Hidden Gems: Meet Dr. Jackie Churchill of Magnolia Family Chiropractic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jackie Churchill

Dr. Jackie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first experienced chiropractic care when I was just 7 years old. I had been told I’d broken my back and would need to stop gymnastics for a few months to heal. As a kid, that was heartbreaking—gymnastics was everything to me. My dad took me to his chiropractor, and within just a few weeks, I was back to doing what I loved. That experience stuck with me.

From then on, chiropractic care became a regular part of my life, mostly for pain management. I went monthly, sometimes even more often, and I’m convinced it’s the reason I was able to keep up as an athlete. Whether it was high school sports, all-star cheer, or even college cheer, chiropractic care kept me strong and helped me recover so I could perform at my best.

I always thought about becoming a chiropractor one day, but when I went to Avila University, I was focused on cheering all four years while earning my degree. Somewhere along the way, I learned about osteopathic medicine. It sounded similar to chiropractic but with the ability to prescribe medicine, and I thought, “Hey, maybe this is a more stable career path.” So, I went for it.

I threw myself into the process and even completed a challenging Master’s degree program at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. But no matter how hard I worked, I kept hitting walls—I just couldn’t get into medical school. It was tough to deal with, but I decided to take a step back. I coached cheer, traveled, and gave myself the space to figure out what was next.

That’s when it hit me: chiropractic was what I was meant to do all along.

When I started chiropractic school, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what it was all about. But as I learned more, I realized it’s so much bigger than just managing pain. During that time, my daughter, Sofia, was born. She developed right on track at first, but around 18 months, everything changed. She stopped talking, started head-banging, had frequent uncontrollable outbursts, and wouldn’t make eye contact. It was heartbreaking to watch.

Not long after, I met a chiropractor, Dr. Garrett Smith, who offered chiropractic care for my daughter Sofia while I was in school. Dr. G adjusted Sofia twice a week for two months, and the transformation was incredible—it felt like I got my daughter back! That experience opened my eyes to what chiropractic can really do.

It’s not just about pain relief—it’s about giving people their lives back. It’s about helping the body heal itself, adapt to stress, and function at its very best!

Looking back, everything I went through led me here. I’m so passionate about sharing what chiropractic care can do because I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing it can be. Now, I get to help others experience that transformation, and there’s nothing more rewarding.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road getting here. My parents always joked that I like to take the hard road—and honestly, they weren’t wrong.

I started with my undergrad, set on going to medical school, but I just couldn’t get past the MCAT. I told myself it was because I’m not good at standardized tests, so I decided to push harder. I enrolled in a one-year, intense master’s program to improve my chances. It worked—I got an interview for med school—but I wasn’t accepted. That rejection really forced me to stop and reflect.

I had to ask myself: Was I doing this because it was truly my dream? Or was it someone else’s idea of what I should do because I was smart and hardworking?

I ended up taking a year off to think about what I really wanted. During that time, I realized chiropractic was what I was meant to do. So, I applied, got accepted—and then found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Sofia.

Starting chiropractic school in my third trimester while taking 28 credit hours was no small challenge, but I pushed through. And then came the board exams—four of them, all standardized tests. I’d always thought I wasn’t a good test-taker, but I passed every single one with flying colors.

That’s when it hit me: this was God’s way of showing me I was finally on the right path. All those obstacles were nudging me to listen, to trust His plan, and to pursue what truly aligned with my purpose.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Magnolia Family Chiropractic, we’re a family-focused chiropractic office specializing in prenatal and pediatric care. Our approach centers on the nervous system and how the brain responds to each adjustment through a process called neuroplasticity. The body has an incredible ability to heal itself, but sometimes the communication pathways between the brain and body get interrupted.

Through specific chiropractic adjustments, we help restore the connection between the body and brain, allowing them to communicate more effectively. To better understand how your nervous system is functioning, we use CLA Insight scanning technology. This advanced tool provides a detailed look at how stress is impacting your body and helps us create a care plan tailored to your specific needs.

At Magnolia Family Chiropractic, we strive to create a space that feels welcoming, calm, and relaxing—a true escape from the outside world. Our goal is to help you achieve your health goals while showcasing the power of chiropractic care to transform your life.

The spine houses the spinal cord, the key communication hub for your entire nervous system. By addressing misalignments in the spine, we clear those communication pathways, allowing better input to the brain and, in turn, better output to the body. This process leads to improved function, greater resilience, and an overall better quality of life.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I am truly blessed to have the incredible support system that has brought me to where I am today. My family has been my rock throughout this journey. My mom, dad, and in-laws stepped up in ways I never even had to ask for, taking care of the kids while I was in school and my husband was working. They continue to help now as I build my business. My grandma and grandpa gave me the loan that made starting Magnolia Family Chiropractic possible.

My husband, Cody, has been my biggest cheerleader, helping me discover my potential and showing me that I could not only be a chiropractor but a business owner too.

I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have amazing mentors along the way. My childhood chiropractor, Tim McMullen, first inspired me to become a chiropractor. Later, Dr. Garrett Smith took me under his wing and introduced me to a whole new side of chiropractic care, which ultimately inspired me to open Magnolia Family Chiropractic. To this day, he continues to offer his support whenever I need it.

It truly takes a village to navigate the challenges of life and business, and I’m so grateful for the army of friends, family, and colleagues who have been by my side. There are far too many people to name, but to each and every one of you who has helped me along the way—thank you!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magnoliafamilychiro.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliafamilychirokc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnoliafamilychirokc/