laura’s life was treating an adult patient who experienced headaches from the age of 5. “After getting consistent chiropractic adjustments for about a month, she was able to experience a week without a single headache,” Dr. Laura says.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Dr. Laura always has noodles in her pantry. “I love pasta and I never know when I am going to want to make it, so I make sure I have some,” she says.

If she could plan the perfect dinner party including famous guests, Dr. Laura would invite cast members from the Marvel and “The Fast and the Furious” movies, as well as presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

“One of the coolest things I have done is swimming with dolphins, stingrays, and sharks in the Dominican Republic,” she says. “It was such a unique experience and I love the ocean.”

One of the most meaningful statements Dr. Laura ever heard came from the mouth of a college English instructor who said, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt – whoever said that was lying."

If she had the chance to share advice, it would be: “Say what you really want to say – most of the time it's not about what you are saying, but how you are saying it. Speak with love and speak with truth.”