Dr. Amy Kitching, founder of Southern Chiropractic and Wellness Center in downtown Statesboro, GA retired last week after serving the Statesboro market for nearly three decades. She sold the practice to Bulloch County native Dr. FlorAnne Cruz. Dr. Cruz’s husband Corey has joined her as well in the practice helping with the management side of the operations.
Dr. Amy, as her patient’s and friends refer to her, redefined health care options in Statesboro when she and her husband Jeff Klare opened Southern Chiropractic and Wellness in 2018.
“I relocated to Statesboro in 1995 to be closer to my sister who was a Podiatrist in Augusta and other family members who lived in the area,” said Dr. Amy. “I also felt it would be a great community to raise my children, Issac and Annelise. It proved to be a wonderful decision and a great community to call home and build a business.”
In 2013, Dr. Amy established a solo practice. It was while in solo practice that she discovered insurance would cover chiropractic and massage therapy. Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) had begun a massage therapy program as well. This seemed like a logical expansion to provide holistic medical options for her clients. She partnered with OTC and her clients loved the expanded services.
In 2016 Dr. Amy married Jeff Klare. Jeff, an entrepreneur at heart, encouraged her to pursue her dream of opening a holistic wellness center in Statesboro. Jeff’s company, Be A Hero, Hire A Hero a job placement service for veterans, gave him a tremendous amount of insight into the medical needs of veterans.
Jeff knew that the V.A. would be expanding health care options and finally recognizing chiropractic as an option for their providers to refer out to. With this need, they knew they needed a bigger facility.
They both fell in love with the former Colonial House of Flowers building located at 116 Savannah Avenue. The building had not been occupied for years. They purchased the building and spent nine months renovating it, before opening Southern Chiropractic and Wellness Center.
“There is no way I would have ever stepped into this project without Jeff’s support and help. Jeff overseeing the construction, renovations, and helping me build out the team was instrumental in our success,” said Dr. Amy. “His connections within the V.A. proved to be very valuable and allowed him to plug in and figure out how to expand services for veterans.”
Together they kept expanding their team and services offered to patients including acupuncture and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a phenomenal addition that provides another holistic option that most of our patients had no clue was available,” said Dr. Amy. “Hyperbaric is pure oxygen and antiviral which makes it greatest for COVID treatment because it kills the virus. It is also a wonderful treatment option for post traumatic stress, wound care, autism, arthritis, lymes disease, COPD and lung disease.
In 2021 they expanded again, opening a second location in Metter.
Excited about Dr. Cruz
Dr. Cruz began working at Southern Chiropractic as a relief doctor. She and Dr. Amy clicked, but it wasn’t until they traveled together on a mission trip to Haiti that they really had the opportunity to get to know each other. Dr. Amy discovered that Dr. Cruz has the same passions and vision for expanding wellness options to our community.
“It is much easier to retire knowing that Dr. Cruz and Corey now own the business and are retaining the amazing team we have built that truly make Southern Chiropractic special,” said Dr. Amy. “They love this community and will continue to bring new and innovative healthcare options to the market. Their future is very bright!”
Dr. Amy is looking forward to spending more time, traveling and spending time with her children. She has also gone back to school and will complete her Masters in Health Education later this year.
“I want to thank all of my patients who have trusted me for their care over the years and assure them that we are leaving them in great hands with Dr. Cruz and her team of talented individuals who are all focused on your health,” said Dr. Amy.
