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Christina Thomason is an experienced acupuncturist with a diverse background as a nurse, massage, and bodywork therapist. Her unique approach helps her patients overcome their issues and live balanced, fulfilled lives. Christina sees her role as a guide, helping each patient come up with an individualized plan to help them exceed their goals.

Christina’s road to finding acupuncture was a personal one. She had suffered from back pain and from Crohn’s disease and had lackluster results with a whole plethora of traditional treatments. When she found acupuncture, it changed her life. She has never felt or moved better and wanted to help others find this same freedom. She specializes in treating musculoskeletal and digestive issues.

Christina received her Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the renowned Pacific College of Health & Science in San Diego, California. Christina uses her diverse toolbox to choose the right tool to help her patients. These tools include acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Gua sha, electro-acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture, deep tissue massage, trigger point work, and sports therapy.

In her free time, Christina enjoys being outside and exploring Greenville. Christina and her husband enjoy being active, finding new places to eat, and traveling. Christina is excited to be in Greenville and to serve the Upstate community.

Christina Thomason is an experienced acupuncturist with a diverse background as a nurse, massage,... Read More

Katelyn is a dedicated and empathetic massage therapist with a true passion for helping people. She doesn’t believe in a one size fits all massage. Her massage therapy is tailored to your specific needs for a personalized massage every visit.

Prior to joining Upstate Spine & Sport, Kayelyn worked with several of the Clemson athletic programs, including Clemson’s 2018 national championship football team. While she enjoys working with athletes, Katelyn is also specialized in helping all sorts of patient populations including desk workers, weekend warriors, and pregnant women.

Katelyn received her credentials at Greenville Technical College with more than 500 hours of hands-on training. Katelyn’s technique focuses are in deep tissue muscle work, sports massage, trigger point work, Swedish massage, and prenatal massage.

Katelyn was born in Indiana but considers Greenville her home. In her free time, she loves being outdoors and is always up for a game of volleyball, a hike, or a weekend of camping. She loves reading romance, action, and historical fiction. Katelyn is enthusiastic about continuing to make a positive impact in our Greenville community.

Katelyn is a dedicated and empathetic massage therapist with a true passion for helping people. S... Read More

Sarah Kimmel is passionate about helping people perform at their best and enjoy a pain-free and active life. As a massage therapist, Active Release Therapy specialist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist, Sarah’s unique approach empowers her clients to reach and exceed their goals.

Sarah is a Greenville native who started her career as a personal trainer and teaching group fitness classes before becoming a studio manager at a few local Greenville gyms. She saw a need in the fitness and movement industry for a more comprehensive pain and injury management approach.

Sarah decided to enroll in massage therapy school to earn a license that would allow her to comprehensively treat pain. However her ultimate goal was to become a ‘hybrid’ clinician - combining principles of massage therapy, exercise rehabilitation, sports performance, strength and conditioning, and the latest soft tissue techniques. She has taken continuing education through Active Release Techniques, the gold standard in soft-tissue care for active people. Sarah also spent over 500 hours assisting Dr. David Jolson to better understand how to help her patients become an expert in their own problem, not just the passive recipient of treatment.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her dog, Harley, hiking, rock climbing, and reading. She also is a competitive powerlifter and weightlifter and in 2018 she placed first at the WPC Powerlifting World Championship. She is thrilled to serve the Greenville community.

Sarah Kimmel is passionate about helping people perform at their best and enjoy a pain-free and a... Read More

Michelle is an experienced massage therapist with a diverse background and education adaptable to nearly any client. She offers massage therapy tailored to your specific needs for a highly focused and personalized massage every time.

Michelle graduated from Southeastern School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy and has over fifteen years of experience working as a massage therapist in sports facilities, spas, wellness, and rehab centers. She has provided massage to hard-working desk workers, professional athletes, and everyone in between. Michelle is experienced in deep tissue, neuromuscular therapy, sports massage, trigger point therapy, IASTM, integrative muscle isolation, pre-natal & post-natal, pediatric, and Swedish massage.

Michelle herself knows what it’s like to battle an injury – she had some debilitating injuries in which she learned from the patient perspective the challenges of significant injuries. This process helped Michelle understand and appreciate the full spectrum of musculoskeletal care and the recovery process.

Michelle has lived in the Upstate area for her whole life and is happily married to her husband, Tim. She is a registered yoga teacher, teaches pilates, barre, and boot camps. In her free time, she enjoys playing ice hockey, spending time with her fur babies, gardening, and hiking. Michelle is ready to continue to serve the Greenville SC community.

Michelle is an experienced massage therapist with a diverse background and education adaptable to... Read More

For more than a decade, Johel has played a pivotal role in guiding athletes towards unlocking their full potential. A former strength and conditioning coach for the Boston Red Sox, Johel contributed locally to the success of the Greenville Drive during their triumphant 2023 Championship season. In his current role as the Director of Strength & Conditioning at Upstate Spine & Sport, Johel specializes in coaching biomechanics and human movement, dedicating himself to training athletes for sport-specific skill development.

Johel’s journey began with an internship under his mentor and uncle, Professor Enrico Encarnacion, a sports medicine specialist and former athletic therapist for the Puerto Rico National Basketball Team. This experience fueled Johel’s passion for sport performance and injury prevention. Originally from Puerto Rico, he pursued baseball at Bethany College in Kansas, where he also earned his degree in Physical Health and Wellness.

Johel’s approach prioritizes optimal alignment, the establishment of appropriate muscle length-tension relationships, and the enhancement of biomechanical efficiency. His passion lies in preventing non-contact injuries, promoting pain-free movement, and continually advancing his skillset to better cater to his clients’ needs. Johel has expanded his expertise through various certifications in biomechanics and human movement, orthopedic assessments, program design, sport performance, athlete development, scientific back training, core conditioning, and holistic lifestyle coaching.

Beyond the clinic, Johel enjoys the outdoors and exploring Greenville. Alongside his wife, Jessica, he embraces activities such as hiking, discovering new restaurants, and traveling. Johel is excited to contribute to the Upstate Spine & Sport community, and proud to call Greenville home.

For more than a decade, Johel has played a pivotal role in guiding athletes towards unlocking the... Read More

Dr. Tanner Garey is a chiropractor in Greenville, SC who specializes in treating musculoskeletal issues, pregnancy, newborns and infants, and sports injuries. She is the team chiropractor for the Greenville Triumph, Greenville Liberty, and the Furman Paladin athletic department. Dr. Garey is passionate about helping her patients enjoy a pain-free and active life.

Born and raised in Illinois, Dr. Garey went to Monmouth College where she was a two-sport athlete playing basketball and golf. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan University, where she was a campus leader and president of the Motion Palpation Institute chapter. Dr. Garey attended many seminars on topics such as dry needling & acupuncture, pediatric and pregnancy care, and sports rehabilitation.

Dr. Garey has a particular interest in women’s health and pediatric care. She empowers women to take control of their own pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Tanner also enjoys working with infants and children and has extensive training to help kids of all ages. Dr. Garey’s treatments are individualized based on your needs in order to make you a healthier individual.

In her free time, Dr. Garey enjoys exploring Greenville, running the Swamp Rabbit Trail, and hiking. She loves to travel and visit new places. Coming from a small town and family, becoming part of the Greenville community has been very important – Dr. Garey is excited to call Greenville home!

Dr. Tanner Garey is a chiropractor in Greenville, SC who specializes in treating musculoskeletal ... Read More

Carissa Rose is a talented massage therapist with a diverse background, boasting over a decade of hands-on experience. With a passion for tailoring treatments to individual needs, Carissa specializes in crafting massages that deliver not only relief from tension and pain but also enhancements in athletic performance and a profound sense of inner tranquility.

Having excelled across a spectrum of environments, including clinical, yoga studio, and country club settings, Carissa’s ultimate objective is to embark on a collaborative wellness journey with her clients.

Her journey began at Hocking College in 2012, where she acquired her foundational credentials, paving the way for an ongoing pursuit of extensive professional development. Drawing from a comprehensive toolkit of techniques such as connective tissue release, sports massage, lymphatic drainage, trigger point therapy, and deep tissue work, Carissa’s process is rooted in a functional approach that encompasses assessment, method selection, and attentive listening.

Having recently made Greenville her new home, Carissa is eager to delve into the vibrancy of her new surroundings. When she’s not tending to clients, she finds solace in the embrace of nature and channels her creative energy into pursuits like audio recording, visual art, and dance. Enthusiastic about becoming an integral part of the Greenville community, Carissa is poised to share her expertise and passion with her newfound community.

Carissa Rose is a talented massage therapist with a diverse background, boasting over a decade of... Read More

Fran Jolson is thrilled to be back home in Greenville. Fran attended Riverside High School and is a graduate of Wake Forest University.

After finishing her undergraduate studies, Fran worked in Chicago for the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Program as an event coordinator for fundraising events.

Her path to acupuncture and wellness has been a very personal journey. While in Chicago, Fran struggled with women’s health and digestive issues.

Like many patients, she tried many different traditional medical providers, seeking relief from her conditions – but nothing was working. Finally, Fran decided to take an alternative approach. She began acupuncture treatments, changed her diet and lifestyle – and finally saw results.

When she realized the power of holistic, alternative medicine, she was inspired to enroll at National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) to pursue the study of acupuncture, so she could help other people realize the same benefits she has experienced herself.

In 2016, Fran graduated as valedictorian with a Masters of Science in acupuncture (M.S.Ac.). She has also completed board examinations and holds certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

She is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) in the state of South Carolina.

Fran has completed 420 hours in her clinical acupuncture internship at NUHS, as well as 200 hours in the Pain Clinic at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in downtown Chicago.

She has a passion for treating digestive issues and anxiety disorders and has accrued many continuing education hours in those fields. Fran’s practice also includes treatments for pain management, headaches and migraines, fertility issues, stress, men’s health, psycho-emotional disorders, addictions, and more.

Fran uses traditional acupuncture, cupping, acupressure and moxibustion. Along with East Asian Medicine therapies, she also incorporates a variety of Western techniques into her patient care. Fran believes in educating and empowering her patients to take charge of their own health and wellness beyond the treatment rooms.

In her free time, you can find Fran chasing after her sons, Miles and Max, spending time with her husband and their large and constantly growing family. She also loves trying new fitness classes around town, watching movies, and reading. Fran is excited to serve the Upstate community.

Fran Jolson is thrilled to be back home in Greenville. Fran attended Riverside High School and is... Read More

Dr. David Jolson is focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, quickly relieving pain and teaching his patients how to prevent future issues. Dr. Jolson is the chiropractor for the Greenville Triumph, Furman University Paladins, Hincapie Racing Team, PGA Tour pros like Bill Haas and Ben Martin, and consultant for the Greenville Drive. He was voted as the Best Chiropractor in the 2018 and 2019 Greenville News Best of the Upstate.

Dr. Jolson has a unique background, combining principles from the medical profession, chiropractic, physical therapy, and sports performance. He interned with his mentor and father, Dr. Scott Jolson, MD, prior sports medicine orthopedic surgeon for the Cincinnati Reds. This helped David understand the full spectrum of musculoskeletal care and led to his specialty in the hip, shoulder, and spine.

After graduation, Dr. Jolson has continued his education by obtaining a growing list of additional certifications, diagnostic tools, and therapy techniques. He has presented injury prevention and biomechanical seminars throughout the country and for local athletic clubs and businesses.

In his free time, Dr. Jolson enjoys spending time with his wife and son, Miles. He also enjoys volunteering at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic, reading, swimming, and playing golf. Dr. Jolson loves being a part of and serving the Greenville and Upstate community.

Dr. David Jolson is focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, quickly relieving pain ... Read More

Kimmi Warga is our lead StemWave™ Technician.

Patient Focus. Science Driven. StemWave™ is FDA listed medical device that utilizes harmless, yet powerful acoustic waves to activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. This non-invasive treatment option was designed to help patients dealing with musculoskeletal conditions related to pain and inflammation.

Common Treatment Areas: - Neck - Back - Shoulders - Elbow - Wrist - Hip - Knee - Ankle - Feet - Muscle - Tendons

Treatment Benefits: - Non-invasive & drug-free - Promotes natural healing - Decreases inflammation - Increases circulation - Alleviates/relieves aches and pain - 5-10 minute treatments - No recovery time - No negative side effects

Kimmi Warga is our lead StemWave™ Technician. Patient Focus. Science Driven. StemWave™ is FDA li... Read More