meet the team
Chiropractor
Daniel Johns D.C., F.I.A.M.A, CERT D.N.
Dr. Johns started his career in sports medicine and had the opportunity to treat many professional athletes through the beginning of his career. Upon opening Elevate Life he took on a broader treatment role to focus on not only athletes but infants and pregnant mothers.
Dr. Johns career trajectory took a sharp turn when in June of 2022 he developed a rapid onset muscle disease that hospitalized him for 6 days and took him out of practice for 9+ months. During that time he sought out the best of the best trying to get answers for what was happening to him. No one was able to identify what started the disease or give a definitive diagnosis beyond an autoimmune disease attacking the muscle. He had rapid severe muscle wasting and was unable to open packages or water bottles. He had to rely on a wheelchair for any walking beyond 100 yards and was told he would be fully wheelchair-bound within 5 years. Due to his weakened immune system, he also developed severe mold toxicity in conjunction with the autoimmune disorder. Dr. Johns was finally able to find some doctors who were able to offer some “out of the box” treatments that started making a difference with his fatigue, brain fog, and some small changes in his muscle strength. This started him on a quest to figure out a cure for autoimmunity. Then one day he tried Intravenous Blood Irradiation and his life changed! Two days after his first session he was at his son's birthday party and had energy enough to not only bounce on trampolines with his son but throw him and other kids into a ball pit for several minutes. This was when things really turned a corner for both his health and his understanding of immunity. Dr. Johns has used his experience to develop protocols that changed his autoimmunity, his brain fog, fatigue, and joint pains. With a new lease on life and back to his energy-filled ways Dr. Johns is committed to helping others who suffer from autoimmune diseases, mold toxicity, chronic fatigue, brain fog, and helping people literally reclaim their lives.
CHIROPRACTOR
ANDREA KNEESSI, D.C.
As a mother and a triathlete herself, Dr. Kneessi understands the challenges of staying active, staying strong, and supporting a growing family. As a result, Dr. Kneessi specializes in a wide verity of women populations, helping to grow their strength and confidence through all of life's transitions.
Whether you are a competitive athlete, going through the parenthood transition, or facing menopause Dr. Kneessi believes that you should be in control of your own health outcomes!
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
KRISTEN KOHLES, P.T., D.P.T.
Dr. Kristen Kohles received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The University of Maryland, Baltimore. She previously was a Division-I Lacrosse player at Virginia Tech, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, & Exercise.
She has a specific interest in treating sports-related conditions and using preventative measures to reduce injury risk. Dr. Kohles looks forward to using her experience and knowledge towards helping patients maximize their wellbeing.
RESIDENCY MANAGER
LESLIE JOHNS, P.T., D.P.T.
Dr. Leslie is passionate about physical therapy and injury prevention. She received a BS from Slippery Rock University, PA in Exercise Science and achieved Doctor of Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.
Dr. Leslie has always had a passion for treating adolescent athletes with a special interest in dancers and cheerleading. As a multi-sport athlete growing up, she believes injury prevention is the BEST form of physical therapy.
Dr. Leslie completed a neurology residency with George Washington University and Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital in 2017. She has specialized training for all neurological disorders including vestibular therapy, concussion management, stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injury.
Dr. Leslie also has a passion for teaching and has taught DPT students at George Washington University. In her free time, she loves spending time with her husband (yes, it's Dr. Johns) and their two children. They love spending time outdoors, playing sand volleyball and hiking.
NURSE PRACTITIONER
LIZ SCHEUERMAN, C.R.N.P, I.B.C.L.C.
Liz graduated from The University of Maryland School of Nursing with her Bachelors in Science and Nursing in 2009 and became a bedside nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, a role she absolutely loved.
During her time at UMMC, she was certified as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and worked as a lactation consultant in both the hospital and private practice setting over the last decade.
Liz has always loved working with families in their breastfeeding journeys, and feels so privileged to be invited into such an intimate part of motherhood.
After leading a team to run a medical camp in Kenya, she decided to pursue her masters in nursing, to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, so that she could better serve the whole family. Liz graduated from Georgetown University School of Nursing and was certified through the AANP as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Liz has always been passionate about holistic, wellness-focused care, starting from infancy through later adulthood and has a special interest in homeopathic medicine, utilizing an integrative approach to healthcare, and looking for the root cause of disease. She has personally experienced tremendous health benefits from integrating modalities such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, nutrition, and acupuncture into her own health journey and looks forward to supporting her patients in their own wellness journeys. She is pursuing additional education in integrative care & regenerative medicine to better serve our patients.
She loves to spend time with her family and friends, especially her husband and son, fishing, boating, gardening, and traveling. She truly believes that fellowship, community, and spending time in nature are integral to wellness.
ACUPUNCTURIST
JENNA RUCKER, L.Ac.
Jenna Rucker is a licensed acupuncturist and graduated with her Master of Acupuncture degree from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2016. She practices a combination of Five Element, TCM, and Master Tung style acupuncture.
She focuses on treating chronic pain and women's health issues, including infertility, and supporting emotional wellness for people struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life changes.
She is passionate about using acupuncture to lessen patients' pain and suffering to help them feel lighter and more at ease in their bodies and minds.
Prior to joining Elevate Life, Jenna practiced in Howard, Baltimore, and Frederick counties, serving a diversity of patients in a variety of settings, including correctional facilities, private and community acupuncture clinics, and integrative healthcare clinics. Before training to become an acupuncturist, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and creative writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2010.
In addition to being an acupuncturist, she is an Usui Reiki Master and enjoys learning about alternate forms of energy healing, such as Reiki, EFT, chakra healing, and shamanism. In her free time, she enjoys different forms of dance as well as meditation, hiking, and spending time outdoors in nature.
REGISTERED NURSE
AMANDA HARTMAN, R.N., B.S.N., C.C.R.N.
Amanda received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Messiah College in 2011. She brings a variety of experience from her time working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She spent the last few years of her career in an inpatient critical care setting and currently holds her CCRN, a certification credential granted by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
She has a passion for approaching her patients care in a holistic manner and believes that it is key in achieving and maintaining overall wellbeing. In her free time, she enjoys long distance running and spending time with her husband and two children.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday
8:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
8:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday
8:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
Closed
Elevate Life
1730 West St #105
Annapolis, MD 21401