Muscle & Joint Clinic is run by Dr. Derik Anderson, Clinic Director and Chiropractor, who has more than 20 years of experience in integrative chiropractic care. He and his team members regularly attend conferences to stay up-to-date on the latest research and treatments.
MEET THE TEAM
Clinic Director: Dr. Derik Anderson, DC, CSN, CPT
Dr. Anderson helps his patients be healthier by utilizing his education and personal and professional backgrounds. Dr. Anderson grew up wanting to help people and initially planned to go to business school to work in energy conservation. But, after a good friend’s life was positively changed by chiropractic care, he had a change of heart. His friend spent two years with horrific intestinal problems and saw over a dozen providers, but no one could help her – until she saw a chiropractor. The chiropractor knew that the vertebra and muscles around them affected the nerves that controlled the intestines. After treatment, she was no longer bed-ridden and went back to teaching, traveling and leading an active life. Dr. Anderson realized that health care was his calling and his passion for helping people was channeled into chiropractic.
Dr. Anderson lives what he practices. He is an avid runner, nationally competitive sailor, surfs, and is a youth coach. Dr. Anderson also eats a diet high in vegetables, low in starch, and drinks several quarts of water each day. Why? Food is our bodies’ fuel and muscles consume 70% of that fuel (the brain consumes another 20%), so to reach our maximum potential, our food chain needs to be clean, appropriate, and healthy for our needs.
Education & Academic Affiliations
- Life Chiropractic College West, Doctor of Chiropractic
- University of California, Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts, Economics
- Completed more than 1,000 hours of post-doctoral education
- Sports Nutritionist, Certified
- Personal Fitness Trainer, Certified
- Active Release Technique, Certified 2011
- FAKTR, Certified
- Myofascial Decompression, Certified
- Ironman® Healthcare Provider
Affiliations & Appointments
- PGA Tour, Medical Team – Member
- Ehlers-Danlos Society, International Scientific Consortium – Member
- Fascia Research Society – Founding Member
- Continuing Education Provider, California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
- Dominican University of California, faculty emeritus
Projects and Presentations
- Stem cell research on epithelial and cartilage cells, in conjunction with Warren Hoeffler, PhD
- Medical advisor on Sweet Suicide, a documentary film on the effects of sugar, produced by Nancy Appleton, PhD
- Presenter at conferences and seminars throughout the United States, on television, and radio
Office Manager: Mike Tassone
Mike brings extensive experience in healthcare administration, office management and technology to Muscle & Joint Clinic. His career in healthcare began in family medicine and acute care in San Francisco where he significantly improved the patient experience by increasing office efficiencies and achieving more hands-on patient care.
After working in primary and acute care for more than 11 years, Mike managed the clinical support teams for a rapidly growing Healthtech start up where he supported over 160 clinics and sites throughout the US, as well as a 19-state virtual medicine program.
Mike was raised in Northern California near the North Lake Tahoe area and relocated to Marin County in 2008. He is an avid golfer with a solid tournament background. Although his extensive competitive golf days are over, he still plays a few events every year and you can find him on the golf course at least once a week. He is also a lover of all things outdoors, his family, dog Pluto, cooking, travelling and the silver screen.
Therapist: Megan Cotter
Megan has a profound knowledge of sports, injury prevention and recovery. Her experience as a collegiate coach at the University of Pennsylvania and as a Division I athlete at the University of Wisconsin, Madison afforded her the opportunity to train with the most elite athletes, coaches, and trainers in the country. It was in this environment that Megan developed her knowledge of how to target areas of the body to achieve specific training goals. Drawing on that knowledge, Megan helped design the training plans for her teams at the collegiate, Junior National Team and high school levels. Megan incorporates this knowledge and experience as she works with patients to tailor their physiotherapy and recovery plans at Muscle & Joint Clinic.
Megan earned her master’s degree from the University of Texas, Austin and spent her undergraduate days studying and rowing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is an avid breath and mindfulness enthusiast and meditates daily; often for 3 hours or more in a single sitting. Megan is passionate about the intersection between mind and body and brings this enthusiasm to her work at Muscle & Joint Clinic daily.
Practice Administrator: Dawn Anderson
Dawn has extensive experience managing business operations for a variety of organizations. As an undergrad in Boston, she worked in both London and Madrid and completed her post-graduate work at UC Berkeley. Drawing on creativity, a strong sense of what is possible and focus on what is needed, Dawn has developed strong infrastructures and achieved unprecedented organizational growth.
Dawn has competed in triathlons and national championships in sailing. Dawn’s volunteer work includes the Marin Mammal Center, Environmental Travelling Companions, and significant time working in the school community. She enjoys yoga, hiking and creating delicious healthy meals for family and friends.
For more information about Muscle & Joint Clinic, call our office at 415-488-5372.