The Joint Chiropractic - Des Peres

Dr. James Rhodes joined The Joint Chiropractic family in 2014 with his arrival at the Des Peres clinic. Dr. Jim, as his patients call him, earned his doctorate from Logan College.

“One of the best things about being in the chiropractic field is that we get to improve health and life naturally,” Dr. Jim says. “Another great thing is that we get to meet and take care of awesome people.”

Dr. Jim was raised in Southern Illinois and worked in Carlyle and Glen Carbon before finding his way to Des Peres.

In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, working out, walking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

“I knew chiropractic was for me when I met a chiropractor in my hometown who was into the total health of his patients,” Dr. Jim says. “I was really into exercise and nutrition and I wanted to be a doctor to help people using food and lifestyle as medicine. The curriculum at chiropractic school had much more nutrition while medical school did not. So I went to chiropractic school and really enjoyed it. And I fell in love with chiropractic and taking care of spines while I was there.”

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When it comes to staples in his life, Dr. Jim says the one thing he always has in his refrigerator “is mocha bulletproof cold brew; I enjoy the flavor and the healthy benefits.”

When it comes to sharing coffee with four famous people, he figures the judges from The Voice would make the perfect coffee klatch. “I’d like to have dinner with Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Adam Levine,” Dr. Jim says. “They are all very talented and interesting to me. I’d like to hear their life stories.”

The coolest thing he has ever done was compete in -- and finish -- an Ironman Triathlon. “It was great breaking the tape and then cheering on all the other competitors as they finished,” he says.

Dr. Robyn Klepko became part of The Joint Chiropractic team in 2017 when she became the local chiropractor for Des Peres. She received her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Brigham Young University, and her doctorate of chiropractic from Logan University; she also earned masters degrees in nutrition and human performance.

Dr. Robyn, as she prefers to be called, is excited every day to be part of the chiropractic field. “I love that chiropractic not only gets you out of pain, but also helps you live optimally and achieve your health and fitness goals,” she says.

“The other thing I love is being around people who are positive, proactive, and care about their health.”

Dr. Robyn grew up in St. George, Utah, so it’s not surprising that she loves the outdoors the way that she does. She says she craves “anything active” and includes triathlons, running, working out at the gym, and training to compete in powerlifting among her favorite pastimes. She also teaches yoga, Pilates and spin class.

She and her husband Ryan, who is also in the chiropractic field, have a 140-pound French mastiff named Bleu.

Dr. Robyn was inspired by Thomas Edison to follow the chiropractic path. “I came across this quote when looking into chiropractic from Edison that says, ‘The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease,’” she says. “I knew at that moment that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for and what I wanted to do.”

Working at the Des Peres clinic is a real experience,” Dr. Robyn says: “I work with a real comedian, and all who meet Dr. Jim Rhodes know what I mean. It is a very positive and uplifting environment.”

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Dr. Robyn says the one thing she must have on-hand in her refrigerator is fresh lemon juice. “I drink it every morning for all the health benefits,” she says.

The coolest thing Dr. Robyn has done is running across the finishing line of an Ironman triathlon. That, she says, “or stepping on stage competing in bodybuilding because of the work it took to get there and the feeling of accomplishment.

Dr. Toni Puzzo joined The Joint Chiropractic in 2017 and became the local chiropractor for Des Peres. A graduate of University of Evansville, she received bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry before getting a doctorate of chiropractic from Logan University.

A product of the St. Louis area -- she grew up in south county -- Dr. Toni considers herself a servant of the people. “I got into chiropractic to help people naturally, and it still holds true today,” she says. “I love meeting new people every day and seeing them overcome pain and other health obstacles.”

When she’s not helping others, Dr. Toni enjoys playing softball, working out and being with family and friends.

She says she pursued chiropractic after initially charting a course toward general medicine. “I got accepted into medical school,” Dr. Toni explains. “However, the more research I did into becoming a medical doctor made me believe that a healthier, more natural physician would be for me.”

She loves working at Des Peres and feels right at home. “My co-workers rock and the patients are very welcoming,” she says.

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Dr. Toni says she always keeps eggs in her refrigerator because it’s one of the key ingredients on her favorite sandwich, which she has every day. “Believe it or not, my favorite sandwich is one piece of wheat toast, crunchy peanut butter, and a warm egg white,” she says. “It’s delicious.”

If Dr. Toni could have a dream dinner with anyone, it would be a night out with the girls -- and Sylvester Stallone. She would include singer Kelly Clarkson, and Olympic softball players Dr. Dot Richardson, who was captain on two gold-medal winning teams, and Jessica Mendoza, who won a gold medal and is a baseball analyst for ESPN.

It’s not surprising that Dr. Toni would invite a couple of softball players to dinner. She was invited to try out for the 2000 Olympic softball team. “It was incredible seeing and meeting so many players that I looked up to as a child,” she says.