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About us

A family practice, three generations deep.

Founded in 2003 by Dr. Jeff and Carol Aita, Bluffton Family Chiropractic is now led by the next generation — and a team that feels like family.

Our story

From North Wilkesboro to the Lowcountry.

Dr. Jeff and Carol Aita grew up in New Jersey, began dating in high school, and have been married for over 40 years.

After Dr. Jeff earned his doctorate from National Chiropractic College in 1979, they opened a practice in North Wilkesboro, NC — one of the busiest in the state — and ran it for 22 years while raising three children. Visits to Hilton Head turned into a love for the area, and in May 2003 they opened Bluffton Family Chiropractic.

Both are members of Life Force, a group dedicated to making chiropractic care accessible worldwide, and Dr. Jeff was elected to the Board of Trustees of Life University in 2015. In July 2026 Dr. Jeff stepped back from patient care — but you’ll still find him around the office handling management and making us all laugh, with Carol continuing as a key part of the management team.

2003Serving Bluffton since

Our mission

Help as many people as possible — especially children — reach their optimum potential.

We believe your body has an innate ability to heal. Our job is to remove the interference, through the chiropractic adjustment, so it can do what it was designed to do.

Family-first

Newborns to seniors, often three generations of one family on the same day.

Natural & drug-free

Care that works with your body rather than masking symptoms.

Individualized

Nine techniques, chosen for your body, comfort and goals.

Community-minded

Cans for Care, school talks and free consultations for local families.

Meet the doctors

Our chiropractors

Dr. Kate Aita Houpt

Doctor of Chiropractic · Pediatric & Prenatal

Dr. Kate is Dr. Jeff and Carol’s daughter. Around age three she announced that she, too, would be a chiropractor — and she’s been headed toward that goal ever since. She studied at USC Upstate and earned her doctorate at Sherman College of Chiropractic, where she served as president of Women in Chiropractic and received the B.J. Palmer Philosophy Distinction award.

Dr. Kate earned her certification from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association in 2011 and is certified in the Webster Technique for pregnant women. She primarily sees our pregnant patients, infants and children. She and her husband John (“Coach Hop” at Hilton Head Christian Academy) have four children and love helping educate local families about caring for their health.

ICPA certifiedWebster TechniqueSherman CollegeLife Force member

Dr. John Aita

Doctor of Chiropractic · Sports & Family

Dr. John is Dr. Jeff and Carol’s youngest son. He studied biology and sports science at UNC Asheville before earning his doctorate from Life University in Marietta, Georgia.

A soccer player from age six through high school (and a die-hard Steelers fan), Dr. John places a special focus on treating athletes — and he also has extensive training in pediatrics. He and his high school sweetheart Anne, a technology specialist for Beaufort County Schools, have two boys.

Sports chiropracticPediatricsLife University

Dr. Courtney VanAcker

Doctor of Chiropractic · Soft Tissue & Sports

Dr. Courtney joined Bluffton Family Chiropractic in 2014 while Dr. Kate was on maternity leave — and fit into the BFC family so well that she stayed. Originally from upstate New York, she spent five years in Charlotte before moving to the Lowcountry.

A graduate of New York Chiropractic College in historic Seneca Falls, Dr. Courtney is trained in Active Release Technique, a specialized muscular technique that’s excellent for sports injuries. She’s also an IVCA-certified animal chiropractor and a mom of three.

Active Release TechniqueIVCA animal chiropracticNY Chiropractic College

Dr. Lina Tyler

Doctor of Chiropractic · Bilingual Care

Born in Colombia, Dr. Lina has lived in the United States since 2005. She first worked as a chiropractic assistant in our office, fell in love with the profession, and went on to earn her doctorate at Life University in Atlanta because of its strong principles and philosophy.

Dr. Lina works with people of all ages, pregnant women and kids, helping them feel and live at their best. She and her son Logan are thrilled to be back in the Bluffton community. Dr. Lina speaks both English and Spanish.

Habla españolPrenatal & kidsLife University

Dr. Kurt Marschner

Doctor of Chiropractic · Functional Neurology

Dr. Kurt ran his own private practice in Wallingford, Connecticut for 23 years before moving to the Lowcountry. He holds degrees in human performance and sports medicine from Southern Connecticut State University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic.

He completed coursework for a master’s in human nutrition and a 300-hour course in functional neurology under Dr. Ted Carrick, and served as team physician for Connecticut sports teams for 20 years. He lives in Okatie with his partner Kim and their three fur babies — a Rhodesian Ridgeback and two Frenchies.

Functional neurologySports medicineNutrition23 yrs in practice

Dr. Dami Rodriguez

Doctor of Chiropractic · Upper Cervical

Dr. Dami worked at Bluffton Family Chiropractic as a chiropractic assistant during high school — and was inspired to become a chiropractor herself. She graduated magna cum laude with her Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University.

She is deeply passionate about upper cervical and neuro-emotional work and continues to advance her studies in both. Originally from Connecticut, she has called South Carolina home for over a decade. Her mission: share the benefits of chiropractic with people of every age. She also speaks Spanish.

Habla españolUpper cervicalNeuro-emotionalMagna cum laude

Dr. Lori Clark

Administration & Patient Relations

Dr. Lori knew in high school that chiropractic was her calling. She studied at Maryville College in Tennessee and graduated from Sherman College of Chiropractic in 1983, then practiced for over 30 years in southern New Jersey. Hilton Head has been home since her parents moved to the Lowcountry in 1979.

With more than 40 years in the profession, Dr. Lori now enjoys an administrative and patient relations role. She and her husband Jon love traveling, tennis, golf, fishing and spending time with their dog, Bernie.

40+ years in chiropracticSC & NJ licensed

Massage therapists

Hands that complement every adjustment.

Cindy Kostov

LMT #11861

Results-oriented therapeutic massage with a focus on myofascial release, plus Swedish, trigger point, prenatal, hot stone and assisted stretching.

Victor Jacob

LMT #4708

Licensed since 2000 and a longtime BFC patient family. Victor brings over two decades of experience on Fridays.

Dawn Seligman-McKay

LMT #13606

Certified in manual lymph drainage, medical cupping, oncology and geriatric massage, burns/scars and Neurostim MPS therapy.

Doctor schedules

Find a time with your doctor.

The office is open Monday–Saturday. Here’s when each doctor is in — call or text to book with someone specific.

Monday

Dr. Kate7:30–12 · 2–5
Dr. Courtney9:10–12 · 2–5
Dr. Kurt9–12 · 2–7
Dr. Dami8:30–12 · 2–7

Tuesday

Dr. Kurt7:30–12
Dr. John7:30–12 · 2–5
Dr. Courtney2–7
Dr. Lina8:30–12 · 2–7

Wednesday

Dr. Kate7:30–12 · 2–5
Dr. John8:30–12 · 2–5
Dr. Kurt9–12 · 2–7
Dr. Dami8:30–12 · 2–7

Thursday

Dr. John9–12
Dr. Courtney9:10–12 · 2–5
Dr. Kate7:30–12 · 2–5
Dr. Lina8:30–12 · 2–7

Friday

Dr. John8–11:40 · 2–6
Dr. Kurt7:30–12
Dr. Lina8–12 · 2–6
Dr. Dami8:30–12 · 2–6

Saturday

Dr. Lina8:30–12 · 2 Sat/mo
Dr. Dami9–12 · 2 Sat/mo
Dr. Kurt1 Sat/mo
Dr. Courtney1 Sat/mo

Office tour

Step inside our Bluffton office.

Tap any photo to view it larger.

Professional photos by Yensy Guerrero at Hewitt Oaks and Bloom Hope and Grace Photography in downtown Bluffton.

Free consultation

Come meet the family.

Our doctors offer a free consultation to see if chiropractic is the right choice for you — and they’re happy to speak to your class or organization about natural health care, too.

Book a Visit (843) 706-3472