About Us
The Effective Integrative Healthcare Team
Meet Our Team
Click on the pictures or names below to read our bios
Dr. Anthony Hardnett, DC, BCIM, DMBBP, DAAMLP
Chiropractor/Owner
Doctor Hardnett is also board certified in Integrative Medicine which is the practice of using multiple treatment options within traditional medicine and alternative medicine to help patients. He also has extensive post-doctorate education relating to MRI interpretation and treatment of disc related injuries. He just earned another Diplomate from the college of Manipulative and Body-Based Practices which enhances his knowledge on how manipulation of the spine can assist the body to heal.
Dr. Hardnett places his emphasis on treating the patient as a whole and finding the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. He owns and operates the premier state of the art Chiropractic and Effective Integrative Healthcare facility in Maryland and has an overwhelmingly high success rate in helping patients with their health concerns. Dr. Hardnett feels that offering the latest treatment options, efficient care plans and patient education are all keys for the patient's ultimate success.
In 11 short years, Dr. Hardnett has made Effective Chiropractic Health & Wellness Center the premier state of the art Chiropractic Health and Wellness facility in Maryland. Effective Chiropractic has grown from a small, 2 person office to a staff of 16 with expanded services and providers to meet their patient's needs. Effective Chiropractic provides a variety of services that make them a one-stop shop for healthcare. And in an effort to further expand services, Dr. Hardnett has now added a Medical Doctor and Nurse Practitioner establishing Effective Integrative Healthcare, LLC to provide more integrative services for the community. And the addition of another office in Prince Georges County will further expand Effective Chiropractic’s ability to reach and help more patients.
Dr. Joseph Kling, DC, MS, CSCS
Chiropractor
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Joseph Kling graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. Following college, he attended Logan College of Chiropractic and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree and has earned his Master's degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation.
Dr. Kling is specifically trained in Active Release Technique (ART), which is a patented, state of the art, soft tissue system/ movement based massage technique that can treat problems within muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. He has recently achieved a certification in Dry Needling which gives him even more tools to help treat and diagnose musculoskeletal conditions.
Dr. Joe is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with extensive experience in exercise rehabilitation and training. He has worked with the University of Missouri football team, Crossfit gyms, Junior Olympic Athletes, and high school athletes. Dr. Kling is an active athlete as well and enjoys many activities, including basketball, volleyball, weightlifting, and golf.
TPI Certified - Designed for medical practitioners, the TPI Certification program is an evidence based, educational pathway designed to teach industry professionals how to increase player performance through a deep understanding of how the body functions during the golf swing. TPI calls this concept the Body-Swing Connection™
Dr. Kristina Anderson
DC Chiropractor, Webster Certified
Dr. Kristina Anderson was born and raised in northern New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland, College Park where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Chiropractic degree and Masters in Applied Clinical Nutrition at New York Chiropractic College.
Since graduating, Dr. Anderson has received certifications including Rocktape, Dry Needling, and FAKTR (Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab). FAKTR is an instrument-assisted soft tissue technique designed to alleviate muscle tension and edema by combining movement and rehabilitation. After having to take time off from Track and Field in high school due to quadriceps tendinitis, she understands the importance of quality rehabilitation and continues to educate herself to better assist her patients.
Throughout her career as a chiropractor, Dr. Anderson has worked with a variety of patients including athletes, personal injury, adolescents, and geriatric. Whether your pain is related to sports or daily activity, Dr. Anderson works tediously to ensure that maximum therapeutic benefit is achieved.
In her spare time Dr. Anderson enjoys reading, watching stand-up comedy, yoga, and traveling with her husband.
Melissa Whitaker
CRNP
Melissa Whitaker entered the accelerated BSN program at the University of Maryland and graduated with honors. Following graduation she acted as team leader, charge nurse, and preceptor at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital. While there, she earned the award for Best Patient Advocate. Later, she cared for adult home hospice patients in the greater Baltimore area. Melissa returned to the University of Maryland to complete the Master’s Program in Family Practice. She also completed a 40 credit-hour course offered by the Institute for Functional Medicine – Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice. Functional medicine is a holistic lifestyle approach to health that addresses the root causes of disease in lieu of simply treating symptoms. Melissa is skilled in assessing patients for treatment alternatives to surgery and adjunct therapies for acute and chronic pain. She is also well versed in functional nutrition as an integral part of weight loss, pain management, and preventing chronic diseases of inflammation. Melissa is passionate about promoting vibrant health in patients and using an integrated approach to help patients reach their goals. She enjoys hiking with her dog and husband, gardening, rowing on the Severn River, and biking.
Dr. Arieta
DACM, L.Ac
Dr. Carla Arieta is a trained physician that knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in Medicine. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from the “Universidad Dr. Jose Matías Delgado” in El Salvador. Throughout her years of medical training, she contributed to community service activities, including, the Lions Club International ophthalmic medical missions in Central America, as well as IFMSA medical brigades, Helping Hands medical missions, and USNS “Comfort” seagoing hospital ship Partnership for the Americas medical brigades. She sought continued medical education after practicing medicine for several years and developed an interest in Integrative Medicine. She had begun her journey pursuing a dual degree that includes a Master of Science in Acupuncture and a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine at the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, where she was also a Faculty member of the Western Medicine Department. During her experience teaching basic and clinical sciences, she had the occasion to receive complementary certificates in Physiology and Biochemistry from Harvard Medical School. She has a passion for continuing education and likes to attend seminars that would nourish her knowledge in the field of medicine in order to benefit her patients. She has also completed her Doctorate degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Pacific College of Health and Science. During the past two years, she has been actively working as a Consultant for research protocols including 1.“Acupressure Intervention to improve Chemotherapy-related side effects and Functioning of Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer”, a pilot sponsored by the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers in the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center. 2. “Pilot testing of self-acupressure intervention to improve functional and symptom outcomes among black and Latina breast cancer survivors” sponsored by National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program for Wake Forest Research Base Funds. In a recent publication: “Feasibility of Acupressure Intervention to Improve Chemotherapy-related symptoms and Functioning among Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients”, Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves hiking.
Dr. Arieta considers that Medicine is an art and by understanding our pathophysiological processes; a healthcare practitioner is able to provide a comprehensive approach to treating the patient as a whole while focusing on reinforcing their inner strength and balance.
She is currently licensed to practice Acupuncture and has found in this medicine a unique body of knowledge offering patients a complementary and alternative medical approach to comfort and healing and plans to incorporate these skills into her practice. While joining efforts with the Effective Integrative Healthcare team, she is convinced that every single patient would receive the best medical care they deserve by improving their overall quality of life.
Caris
Practice Administrator
Caris has been assisting doctors with treating patients for 7 wonderful years. As a chiropractic assistant her goals are to facilitate a patient’s ability to achieve a wellness stage of care through effective treatment! Educating patients to understand how they can help themselves at home in addition to the treatment prescribed by the Doctor is key. Caris is excited to be a part of the Effective team and can’t wait to meet the patients of Effective and help you achieve your goals.