Meet The Team

Dr. Bracken is an extremely dedicated chiropractor with a strong passion for providing a holistic and natural approach to healing. She has been serving Orange Park, Middleburg, Fleming Island, Jacksonville, and beyond since 2006. Dr. Bracken uses a “whole body approach” when adjusting and taking care of her patients. By providing a combination of specific “hands-on” and instrument adjusting techniques, as well as physiotherapy procedures, she can provide rapid joint and soft-tissue healing and help achieve and maintain optimum health and well-being for her patients. Over the years, she has provided safe and effective care to patients of all ages, from early infancy to the extremely aged and fragile. Dr. Bracken has treated several hundred, if not thousands, of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and injuries, including but not limited to: neck and back pain, headaches, disc injuries and disorders, pinched nerves like sciatica, shoulder pain, knee pain, and many other complaints of the upper and lower extremities. She has also treated hundreds of motor vehicle related injuries and co-managed care with other specialty doctors, including neurologists, rheumatologists, pain management clinics, orthopedic surgeons, and many others.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Tennessee in 1996, she moved to South Florida where she fell prey to severe sinus problems. At the advice of a co-worker and friend, she ended up at a chiropractic office in Hollywood, FL in search of urgent relief. After months of endless suffering and countless medical remedies, it was less than two weeks of chiropractic care that finally freed her of the relentless beast she had been enduring and her love of chiropractic was born. 

Dr. Bracken earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2002 from Life University in Marietta, GA (NW Atlanta). After an intense 4 years of additional study (including anatomy, physiology, neurology, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology, kinesiology, orthopedics, diagnosis, x-ray, and more), she completed a fierce internship with a team of high-volume chiropractors in Orlando, FL. Dr. Bracken also constantly adapts to the dynamic nature of the healthcare industry by regularly completing at least 20 hours of continuing education annually.

Dr. Bracken loves to spend her free time with her amazing husband, two beautiful daughters, and all her other incredible family and friends, even when it’s just poolside in her backyard. She states that she feels the most invigorated after working out. She adores all kinds of foods and drink and she can’t wait to eat the delicious dinners her husband prepares for the family almost every night. When asked what she wishes she could do more of, she says “she wishes she could do more traveling to exotic places all over the world and meet all kinds of people, from all walks of life.” The most amazing place she says she’s ever been was Machu Picchu, Peru.

Dr. Welfare earned his Bachelors of English at The Florida State University in 2005 and enjoyed many years of tutoring children in English.  He achieved his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, GA, as a result of receiving the benefits of Chiropractic himself, due to an injury while playing soccer.

He has two young boys, ages 3 and 9, and is married to his wonderful wife, Kayla, who is from Ocala, FL. His love of fishing, playing soccer and going to the beach and the mountains has been deeply rooted within his family for many years, and is something he enjoys sharing with his family during his vacation and free time. When asked by friends and colleagues, Dr. Welfare has said his greatest achievement has been helping spread the word of chiropractic and its benefits to as many patients as he can, and to see first-hand the benefits it has rewarded them. Some of those successes include better sleep quality, relief of sinus pressure and breathing problems, changes in migraine and chronic headaches, relief of neck pain and nerve root impingement, shoulder, back, and sciatic pain, and wrist, knee and ankle pain.

Dr. Welfare has been serving the greater Jacksonville, FL and surrounding communities for eight years, providing relief, recovery, and wellness care to a wide audience of patients, from today’s youth to seniors and senior living facilities. He has often said there’s a technique to utilize and achieve success for just about any patient, young or elderly. By focusing on musculoskeletal and nervous systems, Dr. Welfare has enjoyed coaching his patients with diet and exercise, and nutritional recommendations as well.

After retiring from a 32 year career; my focus and heart shifted to massage therapy. I love the challenge of helping people heal mind, body and spirit. It’s gratifying to have someone at the end of a session tell you how much better they feel! Outside of work, I look forward to visiting the Caribbean Islands, Florida Keys and living on my 44 ft motor yacht with my lovely wife. When not traveling, we enjoy spending time with our blended family of 4 children and 6 grandchildren.
 

Shawntel, known around the office as Shae, joined Bracken Family Chiropractic & Massage in 2016 after graduating from a medical assistant program at Fortis College. Her concern and dedication for the well being of our patients can be seen in everything she does. She handles those in severe pain with a gentle ease that is admirable. She is well loved by our patients because she cares for them like family. She works hard behind the scenes to manage our office, all while caring for her family at home and raising two young sons. Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors, cooking new dishes and enjoying every moment with her children.