This is a story from The Tower – Volume 2, 2024
Three family members who are all Logan University alumni strive to make their patients feel as at home as they do at Essington Family Chiropractic in Beachwood, New Jersey. The personal chiropractic care that owner Carolyn Essington, DC (‘91), MS (‘17) provides alongside her son Nick Essington, DC (‘19) and daughter-in-law Kemmy Ritter, DC (‘19) have kept patients coming back for more than 30 years.
The Essingtons are more than chiropractors to their community. They have deep ties to their patients, treating some families for several generations.
“The patients are a part of my family,” Dr. Carolyn said. “I tell people all the time that chiropractic is not what I do; it’s who I am. I am a chiropractor.”
From a young age, Dr. Carolyn knew she wanted to be a doctor. While she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in chemistry, her sister worked for a chiropractor, which gave Dr. Carolyn the chance to observe a family practice. This visit inspired her to enroll in Logan’s Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) program.
“When I got to Logan, every day confirmed my desire to be a chiropractor,” Dr. Carolyn said. “Everything I learned and the people I met inspired me and reassured me that I made the right choice.”
After graduating, Dr. Carolyn returned to Beachwood with her husband Jay Essington, DC (’91), where they started Essington Family Chiropractic in 1991. But soon after opening, Dr. Jay passed away. Dr. Carolyn continued operating the practice while raising her two young sons, so she often brought them to the office. Long-time patients have watched both grow up and seen them follow in their parents’ footsteps.
“I saw people who would come in with excruciating pain and then walk out the front door feeling good,” Dr. Nick said. “I wanted to be able to bring that to people as well; I wanted to help people feel better like my mom did.”
Dr. Nick and his brother Matthew Essington, DC (’19) chose to pursue their DC degrees at Logan. Both are also married to women who completed Logan’s DC program: Dr. Kemmy and Tara Essington, DC (’19). All four were in the same graduating class.
Chiropractic brought Dr. Nick and Dr. Kemmy together. Originally from Brazil, Dr. Kemmy came to the United States to learn English. Her mentor encouraged her to pursue chiropractic, and Logan’s program appealed to her. Dr. Kemmy met Dr. Nick soon after arriving to campus. The pair joined Dr. Carolyn at Essington Family Chiropractic after they graduated. Today, the three Logan legacies use their strengths and rely on one another’s talents to provide the best service to patients.
“Sometimes with patients who are tougher to adjust, I’ll bring Dr. Nick in because I know he’s stronger than I am,” Dr. Carolyn said. “His thumbs are still young, so he can adjust them a little easier.”
Looking for more ways to improve her patients’ health, Dr. Carolyn pursued a second degree at Logan: a Master of Science in Nutrition & Human Performance (MSNHP). Now she uses her extensive knowledge of how different foods affect the body to treat a variety of health conditions.
Soon Dr. Kemmy will earn her International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) certification through the ICPA Pediatric Certification Program. With chiropractic pediatrics knowledge gained during her studies at Logan, Dr. Kemmy has already helped treat pregnant patients and their children at the practice.
“We try not to have egos when it comes to our patients,” Dr. Nick said. “We want what’s best for them. We all have our niche, but there are little things that we can do to help each other and our patients.”
Logan taught all three doctors the importance of collaboration by connecting them to the profession, chiropractic organizations and colleagues. They not only lean on one another for help but also reach out to other chiropractors with questions.
“You can’t ever feel like other chiropractors are your competition,” Dr. Carolyn said. “When I started in the profession, every chiropractor was so afraid that a new chiropractor was opening down the road. But the best thing that ever happened to my practice was bringing Nick and Kemmy in because they brought new, fresh ideas and techniques.”
Drs. Carolyn, Nick and Kemmy are proud of their longstanding relationships with their patients at Essington Family Chiropractic.
“I have many patients that have been coming to me for over 25 years, and that is a testament to what Logan did for me,” Dr. Carolyn said. “Logan made me a great listener, a great friend and a great provider to my patients.”
Patients often say they feel “home” when they enter. Dr. Nick and Dr. Kemmy now have a daughter who is growing up around the practice, and they are expecting another baby soon.
“Patients come in and see our daughter running around, but they love it,” Dr. Nick said. “Essington Family Chiropractic is not your traditional doctor’s office. We’re truly a family practice.”