About Us

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.

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.

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.