OUR STAFF

Dr. Samuel Spillman, DC

Sam@BCPTVA.com

Staff Chiropractor Charlottesville, Owner and Voted 2021 Best of C-VILLE Chiropractor

Dr. Samuel Spillman attained his chiropractic degree in 2008 from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. His undergraduate study was spent at Miami University of Ohio where he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Interdisciplinary Philosophy and International Studies in 2001.

Dr. Spillman’s introduction to chiropractic indirectly resulted from a serious back injury he obtained while practicing the martial arts he had studied from a young age. Prior to his chiropractic career, Dr. Spillman immersed himself in Japanese culture and martial arts, which not only influenced his undergraduate course of study but led him to Japan following college. During his time in Japan, he studied aikido, karate, judo, and other martial arts while also participating in and observing tournaments. It was at this time he sustained a back injury and chiropractic care kept him from surgery. This led to a change of career and a return to the United States to complete his pre-med requirements before enrolling in Western States Chiropractic College.

Dr. Spillman retains the principles of rigor and discipline from his background in martial arts, which in turn influence his appreciation of the complex machine that is the human body. His experience leads him to be especially interested in sports medicine and the treatment of acute injuries although his practice also emphasizes whole-body wellness and the prevention of injuries through appropriate exercise and healthy diet. An avid fitness proponent, Dr. Spillman competes regularly in obstacle course races like the Tough Mudder and Rugged Maniac and continues his training in the martial arts with Brazilian JiuJitsu.

An avid learner, Dr. Spillman takes frequent seminars and continuing education courses. Along with traditional chiropractic and physiotherapy techniques, Dr. Spillman specializes in soft tissue and muscular injury and therapy exercises. He is fully certified in both the Graston Technique and Active Release Techniques. Dr. Spillman has been certified by the Titleist Performance Institute as a level 3 medical provider, and SFMA. He moved to Charlottesville to begin practicing; he chose it, simply, because he thinks it’s a great place to live. Dr. Spillman enjoys treating sports injuries of all types along with TMJD and has a special interest in pain science and chronic pain.

Additional Certifications

• Graston Technique
• Active Release Technique 
• Titleist Performance Institute Medical level 1,2, and 3
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment 1 and 2

Dr. Bryan Esherick PT, DPT, CSCS

Bryan@BCPTVA.com

Staff Physical Therapist Charlottesville and Runner-up for 2021 Best of C-VILLE Physical Therapist

Bryan, originally from Pittsburgh, PA, completed his undergraduate degree at IUP in Pennsylvania and earned a B.S. in biology and minor in nutrition in 2013. Soon after graduating he attended Lynchburg College where he earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016. When he is not in the clinic he enjoys mountain biking, playing hockey, walking his dog, and rooting for all Pittsburgh sports teams.

Bryan’s clinical philosophy is to put the patient in control of their own recovery and incorporating concepts from the biopsychosocial model of treatment. By placing the patient in control of recovery, it prevents them from becoming over-reliant on the therapist leading to quicker results. You can expect the initial sessions to incorporate appropriate manual therapy (joint mobilization, manipulations, and soft tissue release) to correct impairments found at the evaluation and to reduce pain. As you progress you can expect active goals specific exercises to become the cornerstone to your recovery. By progressing away from manual therapy and towards more active treatment, the patient assumes a greater responsibility for their rehabilitation and thus will likely achieve a better outcome.

Additional Certifications

• Certified Strength and Conditions Specialist
• Blood Flow Restriction Certified
• Titleist Performance Institute Medical Level 1 and 2 
• Selective Functional Movement Assessment 1
• LSVT BIG

Dr. Sarahfina Marieanna Wipf, DC

Sarahfina@BCPTVA.com

Dr. Sarahfina Wipf is a compassionate integrative health care provider who values patient-centered, evidence-based care that emphasizes whole-body health. She has a passion for treating performers and has experience working with a variety of patients, from veterans at the VA hospitals of Western New York, to pregnancy care and perinatal rehab following pregnancy.



She values her patients and looks forward to creating personalized treatment plans with each one. Dr. Wipf is originally from Palmyra, NY, and completed her undergraduate degrees at the State University of New York at Potsdam. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Biology with a Chemistry Minor, and a BA in Dance. Dr. Wipf went on to attend the Northeast College of Health Sciences where she earned her Doctor of Chiropractic. While in school, Dr. Wipf was very involved in leadership, diversity inclusion, and patient advocacy. She encourages all of her patients to take control of their own health, and enjoys talking through strategies and fighting for her patients through improvements in healthcare policy.

Dr. Wipf was introduced to chiropractic at a young age and continued receiving care throughout college for repetitive stress injuries from dancing. She knew she wanted to be a chiropractor after noticing that while chiropractors were ever-present on the sidelines of her soccer tournaments, they were never at her dance or orchestra performances. This motivated her to become a chiropractor and not only help others, but to fill this niche and work with performers

both on and off the stage. Dr. Wipf believes that every patient should be treated with the exceptional care we give elite athletes. Every patient is a performer in their own way, whether the performance is making it through the workday without pain or competing on a national stage.

As a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Dr. Wipf believes you can always add more tools to your toolbox, and loves researching and attending seminars. She holds advanced certifications in Sports Science and Human Performance, Whole Foods Nutrition, Lower Extremity Movement Analysis/Stabilizing Orthotics and is professionally trained in an intensive trigger point therapy called NimmoCare.

In her free time, Dr. Wipf enjoys hiking, sports, gaming, camping, and reading. You are most likely to find her spending time in the kitchen making up new recipes and cooking old favorites.

Megan Onesko, PTA, Fall Prevention Specialist 

Megan@BCPTVA.com

Instagram: @therunningpta

Megan is from Fredericksburg and recently graduated from Germanna Community College as a PTA in May 2021. Megan got her bachelors from Radford University in 2018 where she studied exercise, sport, and health education. Megan has a passion for learning about health and wellness in the physical, mental, and lifestyle aspects. She believes all of those aspects play a very important role during a patients recovery. In her time off, Megan enjoys spending time outside, running, hiking, paddle boarding, and doing yoga.

Megan was a gymnast for 12 years, cheerleader for 8, and ran hurdles in track for 4 and continues to be a lifelong athlete! While I was fortunate enough to not have any severe injuries, while watching from the sidelines during my sister’s PT appointments, she could see the immense impact the PTs and PTAs were making on her recovery and life, in and out of the clinic. The environment was so positive and encouraging, and that is when Megan decided that this was the field she wanted to go into. It is so much more than just helping people to heal a body part, it’s helping people to get back to living their lives again.

Additional Certifications

• LSVT BIG

Joshua Levine, Licensed Massage Therapist

Trained in Washington, DC, at the Potomac Massage Training Institute, Joshua has been practicing massage paired with a commitment to health and wellness to all the people he serves since 2000. He has been in the Charlottesville area since 2011 and loves the craft of massage therapy as much as the connections that are built with the individuals who bring their challenges, and willingness to take steps to build a happier, healthier life. In addition to his foundational training in Swedish and deep tissue massage, he has studied sports massage, prenatal massage, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, vagus nerve work, Hawaiian lomi-lomi massage, and most recently he spent 6 years working in a knee pain clinic. He lives in Crozet in an intentional Cohousing community where he enjoys connecting with his neighbors and caring for the land they all call home. 

Allison Hawthorne

Allison@balancechiropracticva.com

Allison is an experienced clinic manager who joined our team in early 2023. She attended the University of Minnesota and earned degrees in communications and organizational development. Spending her childhood in Alabama and her young adult years in Minnesota, she moved to Virginia in 2018 in the hopes of finding a place with all four seasons. Upon her arrival to Virginia she got a dog she adores and seasonal allergies she does not. Taking a detour from prior clinic management to obtain a master's degree in education, Allison has spent the last 9 years teaching elementary and middle school students. Needing a break from the education system, but still wanting to help others, she decided that returning to patient care was a smart decision.The patience and compassion it takes to be an effective educator are qualities Allison brings to our clinic along with her knowledge of clinical and billing operations. She values her role and strives for every patient to feel welcomed and prioritized within the practice. Everyone deserves pain relief and wellness care, and Allison is proud to play a part in providing that for the community.