The Joint Chiropractic - Spartanburg

Dr. Sarah Stephens became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2020 when she began serving residents in the Greenville/Spartanburg area, where she continues doing the work she finds so gratifying.

“The best thing about being in the chiropractic field is the fact that I get to help people feel better and achieve health naturally by just using my hands,” she says. “I love what I do.

“It’s rewarding to see the positive change in my patients with regular consistent chiropractic care.”

You can call her Dr. Sarah, and she’s a product of South Carolina. She married her high school sweetheart and has three daughters, including twins, along with a black goldendoodle named Stella. In addition to spending time with her family, she likes to paddle board, hike, and exercise.

Dr. Sarah attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia before earning her bachelor’s degree in nutrition at Excelsior College in New York. She then went to Sherman College of Chiropractic in Boiling Springs to get her doctorate; while there, she received the Garfunkel Award, the highest honor for student achievement.

“When I was 16, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and was told I may never be able to have children and needed to have surgery,” she says. “Instead, I went to a chiropractor, got my body and immune system healthy, and my body healed. That’s when I knew I wanted to be able to help people naturally as best as I could. It may not cure everyone’s cancer, but chiropractic care does help the body fight disease naturally by stimulating the immune system. And as a bonus, I stopped having headaches.”

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If there’s one thing you can count on finding in Dr. Sarah’s refrigerator, it’s grass-fed butter. “I cook a lot,” she says, “and nothing gives vegetables and meat better flavor than butter from grass-fed cows.”

If she could bring together any four persons from history for her ideal dinner party, Dr. Sarah would send invitations to entrepreneur Elon Musk, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, singer Reba McEntire, and author Ernest Hemingway: “The scientific and philosophical discussion would be amazing, and Reba is there to entertain us.”

The most fascinating thing that Dr. Sarah has experienced took place off the coast of Australia. “I got to do a dive on the Great Barrier Reef with my youngest daughter and my mother,” she says. “It may be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, and the way that the oceans are being polluted, the reef may be completely destroyed in my lifetime. It was amazing to see while it still had life and color.”

Dr. Justin Schutrumpf -- it’s OK to call him Dr. Justin -- joined The Joint Chiropractic family of healthcare providers in 2019 as a doctor in the Spartanburg location, but he has been a patient since 2007. A graduate of Metropolitan State University Denver with a degree in biology, he got his doctorate of chiropractic from Life University.

“The thing I like best about being in chiropractic is helping folks crush life,” he says. “I love helping people when they are told they have no other options.”

Dr. Justin was raised in Boulder, Colo., at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. He worked in Atlanta before landing in Spartanburg.

He and his wife, who is the daughter of a chiropractor, have two daughters, along with a dog named Charlotte and a cat named Callie. In his spare time, Dr. Justin says he enjoys rucking, fitness, eating barbecue, grilling, cycling, doing DIY projects, “raising warrior princesses and taking my wife out on a hot date.”

He says he knew chiropractic was the right choice for him when he was jealous of a friend whose father was Dr. Justin’s first chiropractor. “It was when my best friend decided to go to school and follow his father’s footsteps and I was jealous,” he says. “But instead, we both chased our dreams.”

“I love working here,” Dr. Justin says. “I love being able to help people providing high quality chiropractic care while working for an honest company that takes great care of its employees.”

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Dr. Justin says the staples of his life are always stocked in his refrigerator: “Meats, hot sauce, eggs and cheese.”

If he could bring together any four people from history together for the dinner party of his dreams, Dr. Justin would include retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, cartoon scientist Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty, artist Jim Winters, and Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee.

The coolest thing Dr. Justin has done was participate in more than a dozen GORUCK endurance events -- of 6,12, 24 and 48 hours -- “learning teamwork with special forces veterans and building bonds with awesome people.”

Dr. Gregory N. Dixon became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2021 when he began serving residents in the Spartanburg area, where he continues doing the work he finds so gratifying.

“I enjoy working with, and helping, people who are in need of help,” he says.

Dr. Greg, as he is known to patients, is a product of Missouri, where his father was a chiropractor; holistic health was “a huge part” of his life while growing up. He worked previously in Ninety Six, S.C.

When he’s not with Sully, his German shepherd, he enjoys yoga and jogging.

He earned his doctorate of chiropractic from Cleveland University-Kansas City. It was no surprise that he became a chiropractor. “My father was a chiropractor and I learned at an early age the importance of chiropractic care,” he says. He remembers a particularly profound story of his experience: “A lady who was having difficulty conceiving came in for treatment and, after about three months, she came back and was expecting.”

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Dr. Greg says the one thing he always has stocked in his refrigerator is cold water: “It keeps you hydrated, and water’s what the body consists of.”

If he could bring together any four people to the table, Dr. Greg would sit down with Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “They were all considered very principled people in their beliefs, and as chiropractors, we are very principled in our beliefs,” he says.

A book that provided Dr. Greg a powerful personal message was The Power and Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton. “It proved to me the power of the mind and how you can overcome anything,” he says.

If he could give advice to anyone, it would be the same that came from his parents: Always remain honest and humble. “It will take you a long way in life,” Dr. Greg says, “and you won’t go wrong.”

Dr. Pamela Owens (Dr. Pam) is a native of Wilmington, NC. She graduated with honors from Logan Chiropractic College in 1989. She is Board Certified in Acupuncture through the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. Over many years in practice, she has received numerous post-graduate certifications including Manipulation Under Anesthesia, Spinal Rehabilitation, Laser & Electrical/Auricular Acupuncture (weight loss/smoking cessation), Functional Medicine, and testing for environmental and dietary toxicity.

In 2016, Dr. Pam authored the book: “Poisoned! What You Didn’t Know About Heavy Metals Is Killing You!” Environmental Toxic Heavy Metals may be the hidden reason you feel sick. This book was written to help patients understand that there is a lot more to the reasons why they may be ill that never get discussed or tested thru conventional medicine.

After graduating in 1989, Dr. Pam went to Indianapolis to practice with Dr. Sue Morter for a year then returned to St. Louis, MO, and worked for Dr. Ken Gilbertson for 2 years. From here, she started her own practices in St. Louis: Kingston Chiropractic Center and Chiropractic & Rehan Center. After 13 years, she sold them both and moved back to the beach. She then started a practice in Ocean Isle Beach, NC: At the Beach Chiropractic Health Center, and after 18 successful years, she sold it and retired in 2020.

She joined The Joint in January 2021 and enjoys working with everyone!

Dr. Pam says the best thing about being a Doctor in the Chiropractic field after all these years, is the number of people she has helped without medication. There have truly been some blessings!

Dr. Pam’s hobbies include photography, golf, exercising, reading, gardening, going to the beach to enjoy her second home, and riding the golf cart around! Her first college degree was in Photography back in the stone ages! She was an avid golfer and lived in Sea Trail Plantation in Sunset Beach, NC on the golf course where she managed to sneak away regularly to play!

She is married to her partner Angie Brooks of Greenville, SC where they have two cats and a dog that are spoiled rotten!

The one thing in the refrigerator that she must have is half and half creamer for her coffee!

One of the coolest things Dr. Pam has done is win Longest Drive in a big golf tournament for the women’s division Sea Trail Sunset Beach, NC… also.. when she practiced in St. Louis, she treated Joe Walsh of the Eagles prior to a concert there!

Dr. Austin Kemmerlin became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2021 when he began serving residents in the Pee Dee region, where he continues doing the work he finds so gratifying.

Dr. Kemmerlin earned his doctorate at Sherman College in Boiling Springs after getting a bachelor’s degree in biology from Francis Marion University in Florence.

The doctor has a wide variety of hobbies, many that include travel; he loves visiting new cities and experiencing new foods and cultures, and visiting major art museums and breweries around the U.S. “I never drink the same beer twice,” he says. As well, he has a passion for playing ice hockey. An amateur chef, if he weren’t a chiropractor he would follow a path straight to a professional kitchen.

Perhaps the only thing he likes more than traveling is his St. Bernard, Bernie, “who goes everywhere with me.”

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If he could bring together any four people from history for his ideal dinner party, Dr. Kemmerlin would love to sit down with David Bowie, Barack Obama, Anthony Bourdain, and Lin Manuel Miranda. “Bowie was the best trendsetter, a mastermind at influencing culture and reinventing himself with every decade that passed,” he says. “Obama ignited a new interest in modern politics on both sides of the aisle, and that is so important. Bourdain is the most important among the group because Tony lived life ot the absolute fullest, immersing himself into different cultures around the world. In my opinion, Lin Manuel Miranda is one of the most creative minds ever who captures evens in song like no one else; I’d like to pitch a few Broadway ideas to him.”

Dr. Kemmerlin says the coolest thing he has done is live in New York City. “I would eat at many different Michelin Star restaurants,” he says. “I have so many remaining on my list to try around the country.”

A couple of things he always keeps stocked in his refrigerator is dill pickle juice and extra spicy salsa.

Dr. Lacey Garcia became part of The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2022 when she began serving residents in Spartanburg, where she continues doing the work she finds so gratifying.

“The thing I appreciate most about being in the chiropractic field is seeing people get back their quality of life,” she says.

Dr. Garcia was raised in Charlotte but attended University of South Carolina before getting her doctorate of chiropractic from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Boiling Springs.

She loves animals and has two dogs and three cats. When Dr. Garcia is out of the office, she enjoys painting, traveling, hiking, and live music.

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Dr. Garcia says that her ideal dinner party -- if she could include anyone from history -- would include President Abraham Lincoln, anthropologist Jane Goodall, Gautama Buddha, and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The one thing she always keeps stocked in her kitchen is berries: “They’re full of antioxidants.”

Dr. Garcia says that one of her greatest experiences has been her willingness to travel to places while alone. “I’ve had a lot of great times,” she says, “but many people let having no one to go with stop them from even traveling at all.”

Dr. Josh Black joined The Joint Chiropractic’s team of local healthcare providers in 2022 when he began serving residents at the Anderson, Spartanburg, and The Point clinics. He relishes the opportunity to serve the community with work that he finds so fulfilling.

“My favorite thing about being in the chiropractic field is helping people discover their body's innate ability to heal, and helping people become the best possible versions of themselves through the promotion of total wellness,” he says. “I am a people person at heart and I enjoy making connections with individuals in my community. I love each and every opportunity to meet someone new and learn about what's going on in their life, even if it's only during the span of a 5-minute visit!”

A native of North Carolina, Dr. Josh, as his patients call him, grew up in Charlotte and later settled in South Carolina.

He met his girlfriend, Patricia, in chiropractic school. She is from Bayamon, Puerto Rico and loves to surf, but now that Dr. Josh gave her a snowboard she likes hitting the slopes too. They have a Doberman pinscher named Doby. “She may look imposing, but she is the biggest sweetheart in the world, and the true definition of a ‘velcro dog,’” he says.

After 23 years playing baseball, Dr. Josh hung up the spikes and now enjoys golfing, playing video games, reading, and snowboarding in the winter.

A graduate of North Greenville University with a bachelor’s degree in health science, Dr. Josh specialized in kinesiology. He earned a Doctorate at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Boiling Springs, S.C.

“I always knew that I wanted to help people (my mom is a registered nurse, so that was instilled in me early on), but after doing some shadowing and being around the medical community for a little while in high school, I knew that route was not for me,” he says. “I had two amazing chiropractic influences in my life while growing up in Charlotte. The father of a lifelong friend and teammate owned his own practice, yet was at every baseball game, and a sports chiropractor in the area helped me get back on the baseball field when traditional methods (orthopedists, physical therapists, etc.) could not help me. At that point, it was a no-brainer for me and I have not looked back since!” One of his most memorable situations as a chiropractor was giving an adjustment to an infant for the first time. “Watching how she went from fussy and irritated to calm and relaxed was something I will never forget.”

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When you look in Dr. Josh’s refrigerator you’re likely to find two favorites. “I am a huge milk guy so I usually have a gallon of milk on deck,” he says. “I also recently discovered mayochup, which is exactly what it sounds like -- a mix of mayo and ketchup -- and it is the bomb, so I usually have a bottle of that as well.”

If he created a guest list of famous people for his ideal dinner party, Dr. Josh would invite former MLB player Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr., actor Tom Cruise, “an overall interesting (and weird) guy,” and comedian Bill Burr.

A high point of Dr. Josh’s life was walking across the commencement stage for his Chiropractic degree. “After so much hard work and blood, sweat, and tears, finally getting my diploma and putting that ‘DC’ behind my name was amazing.”

A big fan of futuristic, sci-fi material, Dr. Josh says the book 1984 stuck with him since high school. “The overall message of that book is pretty cool.”

Some of his best advice came from his father. When Dr. Josh would get upset about striking out or making an error in baseball his dad would say, “What matters most is what happens next.”

For others, Dr. Josh has the following advice: “Control the controllables. The past is unchangeable and the future hasn't happened yet; stay in the present.” He likes a similar quote from President Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are."

Dr. Marissa Hanna became part of The Joint Chiropractic family of local healthcare providers in 2022 when she joined the teams at clinics in the Greenville area. She’s pleased to bring a different dynamic to residents and to the chiropractic field in general.

“My passion lies in emotional health,” she says. “Not only am I analyzing for misalignments in the spinal bones themselves, but I’m also interested in the tone of your nervous system as a whole and how well you’re processing stimuli from the internal and external world. There is so much research about how unprocessed and stored emotions in the body lead to chronic pain and various diseases. If a patient is coming in as directed and is still not experiencing relief or increased function, I’ll start educating them on emotional health and nervous system regulation. This is critical when the profession prides itself on looking at health from a ‘whole body’ approach.”

Dr. Marissa, as she’s called by her patients, feels strongly about the importance of creative freedom to express yourself. “I believe that one’s appearance should not dictate their ability to do any given job or be looked at as ‘less than,’” she says. “I have colored hair, piercings, tattoos, and I hate dress clothes, but that doesn’t dilute my education and passion as a doctor. That said, I also identify with an entirely different market of patients -- ones who may feel different or outcast. Chiropractic is absolutely for everyone. I want people who express themselves in their appearance to feel seen, respected, and safe enough to come.”

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Dr. Marissa left home at a young age “to find myself and see where I fit in,” she says. “I happened to stumble upon Sherman College of Chiropractic in 2014. From my first steps on campus, I knew chiropractic was my calling.”

She does not have children of her own, she says, “but I do have a goddaughter who is as sweet and sassy as they come!”

Animals are a huge part of Dr. Marissa’s life. She has two cats, Calliope and Skyler, and three dogs -- Baker, Beverly, and Max, an Australian shepherd which she has part time through joint custody with a former partner. “I’m just as passionate about animal life and health as I am human health, so all my animals are under chiropractic care as well!”

In her free time, Dr. Marissa stays active. “I am most myself and at ease when I’m outside,” she says. “I love hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. In addition to all things outdoors, I love to dance. You can catch me in the air at the aerial yoga studio, at pole fitness classes, or line dancing with friends.”

Dr. Marissa’s studies included subjects from polysomnography to mortuary science. “I have a little sister with a chromosomal disorder that has required her to have 24-hour per day nursing care since birth,” she says. “She inspired me to go into the healthcare field in the first place, but I didn’t want to be a nurse. As I explored various professions and went on about my own life, I found contradictions in our healthcare system that pushed me away from wanting to become part of the problem. In 2014, I ended up at a seminar at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Boiling Springs and absolutely fell in love with the entire approach, philosophy, and mission of chiropractic. The holistic approach to navigating health and our body’s innate design to heal from within inspired me to completely change my life. I hope I’m able to help facilitate similar changes for my patients now.”

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Dr. Marissa is always stocked up on garlic. “Either cloves, minced, or powder -- you can never have too much. Plus, you’ve got to ward off those vampires!”

If she was planning the ideal dinner party, Dr. Marissa would invite a variety of high-profile guests: “I would love to sit down with the higher being, to talk about all things creation; actor Ian Somerhalder, because I love everything he and his wife do for the environment and animals; Joel Madden, because he’s been my favorite artist and celebrity crush since I was young; and BJ Palmer, to talk about all things chiropractic.”

The greatest experience she ever had was to uproot herself to better her future. “It can be terrifying enough as a teenager to enter the real world after high school, but to leave all your friends and family behind, pack only what fits in your car and move six states away was absolutely terrifying,” she says. “Things were hard for almost a decade, but far too often we know people who settle because they’re afraid to go into the unknown.”

Her top pick for a book suggestion is The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. “The more we understand health and how we influence it, the better equipped we are to actually live the life we want to and enjoy it.”

The best advice she has for people of all ages and stages is: “Stop caring what other people think. Be an example of self-confidence and authenticity rather than the product of outside validation.”