Meet the Chiropractor Team
Meet the Chiropractor Team
We love empowering you with knowledge to help you better understand how we can help serve you, your loved ones and others you know.
At Vital Family Chiropractic, we are a women-led team of holistic-minded people committed to helping you and your family achieve health through gentle and specific, neurologically centered chiropractic care. We have two family wellness chiropractors in our office - Dr. Whitley, our founder and Dr. John, her husband.
We have a hand-selected team of like-minded partners who we refer our patients to, who host support groups and meetups and also who host classes in our office. These professionals are all professionals we completely trust. They have all been vetted through our team either through our Vital family’s experience with them, or if our team is currently under their care. These professionals help us support women just like you through their journey in womanhood, preconception, pregnancy and throughout the motherhood transition to optimal health & healing.
Dr. Whitley Jagnanan, D.C.
Hey there, Dr. Whitley here! You're probably wondering who I am and how I got here. I was a really sick kid. Colic, allergies, asthma... you name it, I had it. This continued from infancy to a young adult. I was a total nerd, loved science experiments, and from about the age of 4 years old, I knew I wanted to help people.
In high school, I was a competitive cheerleader (don't hold that one against me) and injured my back during a practice. I went to a chiropractor for a few visits, but honestly I didn't notice any difference. I was flexible, young and overall pretty healthy. I wasn't sure what this was doing for me and I didn't see or feel any difference in my spine. I chalked it up to the fact that "chiropractic just isn't for me". Boy, was I wrong!
In college, I had awful migraine headaches. I mean AWFUL! I would have debilitating migraines 3-5 times a week. On top of that, I was taking experimental drugs to try to stop or lessen my migraines headaches. Nothing helped. Until one day, I met a chiropractor at an event I was working at. He assured me he could find the cause to my headaches and help me with my suffering. I explained to him my previous chiropractic experience and told him "chiropractic wasn't for me" (yes, you can laugh). Somehow, this doctor convinced me to come into his office. As soon as I stepped in the door, I knew he was different. The office smelled, looked and felt different than the previous chiropractor I had seen before.
This chiropractor examined my spine in a way that had never been done before, explained to me what was going on and started adjusting me. Within weeks I started coming off of my migraine drugs and was amazed at what a difference chiropractic was making in my health. At this point, the doctor asked me what I was going to college for. I explained to him that I was pre-med (because that's what all smart nerdy kids say they want to do in life - be a doctor). He asked me the question that changed the path of my life forever, "If you didn't like taking drugs, why do you want to prescribe them to other people?" At that moment, I knew I had to become a chiropractor. I knew I had to be different too.
I knew my office needed to give people that gut feeling that this was different. I knew that I needed to give people explanations, give people the cause and give people hope. This was the moment I decided how I would help people. And the rest may be history OR it may be the future of your journey to health.
Dr. John Caruso, D.C.
Squats. Bench press. Deadlifts.
If you’re picturing a sweaty, old-school gym with Rocky-vibes, then you get me.
This was my life for many years as I competed heavily (pun intended) in powerlifting and strength sports.
Then I was injured.
Multiple herniated discs.
Severe depression.
Prescription drug and substance abuse to deal with the pain.
I hope you’re not experiencing these things, but I know far too many of you have gone down this same path.
Traditional medicine was failing me.
I was given two terrible treatment options by the medical doctor who was on staff at the university I attended-- more prescription drugs or major back surgery were the only choices according to his expertise.
I left that appointment feeling frustrated, confused, and alone.
And I’m betting you feel that on some level too.
But even at only 17 years old, I knew in my gut there had to be more.
Thankfully my mom suggested I visit our hometown chiropractor.
I was skeptical at first, but also curious because this practitioner had helped family members deal with symptoms of allergies, asthma, and anxiety just to name a few things.
I left my initial chiropractic appointment feeling listened to and deeply cared for by my chiropractor.
I will never forget when he said “You are capable of healing. We just have to give [your body] the best opportunity to start that process.”
He was right!
Through his care and the adjustments, my body began to respond.
I started to heal in ways that I never thought were possible. I was not just becoming physically well, but mentally well.
That visit massively shifted and shaped the trajectory of my life.
I’ve since traded in “skull crushers” during my workouts to craniosacral care (bodywork on the joints of the cranium otherwise known as, you guessed it, the skull) on my patients.
I went from a busted back, feeling depressed, and in chronic pain to daily dealing hope and handing out healing through chiropractic care I give to my patients.
I strive to be the type of chiropractor who listens to you.
My wife (Dr. Whitley) and I care deeply about our patients.
And we know, like my former chiropractor wisely said, your body is capable of healing.
It’s our goal to provide you with the best opportunities to begin that healing process.
“We never know how far reaching something we may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”
-- B.J. Palmer, the developer of the chiropractic profession
Personal life:
Dr. John is a husband to Dr. Whitley and a dog dad. He has the unique and amazing opportunity to work side-by-side with his wife every day because she is a chiropractor too! Together they live out their purpose at their practice, Vital Family Chiropractic.
When they’re not caring for patients, you’ll likely see the Drs. Caruso at the dog park with their rescue pups, Cope and Jag. Or they’ll be sipping some coffee with some oat milk creamer. Dr. John’s favorite place to be is with those he loves, traveling, kayaking, and indulging with the occasional cheesecake.
Education:
Dr. John attended The University of North Texas. Then, “chiropractic found him” as he likes to say. He attended Parker University to obtain his Doctor of Chiropractic and his Masters in Functional Nutrition. He specializes in pediatric, men’s health, and wellness for the entire family. He is Webster certified, an active member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and a member of the Pediatric Experience.
