Perfectly Aligned – Seaside Chiropractic

The starting blocks are cold against her bare feet, the pool stretching ahead in chlorinated silence. The buzzer sounds, sending bodies slicing through the water in synchronized chaos— arms rotating, lungs burning, muscles screaming. But when the wall arrives and the times are posted, the real aches begin. Her entire body feels misaligned, and she has to get it back in shape before her next race.

For Dr. Leslie Merritt, growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado, this was the reality of competitive swimming. The sport that shaped her youth also introduced her to chiropractic care, not as a luxury but as a necessity for someone serious about performance. Those early treatments showed her that chiropractic care offers more than just pain relief—it relieves nervous system stress and helps the body function at its optimum level.  This knowledge led Leslie to earn her Doctorate in Chiropractic at Northwestern Health Sciences University.

While Dr. Leslie’s path to chiropractic began in the pool, Dr. Malea Joel’s introduction to chiropractic care came through a different kind of misalignment. Born in Hawaii and raised in Florida, she experienced jarring car accidents that led her to seek chiropractic care, where she found long-term and much-needed relief. The healing process opened her eyes to how the body could recover when properly supported, sparking a curiosity that would shape her career path.

After high school, she worked as a massage therapist in a chiropractic office, witnessing firsthand how both approaches complemented each other. She was particularly impressed with how this integrated approach removed stress on pregnant women’s and babies’ spines to encourage healthy growth and delivery. Driven to deepen her understanding, she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Hawaii-Hilo before completing her chiropractic education at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. 

“I’ve also trained in techniques like acupuncture and SOT,” Dr. Malea explains, “with my focus always on gentle, compassionate care.”

Both doctors eventually found their way to the Florida Keys, helping local chiropractor Dr. Lu Elaine Johnson during the busy season. For Dr. Leslie, coming from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the endless turquoise waters and laid-back island pace offered new opportunities for her outdoor lifestyle. Dr. Malea, with her Hawaiian roots, felt an immediate familiarity with the tropical atmosphere and tight-knit island community. Their connection with the Keys and each other was immediate, and what began as temporary seasonal work quickly became a permanent home and lifelong friendship.

“We connected instantly over our outdoorsy lifestyles and shared approach to wellness,” Dr. Leslie recalls, and it’s easy to see why. Both doctors find their joy in and out of the water—boating, fishing, scuba diving, running—and in spending quality time with family and friends. The Keys’ year-round sunshine and endless outdoor opportunities make this active lifestyle not just possible, but irresistible. And to them, enjoying an active lifestyle and taking care of your body go hand-in-hand. You can’t fully enjoy one without the other, and who wouldn’t want to in the Keys?

Their personal and professional goals were perfectly aligned from the start. So, in 2015, when Dr. Lu decided to step back from managing the practice, the natural transition was for Dr. Leslie and Dr. Malea to branch out together. Their excellent reputation had already created a waiting list, so expanding allowed them to serve even more patients across multiple generations.

Thus, Seaside Chiropractic was born and, over the past decade, has grown from a small practice into an essential part of local healthcare, growing alongside the families and the community it serves.

Today, Seaside Chiropractic has evolved into a comprehensive wellness center that goes far beyond traditional adjustments using Sacro-occipital, Thompson, and Active Release Techniques. The practice now offers acupuncture, massage therapy, nutrition programs, laser therapy, and innovative treatments like shock wave therapy to increase circulation and accelerate healing. 

In addition to their innovative techniques, their diverse team offers specialized care for each patient’s needs. Dr. Jesse Seuss brings sports rehabilitation expertise to help athletes recover and perform their best, while Florida Keys native Dr. Lauren McCormick focuses on prenatal and pediatric care. Interestingly, Dr. Lauren was one of Seaside Chiropractic’s first student athlete patients and is now serving her community on the same team that helped her. 

In another full-circle moment, Dr. Lu has rejoined their team, bringing the mentorship relationship back together. Licensed Massage Therapist Fabiola Yasky provides complementary therapeutic bodywork, and Michael Floren offers traditional Chinese medicine and herbal therapies. 

“We’ve built something really special here thanks to our practitioners and our front desk team,” Dr. Leslie says.

With their dedicated office staff and expanded team of providers, Seaside Chiropractic offers both exceptional patient care and cutting-edge treatments without requiring islanders to travel to the mainland. Their commitment to their patients also extends to the community—they regularly sponsor local teams and partner with local organizations.

This year marks Seaside Chiropractic’s 10-year anniversary, a milestone that finds both Dr. Leslie and Dr. Malea celebrating the perfect alignment of their passion and purpose in paradise. Over the past decade, they’ve had the privilege of caring for multiple generations within the same families—supporting mothers through pregnancy, adjusting newborns, helping children through their growing years, and maintaining the health of grandparents. All the while, they’ve been enjoying their island home and community to the fullest. It doesn’t align more perfectly than that!

To learn more, visit flkeyschiro.com or call (305) 451-3337. 

MM34275, MA42876, AP4011, CH9847, CH10851, CH8222, CH15469, CH13347