Our Team
Dr. Eric R. Carlsen
Dr. Eric R. Carlsen is a summa cum laude graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic where he was a Presidential Scholar. At Palmer College, he was appointed to the prestigious Vogt Leadership Society and the International Chiropractic Honor Society. Dr. Carlsen received numerous scholarships and awards while at Palmer College. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
In 1996, Dr. Carlsen moved to the Richmond area to complete his internship. After receiving his doctor of chiropractic degree in 1997, he practiced in an interdisciplinary office in Henrico County for five years. He then accepted a position at a multi-doctor practice in Northern Virginia in 2001. In 2003, Dr. Carlsen moved back to Central Virginia to start Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond in Manakin-Sabot to offer chiropractic and wellness services to the Greater Richmond Community. In addition to chiropractic practice, Dr. Carlsen has served as an Extension Faculty Member for Palmer College of Chiropractic, has taught Anatomy & Physiology to allied healthcare students in Richmond, and has been a Certified Instructor of Back Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for the American Red Cross. Dr. Carlsen is a member of the Foundation for Wellness Professionals where he delivers educational workshops and lectures, at no charge, on health-related topics throughout the Greater Richmond community.
An accomplished and compassionate doctor, Dr. Carlsen is devoted to helping patients attain optimum health through the many benefits of comprehensive chiropractic care. He has a special interest in chiropractic family practice. Dr. Carlsen enjoys caring for all members of the family, from infants and adolescents to adults and our senior population. He continues his education by attending post-graduate seminars and conferences addressing a wide variety of topics involving the practice of chiropractic, health, wellness, and nutrition.
Dr. Carlsen is licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and is a member of the American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia Chiropractic Association, the Richmond Chiropractic Society, and the Palmer College of Chiropractic International Alumni Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Chiropractic Association, representing the Central Virginia District, where he was named District Director of the Year in 2006. Dr. Carlsen serves on the School Health Advisory Board for Goochland County Public Schools, is a graduate of the Greater Richmond American Red Cross Leadership Development Council and the Goochland Leadership Enterprise, and is a current member of the Goochland Rotary Club.
Dr. Samuel C. Brinkley
Dr. Samuel C. Brinkley graduated from New York Chiropractic College with honors in the fall of 2007. While at New York Chiropractic College, he was the recipient of several academic and service scholarships. Dr. Samuel Brinkley received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate from Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Brinkley first became interested in the field of Chiropractic Care while studying Pre-Med at Pennsylvania State University. While attempting to determine which field of healthcare to pursue, he was encouraged by a friend to explore the possibilities of Chiropractic Care. After shadowing several Chiropractic Physicians, Medical Doctors, and Physical Therapists over a period of months, he was convinced that a career in Chiropractic Care was the correct path for him. As a Chiropractor, Dr. Brinkley works to restore your body to its proper functional abilities. With proper function, nutritional support, and physical activity the human body has an incredible ability to heal itself. Dr. Brinkley’s philosophy of health focuses on the body as a whole. His goals as a Chiropractic Physician are to help patients reach a higher level of health and to actualize their potential. He firmly believes optimal health and wellness are possible for all individuals and can be obtained through conservative, all-natural health care.
Dr. Brinkley is licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the Virginia Chiropractic Association. He is an active volunteer with the American Red Cross and the West End Jaycees. Dr. Brinkley has also achieved certification in Graston Soft Tissue Technique, an innovative form of instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy.
Dr. Brinkley is originally from northwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Richmond in January of 2008. He is very excited to be in a much warmer climate after having spent the majority of his life living in the “snow belt” of western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. In his leisure time, Dr. Brinkley enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife, Andrea, as they explore their new community. He likes participating in recreational sports such as soccer, golf, basketball, and tennis and loves spending time outdoors hiking and camping. He and his wife also enjoy traveling and going to live music concerts.
Melanie Munster, Office Manager
Melanie joins our office team with over 20 years of sales management and marketing experience. A Gloucester, Virginia native, she graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, VA with a Bachelors of Arts degree.
My introduction to chiropractic care may be somewhat unusual; I first came here to FCCR in 2007 as a referral from a physical therapist to treat an acute and debilitating back injury. With the help of Dr. Carlsen and his caring staff, I recovered completely by following the plan of care laid out for me. It was quite an eye opening experience and a big education for me. It was not a quick healing process, but as Dr. Carlsen pointed out, the damage and injuries to my back did not happen over night. They had been building up over the past 25 years and finally, my back and body said enough is enough. Dr. Carlsen educated me and encouraged me to be patient with the process. He further helped me to recognize the signs that my body was giving, and taught me to stop and listen to my body when things just aren’t quite right. As a result, I’ve been a firm believer in chiropractic care and now am much better at being proactive rather than reactive with my back health.
I love interacting with our wonderful patients on a daily basis because I understand exactly what they are going through when they walk through our doors. I was in their place just a few short years ago.
Melanie loves spending time with her family and her twin daughters. Her interests include: Genealogy, Civil War History, Interior Design, Photography and Scrapbooking. She is a member of the JEB Stuart Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).
In our community, Melanie serves on Henrico County’s Special Education Advisory Counsel (SEAC) from 2009-2011, advocating for the special needs of children with disabilities within the county school system. She is also a liaison to the Virginia Office of the Protection of Advocacy (VOPA) a joint Federal/State agency that advocates the rights and accessibility for Virginians with special needs. In addition, she is a mentor for parents with children with disabilities, and helps navigate them through the various complicated county and state services available to them.
Brittany Baker, Chiropractic Assistant
Brittany recently moved to Richmond from Newport News and began working with us in January 2011. She has been working in the medical field for approximately 3 years now and enjoys every minute of it. Brittany earned First Team All District Player in soccer and attended Chowan University on a soccer scholarship. Now, she is interested in attending Firefighting School and obtaining her EMT certification. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, interior decorating, and baking cakes. Brittany has been a wonderful addition to our family and team. She enjoys being a part of our office and her favorite part is getting to interact with our patients.
Susan Halquist, Insurance & Billing
Susan has been with Family Chiropractic Center of Richmond since August of 2004. She has over 21 years of medical billing experience and currently works in our Accounts Receivable and Insurance Billing Department. Prior to coming to our office she worked part time for Family Practice Specialists of Richmond located on the south side.
Susan moved to Richmond several years ago from Fredericksburg to be closer to her children and their families. While living in Fredericksburg she worked at Mary Washington Hospital in the Patient Accounts and Billing Department.
She loves spending time with her six grandchildren and being able to attend their school activities and sporting events whenever possible. She is actively involved with the J R Tucker High School Bands and has served on the Board for the Band Boosters for the last three years. She also enjoys being involved in church service projects and activities in the community.
Being a part of our chiropractic team she states, “Having the opportunity to interact with patients and getting to them and their families is very rewarding as well as being able to witness first hand as their health and mobility improve with chiropractic care.”
Heather Koehler, Certified Massage Therapist/CMT
Heather has worked in a therapeutic and chiropractic setting since 2000. She has enjoyed all aspects of patient interaction working as a Chiropractic Assistant. Now, as a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist as of 2004 and a Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association, she practices relaxation, rehabilitation, sports and therapeutic massage. Her massages focus on positively affecting muscles and circulation while allowing clients to regain joint mobility following injury. She has helped clients rehabilitate through falls, dislocations, broken bones, and automobile accidents working along with Doctors, Physical Therapists and Pain Management Specialists. She enjoys working in a positive therapeutic setting.
Katie Wertman, Chiropractic Assistant
Katie joined our team in May 2007. She has loved being a part of our office. Meeting all of our wonderful patients and helping them achieve better health has truly touched her life. After moving to Richmond nearly seven years ago, she quickly met the love of her life and was married at Deep Run Park in May 2009. In January 2011, her and her husband welcomed their new son, Oliver, to their family. Loving being a mother, Katie has decided to continue working with us part-time. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing Frisbee golf, making pottery, and going to concerts with her husband.
