Our Team

I thought that I would either be the quarterback for the Baltimore Colts or shortstop for the LA Dodgers. When I turned 10, I realized that I wasn’t a gifted athlete. What did I really want to be when I grew up? I wanted to be like my Dad – a Chiropractor. My Dad helped people every day and that’s what I wanted to do! I grew up with Chiropractic and whenever I didn’t feel well, my Dad would check and adjust me. I would immediately feel better. I never got sick like my friends. I always felt healthy and I didn’t even know what an aspirin was. Chiropractic was the “natural” choice–both meaning non-artificial and obvious choice.

There was one detour on my path to my chosen profession. While attending the University of Florida, I became interested in helping others through public service and government. I became a sociology/political science major, heading to law school. My goal was to help people by becoming Florida’s next Governor or U.S. Senator. In 1974, I became the traveling aide to a U.S. Senate candidate here in Florida. He was obviously the best candidate, but he lost. Money had bought the election and I became disillusioned. How could I help people if I didn’t get elected? Then I realized that, through Chiropractic, I could help people everyday and that the only vote I needed was the patients’ vote of confidence in electing me to help them.

When I arrived at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, I knew instantly I had made the perfect “natural” choice for me. I, and 120 of my classmates in 1978,, were all working together to become the best Doctors of Chiropractic that we could be. We all wanted to help people naturally become healthy through Chiropractic – the only health care that I had ever known.

In practice, I realized that Chiropractic doesn’t cure any disease. Only your own body can cure itself. Chiropractic helps remove the obstacles that prevent the body from healing itself. These obstacles can be structural, chemical or emotional. That’s why my practice incorporates Chiropractic adjustments (structural), nutrition and NAET (chemical) and NET (emotional).

I believe that symptoms are not the problem but are pieces to a puzzle and will lead to finding the underlying cause of the person not having optimum health. If I focus on listening to my patients’ story about their health, than I should be able to find the missing pieces. Some people’s puzzles are simple and have only a few pieces and some peoples puzzles are complicated and have many pieces that have to be put together. I kid patients sometimes that there are only two types of patients, ones that are easy to figure out and those that are here to make me smarter. Hopefully, for that patient, they are not here to make me smarter. I find deep satisfaction in helping people who modern medicine can’t help.

I married my childhood sweetheart, Sandi. We came to UF together and she is the one who went to law school. She is a professor in the College of Journalism and Communications and runs the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information. We have three children–Dean, Justin and Caroline. Dean, a chiropractor, practices in Gainesville with his wife, Kristin, who also is chiropractor, at Back at Balance. Justin also graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic and is now practicing at our clinic. Caroline is a licensed Mental Health and Family Counselor.

Health is of major concern of mine. I tend to get a Chiropractic check- up whenever I can get Dr. Chris, Dr. Mark or Dr. Justin to fit me into their busy schedule. I exercise on a regular basis. I run, bike and swim. I enjoy competing in local running races and in sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. I have a pretty good diet except for my obsession with key lime pie. I take Standard Process Nutrition daily and go on their 3-week cleanse once a year. I meditate, usually twice a day, in the morning and at lunch, to help focus my energy on the patients I am about to care for. My hobbies are golf and water sports especially boating, fishing and snorkeling. My family also enjoys watching the Gators. Especially when they win National Championships in football and basketball. (Check out my Gator waiting room!)

Enough about me. Can we help YOU attain optimum health? Give me a call so that we can help you take your first step toward better health. Although we love Gators, we have lots of Seminoles and Bulldogs as patients. We even have patients who don’t like sports, but love feeling great.

Don’t wait! Contact Chance Chiropractic Center today to get started with care.

Dr. Michael Chance with his family at the Gators championship game.
 

I always strive to seek the natural approach to health…

As the youngest of four boys and the son of a second-generation Chiropractor, I enjoyed an idyllic childhood free of any significant illnesses with nothing but the sunny outdoors and the ocean to enjoy every day. 

My father raised us with a natural approach to health, beginning every morning with fresh-squeezed orange juice and wheat germ. Medications were not part of his approach to illness, instead he relied on sound nutrition, adequate rest and making sure we were in proper alignment. Whenever we were feeling sick, we received any needed Chiropractic adjustments and were sent immediately to bed and almost always woke up feeling back to normal the next day. I’ve tried to raise my children the same way and advise my patients in the fundamentals of maintaining good health.

​​I was born in Miami, graduated from Coral Gables High School and attended Miami -Dade College and the University of Florida. But it wasn’t until I attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, that I truly got excited about learning. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1981 and began a career that has been a continuous journey of learning and professional growth as well as the most personally rewarding career I could ever imagine.

Initially, I took over my Dad’s practice in Coral Gables for two years, then in 1983 moved to Gainesville to join my brother Michael. Together our practice grew steadily over the years and we moved into our current, larger offices in 1990. My practice has evolved to offer my patients a more comprehensive approach and treat more conditions. In addition to Upper Cervical Specific, Thompson, and Diversified Chiropractic techniques, I have had extensive training in Applied Kinesiology, Extremity Adjusting, Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) and the Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) developed by Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad.

Shortly after I moved to Gainesville, I met my wife Mary who was in a master’s program at the University of Florida with Mike’s wife Sandi. (Thanks, Sandi for setting up that successful blind date in 1984!)  With one son from my first marriage, Mary and I have three adult children, and I am immensely proud that one of them – Dr. Hayden Chance – has chosen to become a chiropractor and join our practice.  After an extensive career in nonprofit leadership, Mary is now devoting more time to community service – including currently serving as a Gubernatorial appointee board member for the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. 

We enjoy an active life together and exercise is an important part of our daily life.  We enjoy time with family and are always planning our next travel adventure.  We’re currently on a quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks together and in addition to hiking we enjoy scuba diving and exploring new countries and cultures.  

Of course, staying active requires optimal health, so I am grateful to be surrounded by a family of highly skilled chiropractors to keep me in tune.  Seeking a natural approach to almost any health condition remains the logical first choice for me. In an age where so many “miracle cures” are offered by health practitioners of all disciplines, I do understand the healthy skepticism that many people approach Chiropractic with. But instead of thinking of Chiropractic as last resort when other doctors have been consulted and medications used, I hope that patients will consider coming to me as a first course of action.

The generations of families who have come to rely on my care as a “first line of defense” know that I will always act with integrity and their best interests at heart. They have learned that I am often able to help with a wide array of health conditions – from digestive disturbances and illnesses brought on by emotional distress – in addition to treating neck and back conditions, headaches and extremity misalignments. They know that if I am unable to help them get well, I will make sure they are referred to another appropriate and trusted healthcare provider. I have several medical doctors as patients myself and appreciate the areas of expertise they can offer the patients we often share. 

I prefer to think of Chiropractic care as “complementary” to Western Medicine and believe it is more conservative in nature than most people probably consider. After all, what’s more conservative than helping one’s own body perform optimally without drugs or surgery?

I take the health and overall well-being of each of my patients seriously and am proud of the comprehensive care we can offer. The trust of my patients is sacred to me, and I hope to have the opportunity to earn yours as we help you reach your full health potential.

Dr. Chris Chance with his family.
 

I was twelve years old when I experienced severe abdominal pain late one night. What could have turned into a long and stressful trip to the emergency room was avoided with a simple phone call to my uncle, a chiropractor. After a visceral adjustment, I was back asleep within twenty minutes. That experience left a lasting impression on me and planted the first seed of chiropractic as a lifelong calling.

Although the seed was planted early, it did not fully take root until nearly ten years later. During my third year of college, my plans of becoming a lawyer came to an abrupt end after an excruciating visit to a prominent law school. Shortly afterward, I made a somewhat frantic call to my uncle, who invited me to shadow him in his clinic for a few days. By the end of that experience, I knew I had found my purpose.

After graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic, and newly married to my wife Diana, we decided to return to Gainesville. After being away, I realized how special this community truly is. Its culture, commitment to health, and strong sense of connection made it the perfect place to build a practice and raise what would eventually become our family of two children.
As a chiropractic physician, my primary goal is to serve my patients. I believe it is essential to listen carefully and respond thoughtfully to each individual’s needs. I view the doctor patient relationship as a team effort, working together to identify and resolve the underlying cause of a condition rather than simply managing symptoms.

I recognize that I have been blessed with good health, and I believe chiropractic care has played a major role in that. The body is designed to heal, and with proper nutrition, movement, and spinal mobility, the likelihood of achieving and maintaining health increases dramatically. It is my responsibility to ensure you receive the best care for your specific situation. If you are tired of masking symptoms with medications and are looking to address the root cause through a more natural approach, chiropractic care may be the right choice for you. Call today to schedule your consultation.

Dr. Mark Chance with his family.
 

Chiropractic truly is in my blood.
My father, Dr. Mike, has always been my hero and, in the eyes of many patients, an exceptionally successful healer. He is part of the third generation of Chance chiropractors to graduate from Palmer College of Chiropractic. In recent years, my brother also graduated from Palmer and joined my cousin as part of the fourth generation of Chance chiropractors. Alongside them are my father and his two brothers, all Palmer alumni, who practice here in Florida. This family legacy is how I know that chiropractic care and Palmer College are not just part of my education, but part of who I am.

Having been a chiropractic patient my entire life, I developed a strong desire early on to be part of the chiropractic profession. Chiropractic care has had a profound influence on my life and is largely responsible for my excellent health and overall well-being. I have also witnessed countless patients experience meaningful improvements through chiropractic care. From a young age, I have shared my passion for chiropractic with friends and family, often encouraging others to experience its benefits for themselves.

Born and raised in Gainesville, I stayed close to home to attend the University of Florida. After graduating high school with highest honors, I enrolled in the College of Health and Human Performance. In August 2008, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology.

I went on to attend Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida, where I was honored with the Virgil Strang Philosophy Award at my graduation ceremony in March 2012. Throughout my training, I attended all of the Quintessential Applications Applied Kinesiology seminars and completed advanced training in Neuro-Emotional Technique for mind-body stress relief and Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique. In practice, I specialize in specific upper cervical care, Thompson technique, Activator technique, and the Chance Hypothalamic Reset Technique.

I am fortunate to share my life with my wife, Kristina, the love of my life. She is a compassionate, intelligent, and driven individual who supports me fully while continually challenging me to grow into the best version of myself. Kristina is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor and the founder of Play and Wellness Center of Gainesville, where she and her team have been caring for children and families for over 10 years. We have two beautiful children together. 

Practicing at Chance Chiropractic Center has been a lifelong dream of mine. It is both an honor and a privilege to serve our patients and continue the family tradition of providing natural, principled chiropractic care to our community.

Dr. Justin Chance with his family.
 

As a child, I suffered from chronic ear infections that led to sleepless nights for my parents. This was preceded by having tubes put in to drain my ears as an infant, which serves as a reminder of what can go wrong when we attempt to control the natural inflammatory process. My father, Dr. Chris, had a lot of success with pediatric patients suffering from ear infections and had developed a reputation for being able to help with specific upper cervical adjustments. When this approach failed to help me, he was not afraid to adapt and try a new technique he had recently learned -- NAET. By addressing my allergies to Vitamin C and other triggers that no doctor could have logically suspected, he was able to end my struggles with ear infections.
This demonstrated to me the value of taking a step back from our intuition and allowing the patient’s body to be our guide through muscle testing. Doctors are trained to recognize patterns and offer treatment accordingly, often overlooking what makes each patient an individual. The human body is extremely intelligent and we would be doing a disservice to our patients not to listen to its guidance. Whether this comes in the form of pain or weakness, it is our job to pay attention to these symptoms rather than silence them.

Throughout my undergraduate education, I thought that I wanted to be a medical doctor and spent a lot of my time preparing for the MCAT. I took this rigorous admissions test and started the application process, while interning with physical therapists and working as a fitness supervisor in a retirement community. I spent almost two years in these roles and saw many patients undergoing physical therapy and residents at the retirement community who were also being treated at Chance Chiropractic Center. Seeing this co-management of patients was a valuable experience for me and eventually led me back to chiropractic.

I am grateful that my father never pressured me into this profession and allowed me to make the decision for myself. My gratitude grows daily with the realization that I chose to be on the preventive rather than reactive side of healthcare. I am eager to help patients reach their full potential by teaching them how to listen to their bodies.

My philosophy is to address structure first with spinal and extremity adjusting, and then to look deeper if a patient does not fully improve. This involves addressing the other two parts of the triad of health: stress/emotion and biochemical/nutrition. NAET along with, HRT (Hypothalamic Reset Technique) and NET (Neuro-Emotional Technique) are the specific methods that I use to see the whole picture of each patient’s health and well-being. I am also participating in functional neurology seminars that will allow me to better examine and rehabilitate my patients. The brain communicates with the body through our spines, so we as chiropractors are in a great position to affect mental health and neurological function. This is why I plan on incorporating rehab exercises that bring balance to the brains of my patients, helping to prevent injuries and the development of neurological disorders.

Many chiropractors only focus on structure, falling into the classic Western medical model of specialization. By doing this, doctors often miss the big picture by failing to step back and see the patient as more than just a physical body. I believe this is what sets our clinic apart and why I am so excited to be a part of it!

I was born and raised in this area and have always felt a deep connection to serving the community I proudly call home.

From the age of 10, I struggled with seasonal allergies. By the time I was 37, I was taking three different allergy medications with little relief. At my mom’s encouragement, I decided to visit Chance Chiropractic. After my first adjustment with Dr. Justin, I experienced immediate relief. I was amazed by the results and quickly realized there was something truly powerful about chiropractic care, and I recognized God’s hand at work through it.

Not long after, I was injured in a car accident. After months of persistent back pain, I returned to Chance Chiropractic once again seeking healing. Through chiropractic care, I found the relief I had been praying for, relief that went far beyond physical pain. These experiences showed me that chiropractic does not just address symptoms. It supports the body’s God-given ability to heal and the power to transform lives.

Prior to pursuing chiropractic, I built a strong foundation in healthcare. I earned my Associate of Science degree in Cardiovascular Technology from Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, and spent 8 years working in the cardiovascular field. During that time, I performed heart echocardiograms for both adult and pediatric patients, conducted cardiac stress tests, assisted with other diagnostic cardiac procedures, and performed vascular testing for adult patients. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the complexity of the human body and a strong clinical background in patient care. I later earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Studies from the Medical University of South Carolina.

During this season of healing, I felt God place a calling on my heart to serve others through chiropractic care. Inspired by my own journey, I made the decision to change my college path and pursue a career in chiropractic. When I asked the doctors at Chance Chiropractic where they had trained and discovered they attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, I knew without hesitation that this was the path God was leading me to take. I enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic, completed my internship at Chance Chiropractic, graduated from Palmer, and am now blessed to be serving patients at Chance Chiropractic.

Today, it is my passion to help others experience healing, hope, and restoration—supporting the body as God designed it to heal and serving patients with compassion, purpose, and faith. In my care, I incorporate a variety of techniques tailored to each patient’s individual needs, including chiropractic methods such as upper cervical, Thompson table, diversified, and instrument-assisted adjusting, as well as the Chance Hypothalamic Reset Technique (CHRT), Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA), Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET), and Applied Kinesiology.