About Maryland Animal Chiropractic

Appointments: Tuesdays & Thursdays and every other Saturday

Location: 3209 Corporate Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Dr. Jean Thompson founded Maryland Animal Chiropractic, LLC (MAC) in 2009 due to the demand for serving animal patients suffering from neck and back pain, arthritis, weakness and other ailments. Her passion for all animals and a desire to help them live a healthy, pain-free

life made this an obvious next step in her chiropractic career.

Dr. Thompson is a Doctor of Chiropractic, earning her degree from Logan College of Chiropractic in Missouri in 1998. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania. She works mostly with equine, canine and feline species but has also worked with cattle and farm animals as well. Dr. Thompson is an international instructor for the elite animal chiropractic school, Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic, where she was awarded certification by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). Dr. Thompson is certified as a Canine Fitness Trainer (CCFT) through The University of Tennessee.

Appointments: Thursdays 

Location: 3209 Corporate Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042, United States

Joan Strawson is a licensed acupuncturist who is certified by the State of Maryland Board of Acupuncture to perform acupuncture on animals. She graduated from the Maryland University of Integrative Health with a Master’s degree in Acupuncture in 2016. As a life-long animal lover and pet parent, her ultimate goal is to work with people and their pets to provide healing through acupuncture. She knows from personal experience that acupuncture and Asian medicine, when combined with veterinary medicine, can make a significant difference in the well-being of animals. Maryland is one of the only states in the country which allows licensed acupuncturists to become certified to treat animals after taking additional training. So, when starting acupuncture school, Joan’s intention was to take the Animal Acupuncture training offered by MUIH as soon as she received her license. But the school cancelled the animal acupuncture program just a few months before that happened. So, for six years she worked to grow her acupuncture practice in people while searching for a training program that met the State’s requirements. And in 2022, Joan completed the animal acupuncture training at the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture and received her Board Certification in animal acupuncture. She now provides acupuncture for dogs, horses, and cats.

Appointments: Tuesdays & Thursdays 

Location: 3209 Corporate Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Abigail graduated from Towson University in 2012 after earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Occupational Therapy.  After graduating, she focused on developing strong foundations treating human patients across the age spectrum with neurological, orthopedic, and developmental conditions with a specialization in pediatric occupational therapy.

An avid animal lover, Abigail began to expand her therapeutic regimen for healing human patients to include animal patients.  In 2017, she joined Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists while she earned her Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner credentials from the University of Tennessee.  A lifelong leaner, she continued to learn best practices to assist her canine patients and their families to improve quality of life across the canine-lifespan by earning additional credentials through the University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University to become a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer and Certified Small Animal Myofascial Practitioner.

Appointments: Saturdays

Location: 3209 Corporate Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Nikki's lifelong passion for animals, especially those with four legs, has driven her to explore nearly every aspect of the canine world. A proud graduate of the University of Maryland's Animal and Equine Science program, she first built her career in veterinary medicine, working as a client service coordinator and later as a veterinary technician in both general and oncology practices. This experience solidified her deep commitment to animal care and welfare.

Her journey with animals, however, extends beyond her professional roles. While in school, Nikki began fostering dogs for local rescue organizations—a passion she continues to this day, with her home often hosting foster animals in need. 

Her desire to help animals reach their full potential led Nikki to the exciting world of professional dog training and competitive dog sports. With her own dogs, she has earned titles in multiple disciplines, including UPDOG Frisbee, UKI Agility, AKC Obedience, Rally Obedience, and Weight Pull. 

In 2023, Nikki expanded her skill set by graduating from the Lang Institute of Canine Massage.
With a particular focus on sport and senior dogs, she is passionate about using massage to help pets live comfortably into their golden years. Nikki also maintains a professional membership with the International Association of Canine Professionals.

Drawing from her diverse experiences as a veterinary technician, trainer, and rescuer, Nikki is dedicated to improving the fitness, health, and well-being of every dog she works with, ensuring they lead the healthiest, happiest lives possible alongside their human companions.

Joelyne is a natural born animal lover. She knew early on in life that she wanted a career working with animals. Joelyne graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. She has a Graduate Certificate from Humane Society University in Animal Studies. For seven years, Joelyne worked as the Membership and Donor Relations Manager at The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal welfare organization dedicated to enforcing laws to protect animals from cruelty and neglect.

During her time at HSUS, she was able to aid in animal rescue missions and helped seize several animals from inhumane conditions. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations for Maryland Animal Chiropractic, Joelyne runs and operates a pet care business that she started with her husband in 2006. She volunteers her spare time with Laurel Cats, Inc., a local organization working to reduce the overpopulation of feral cats through Trap Neuter Return efforts. She shares her home with her husband, their son and daughter, a dog, a cat, and a Western Painted Turtle.

Dr. Stephanie began her journey as a veterinarian in 1997 in a conventional small animal practice outside of Atlanta, GA. Over the past 27 years she has worked in several multi-doctor general practices as well as emergency hospitals and clinics, including 5 years as a full-time emergency veterinarian in a busy referral hospital. In 2007, her career pivoted when her beloved pit bull, Gus, was diagnosed with cancer. After an introductory course in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dr. Stephanie shifted her focus to a holistic approach and has been passionate about finding root causes of disease and healing the body using more gentle and natural modalities when possible. She now has a deeper understanding of the body as a whole (rather than as a fractured assembly of systems and parts) and seeks to find and address root causes of disease and imbalance rather than simply abating symptoms of disease. She is passionate about using food as medicine to treat metabolic syndrome, repair the gut and reverse oxidative injury at a cellular level. 

Dr. Stephanie’s integrative approach uses a combination of diagnostic tools such as an in-depth history, vitamin levels, gut biome analysis and bioresonance testing. She also utilizes therapeutic modalities including acupuncture, PEMF, laser, Chinese herbs, microbiome replacement therapy, ozone therapy and whole food nutrition. 

Dr. Stephanie is available for both in-person and phone consultations.