Our Mission | Your First Visit

ABOUT THE DOCTORS
Dr. Kristine Tohtz and Dr. Thomas Lotus met while at National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL. The two realized that a joint practice would better serve their patients individual needs.

Dr. Tohtz
Dr. Kristine Tohtz discovered chiropractic and holistic medicine at a young age. Having seen the wonders that chiropractic and acupuncture had on her family, she decided to dedicate her life to helping others with their ailments in a holistic manner incorporating these two healing arts into one practice.

Dr. Tohtz graduated magna cum laude from the National University of Health Sciences in April 2001. While attending chiropractic school, she also began working toward a diplomate in Acupuncture and has begun her master’s training in Oriental Medicine in January 2005.
Dr. Tohtz is also currently working toward her certification in Pediatrics through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. As a Certified Yoga Instructor through the Temple of Kriya Yoga, Dr. Tohtz uses the combination of all of these healing arts in a coupled manner for rehabilitation, treatment and general stress management. So that she may offer the most cutting edge treatment options for her patients, Dr. Tohtz attends numerous continuing education courses in rehabilitation, nutritional therapies, acupuncture and other forms of alternative medicine such as hypnotherapy and Chinese herbal formulas.

Dr. Tohtz served as an instructor in the department of Chiropractic Practice and as a staff clinician at the National University of Health Sciences for 4 years after she graduated. Although she has temporarily left the University setting, she fulfills her love for teaching not just with her patients, but also by teaching Back Safety Training Programs, corporate yoga, stress management and proper ergonomics for numerous industries such as Commonwealth Edison, A. Epstein, Columbia College and AA-Razorfish to name a few.



Dr. Lotus
Dr. Thomas J. Lotus is a 2003 graduate of National University of Health Sciences. While at National, he excelled in the areas of adjustive technique, rehabilitation and soft tissue. Upon graduation, he was selected to teach an elective at the school titled: Advances in Functional Rehabilitation. Dr. Lotus is also part of the Lincoln School of Post-Professional Education at the National University of Health Sciences where he teaches courses around the country titled: Advances in Functional Rehabilitation and Biomechanics. Dr. Lotus is a firm believer in the fact that “Education is for Time and Eternity” and with this he continues to travel the country and world to learn from his mentors.
Dr. Lotus is a board certified Chiropractic Orthopedist (DACO) (www.dcorthoacademy.com) and is a candidate for diplomate status within the American Chiropractic Rehabilitation Board (Levels I,II,III) (www.clinicalrehabspecialists.com).

In October of 2004, Dr. Lotus did an in house residency rotation at Motol Hospital, Czech Republic under Dr. Pavel Kolar and Professor Karl Lewitt. The Czech School of Medicine has been directed and lead by some of the most coruscating grandfathers of Manual Medicine. As a student of Professor Vaclav Vojte, Lewitt and Janda, Dr. Kolar has taken the work and research of ‘Infant Reflex Locomotion’, a technique based on developmental kinesiology and transformed it into an approach to activate the intrinsic locomotor system. Throughout the last 3 years, Dr. Lotus has traveled the country to learn from Dr. Kolar and his Physical Therapists.

In 2005, Dr. Lotus was asked to be the consultant for Running Away Multisport (www.runningawaymultisport.com) based in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Lotus consults with biomechanics of running and cycling from the normal to abnormal functional pathologies and how to modify shoe selection or cadence stroke to improve ones competition. Being certified in Gait Analysis by some of the leading authorities in the field, Dr. Lotus has treated endurance athletes of all calibers from Olympic Runners to College Soccer and Baseball Players to Professional Athletes and our “Weekend Warriors”. By spending many hours at Running Away, Dr. Lotus was introduced to and asked to be the team physician and consultant for Met-Life Cycling Team (www.metcylcing.com) where he works with repetitive injuries to controlling functional foot pathologies to increase power output.

Dr. Lotus loves to treat conditions within the orthopedic and rehabilitation fields though after spending much time with Dr. Kolar over the last 3 years he has realized just how important the Central Nervous System is to recovery and optimal performance. With this Dr. Lotus has decided to begin his 3rd Diplomate, that being in Functional Neurology in September 2008.

As a collegiate athlete, Dr. Lotus understands the impact an athlete goes through each day he/she is on the field, and to examine a player and incorporate a specific rehabilitation protocol to improve his or her game. As a result of this goal oriented approach to sports, Dr. Lotus has been asked and agreed to be a consultant for some of Chicago’s cutting edge gyms such as ETC (Energy Training Center) (www.energytrainingcenter.com).

Dr. Lotus’ practice revolves around normal functional body mechanics, focused functional rehabilitation and neuromuscular re-patterning. He also has a special interest in Chronic Pain in which he incorporates the Bio-Psycho-Social aspects of treatment with all of his patients.


Heather D. Plastaras, Psy.D.
Dr. Plastaras is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois.   She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Emory University. She received her Masters and Doctoral degrees from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.   She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Miami Counseling Center, and did post-doctoral work in a private practice in Chicago.

Dr. Plastaras works with adolescents and adults, individually or in couples, who are dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, body image, sexual trauma, or life transitions. Her goal is to provide a warm, safe, and non-judgmental environment in which to assist with reflection and examination of issues in order to bring about personal growth and change. She believes that the therapeutic relationship is a crucial part of the growth and healing that occur in therapy.

Dr. Plastaras has experience in a variety of settings, so is able to provide various types of treatment, depending on what is needed. Therapy can be brief, in order to problem-solve around a specific situation, or it can be longer-term, in order to focus on deeper or more complex issues. She respects individual differences, and enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds.

Dr. Gina M. Sirchio, BA, BS, DC, Certified Clinical Nutritionist(c),
Diplomate Acupuncture(c)
Dr. Sirchio is a 2005 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the National University of Health Sciences.  She is the owner of the La Grange Institute of Health, an alternative health medical center, located in Chicago’s South Loop.  Dr. Sirchio has always been passionate about fitness and health playing many sports throughout her childhood and soccer throughout high school.  She began to add variety following undergraduate school with backpacking, caving, bike trips, sea kayaking, snorkeling and SCUBA.  Dr. Sirchio has always been a runner and has recently branched into endurance training and triathlons.  Dr. Sirchio is vibrantly passionate about food, nutrition and how it can improve one’s life, health and fitness goals.

The doctor has studied hundreds of post-graduate hours to attain the experience to use nutrition to address many conditions, including but not limited to; chronic disease, auto-immune diseases, fibromyalgia, weight management, fatigue, pre-natal and post-natal needs, infertility, food allergies, irritable bowel syndromes and support for cancer therapies.  Dr. Sirchio is also available to treat the athlete who strives for increased endurance, faster recovery time and improved body composition.

She is an avid cook and believes better nutrition is the answer to much of what we all strive for; feeling better, performing at our best and enjoying our health.

Dr. Sirchio can be reached at Serenity Health and Wellness on Mondays 8 am- 12pm and Wednesdays 1pm- 8pm. Visit her website at: lgihealth.com

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