About Us: The Staff of TNHC

Dr. Jeremy Thornton, DC, DABCI, DCBCN is board certified by the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and the Chiropractic Board of Clinical Nutrition, and is a member of the American Chiropractic Association, the Missouri State Chiropractic Association, and the Council on Diagnosis and Internal Disorders. Dr. Thornton is active in the Missouri State Chiropractor Association and is the past District 5 President for the Missouri Chiropractic Association. There are seven districts in Missouri, with District 5 being the 3rd largest. Dr. Thornton is currently teaching Postgraduate license renewal diagnostic seminars throughout U.S.

Dr. Thornton has always been interested in health. Not particularly attracted to pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine, he initially looked into the fields of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine. After a severe car accident early in his college career, he was introduced to Dr. Myron Harbottle and the healing art of Chiropractic. As he recovered, he fell in love with this hands-on form of health care and soon steered his educational path toward becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic.

During Chiropractic College he developed an interest in the ancient Chinese healing art of Acupuncture, or, more accurately, Meridian Therapy, in which he would eventually become certified. He also earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City.

After graduating from Cleveland, Dr. Thornton opened his practice in Stockton, naming it Thornton Family Chiropractic. Early in his professional career he became interested in how nutrition affected health, and in turn, how many disease processes could be improved or reversed with proper nutrition, life-style modifications, and natural therapies.

Furthering his education, he then attended a postgraduate degree program offered by the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and earned the diplomate degree “Board Certified Chiropractic Internist.” This degree is conferred on a physician who completes a rigorous, 300+ hour education and credentialing program in standard medical diagnoses, internal disorders, natural treatment, and conservative disease management. Less than 300 Doctors of Chiropractic throughout the World are thus honored. (See our video What is a Chiropractic Internist? to learn more.) Dr. Thornton is also a Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist (Diplomate of the Chiropractic Board of Clinical Nutrition–DCBCN).

Dr. Thornton was born in Clinton, Missouri, and raised mostly in Stockton, Missouri, where he currently practices. He is involved in music ministry at his church, and his hobbies include hunting, fishing, gung fu, basketball, and reading. He currently lives in the picturesque lake town of Stockton with his lovely wife Carla and their beautiful daughter Jayla and son Carter. [top]

Dr. Adam Smith is originally from Kansas City, KS, and earned a Biology degree from Kansas University in 2002. He then worked in Florida as a FEMA inspector after the 2004 hurricane season. In 2005 he continued his education at Cleveland Chiropractic College located in Overland Park. Dr. Smith completed an internship with his father, Dr. James Smith, who operates a family practice in Kansas City, KS. His younger brother, Dr. Ryan Smith, currently practices in a newly opened office in Lansing, KS.

Dr. Smith’s hobbies include bass fishing, running, swimming, weightlifting and jiu-jitsu. He is an avid tournament angler, fishing many events on Stockton, Table Rock, and Lake of the Ozarks. Vacationing at Stockton lake with his family during the summers was one of the favorite past times of his youth. The wide variety of outdoor recreation and wonderful community atmosphere has drawn him back to the Stockton area.

Along with the treatment of back pain and disc injuries he has special interests in sports rehabilitation, injury prevention, and spinal biomechanics. His approach to chiropractic will incorporate these interests to maximize benefits. Dr. Smith is looking forward to providing the Stockton community with excellent health and wellness care. [top]

Robin Thornton Wojcik was born in Decatur, Alabama, moving to Missouri in 1964, where she enjoyed being a homemaker and raising her son. You couldn’t guess it by looking at her, but she is Dr. Thornton’s mother. (Really!)

She took post-graduate classes at Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City, receiving the degree of Certified Chiropractic Assistant. She learned basic anatomy/physiology, medical terminology, chiropractic philosophy and various office management and patient management skills. She joined the staff when Dr. Thornton first opened Thornton Family Chiropractic Clinic in 1998. Chiropractic was a natural transition, as her parents both worked as physical therapists during her youth. She especially enjoys the one-on-one contact with patients and the realization that she is making a true difference in their lives!

Robin is our therapy assistant, lab technician, and radiology assistant. She has an infectious laugh, and is great at making you feel right at home.

She and her husband Ed enjoy spending time together on their farm where she enjoys being a surrogate mother to newborn baby animals needing lots of TLC. She especially loves pampering her first and only granddaughter, Jayla (with hope of more to come!).

She also enjoys horseback riding, fishing, gardening, and singing and is very active in church activities. [top]

Carla Thornton was born in Springfield, Missouri, and is a native of nearby Bolivar. She has worked in the healthcare field since she was 16; her first job was a Nurses Assistant in a nursing home. She then received certification as a Certified Nurses Assistant while a Senior in High School and was employed for two years as a dental assistant after that. Later she worked for Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri, where she was employed in the medical/surgical unit and outpatient clinic, working with many different doctors and specialists.

After marrying Doctor Thornton, she became more interested in natural healthcare and attended the School of Massage Arts (SOMA) in Springfield, receiving her diploma in therapeutic massage. She then took the national board exam obtaining her certification as a Licensed Massage Therapist.

She currently works part time as a Massage Therapist at TNHC, specializing in Swedish Massage. Her greatest joy is being a full-time Mom to her daughter Jayla and son Carter.

Carla enjoys scrap booking, decorating, and cooking (especially deserts); she also enjoys fishing and being outdoors. She is involved in music ministry and drama at her church. [top]

Dana Dawes is our office manager and insurance specialist, and she keeps everything running smoothly. Born and raised in Kansas City, she has worked in the insurance industry for approximately 18 years. In 1996, she moved back to Missouri and earned her State of Missouri Insurance Producers license the following year.

She has two busy teenage children and is very involved in all of their activities. Her daughter Holly is a cheerleader and an award-winning ballroom dancer currently preparing for college, and her son Cory is involved in football and basketball.

Dana also enjoys working outside, going to the lake, scrapbooking and crafts, and she loves working at TNHC. [top]

Molly McGowin works as our Front Office Assistant and Clinical Receptionist. She met and married Stockton local Rob McGowin last year after moving from her home town of Kansas City, KS, where she was working as a bank teller and going to college full time. She is currently about half way finished with her degree, majoring in secondary education with a minor in psychology.

Molly and Rob just bought their first property and enjoy spending time together turning their house into a home. Both being big-time animal lovers, they also enjoy hanging out with their new cocker-spaniel puppy “Brooks.”

Molly likes to sing, cook, swim, jog, take pictures, and decorate. Her mother works as sign-language interpreter, and thus Molly is also in American Sign Language. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with family, and her main goal in life is to become a mother/homemaker. [top]

CEO of TNHC Jayla Thornton

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