Backs on Burnside’s team approach to treatment integrates chiropractic care, massage therapy, exercise prescription, self-care education and wellness programs. All our therapies are designed to maximize the body’s healing powers to alleviate pain, speed recovery, relieve stress and prevent future injury. Our trained clinicians work together to understand your condition and provide personalized treatment.
Managing Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Gail Karvonen has been a practicing chiropractor since 1986. She received her degree from Western States Chiropractic College and began teaching and practicing soon after graduating. Travels took her to Massachusetts and Connecticut for a short time but she returned to set up practice in Portland initially in a solo practice. Over time she combined her belief in the importance of soft tissue massage with chiropractic manipulation and built a practice that integrated the two. Today as owner of Backs on Burnside, she manages the chiropractic and massage components of the clinic. Dr Karvonen integrates her background in counseling, training in nutrition and kinesiotaping with her chiropractic skills to bring a therapeutic touch to conditions from repetitive stress injuries, auto accidents, work-related injuries, sports injuries and the “I don’t know how it happened” events.
When not at the office, Dr. Karvonen enjoys hiking and biking with her husband and twin daughters. She takes piano lessons when she can.
Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Megumi Nojima Moskowitz completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, where she earned the Bachelor of Science degree in General Science with an emphasis in Human Anatomy. In 2002, she graduated from Western States Chiropractic College with a sum cum laude where she continued to work as an attending physician’s assistant in the Outpatient Clinic and a part-time faculty. Once joining Backs on Burnside (formally Backs on Broadway), Dr. Moskowitz has been dedicating herself to a private practice which incorporates soft tissue therapy, nutritional counseling, postural training and home exercises as an essential part of chiropractic treatment. Her goal is to support each patient reach an optimal wellness by taking an active role in performing stretching/strengthening exercises, making necessary lifestyle modifications, and encouraging them to seek various types of healthcare.
Dr. Moskowitz is a native of Tokyo, Japan, though now considers herself a Portlander. In her free time, she enjoys Pilates, camping, golfing, tennis, and walking/running with her husband Keith, their children Milo and Ena and a Miniature Schnauzer Luna; and of course, rooting for the Oregon Ducks.
Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Taura Lemmon was planning on a career as a medical doctor when a car accident changed her point of view. While a pre-med student at Humboldt University in California, she suffered a five-car pile up that left her with severe whiplash, headache and back pain, leading her to chiropractic care. Since her father is a chiropractor who gave her regular adjustments as a child, back pain was a completely new experience. When managing her own pain and discovering that chiropractic care offers longer office visits and more empathy and consideration in the treatment process, she decided that that was the kind of care she was more interested in providing. She graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in 2008 and has been practicing with Backs on Burnside since April. Taura provides whole body wellness and care that focuses on nutrition, soft tissue, proper posture and exercise along with chiropractic adjustment.
A native of Yakima, Washingon, Taura has lived in Portland since 2004 and spends her spare time skiing, biking, gardening and swimming. Her husband Brook is a chiropractor as well.
Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Kelley Silon’s first experience with chiropractic was after a gymnastics injury in high school. She left the appointment amazed at how much better she felt after just one adjustment and continued to appreciate the treatment and expertise provided by her chiropractor throughout high school and college. After graduating from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in nutrition, she decided to pursue a career as a chiropractor, drawn to the profession as a result of her desire to promote natural health. Her treatments focus on supporting your muscles, joints and nervous system, nurturing your body’s ability to heal itself while getting you out of pain and enjoying life.
Kelley has been a practicing chiropractor since graduating from Western States Chiropractic College in 2006. Most of that time has been spent in Portland but she did have the unique opportunity of living in Rwanda for a year where she found herself the only chiropractor in the country. Through this experience she observed how effective the knowledge and hands of a chiropractor can be even with very few other resources, a lesson that continues to shape her approach to treatment. Happy to be back in the city and clinic she considers home Kelley enjoys reading, skiing, walking at Mt. Tabor and spending time with her husband Kyle and their 7 year-old son.
Chiropractic Physician
Dr. Sarah Uy was born and raised in the Philippines, instilling in her a deep love for family. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from the Ateneo de Manila University. While a varsity softball athlete in her college days, exposure to sports injuries led Dr. Uy to notice the limitations in rehabilitation services in Manila, which inspired her to pursue her Chiropractic degree. In 2018, Dr. Uy graduated summa cum laude from the Chiropractic College of University of Western States and interned at Backs on Burnside from April to June of the same year. Passionate about delivering quality patient care to help patients achieve optimum functionality and awareness, she is skilled at manual therapy, several physical modalities, rehabilitation and chiropractic adjustment techniques. She looks forwards to working alongside each patient as they journey towards better health.
In her spare time, Dr. Uy enjoys kickboxing, volleyball, softball, and Pilates. Her passions include travelling to new places and savoring novel cuisines.
Massage Therapist
Chiropractic Assistant
East-West College of the Healing Arts, 2004
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Neuromuscular Exercises, Reiki Energy, Geriatric Massage
Romy enjoyed massage for 20 years before pursing her dream of being a massage therapist. Romy’s love for travel, her former profession managing international web sites, and her time spent living abroad have enabled her to sample massage around the world. Patients have described her massage technique as very flowing almost Tai Chi like, in its fluidity of movement. She uses gentle stretching in her sessions to help ‘unwind’ tension in the body. Romy helps her clients to reach a deep state of relaxation by applying a combination of massage, stretching and holding the body in stillness.
Massage Therapist
Chiropractic Assistant
East-West College of the Healing Arts, 2004
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Sports Specific Massage
Emily discovered massage therapy while playing collegiate soccer and earning her degree in Exercise Physiology. Emily is an avid outdoor enthusiast—you will often find her running on the trails or headed to the beach. As a massage therapist her work started with the running community here in Portland. Working with all levels of athletes, she has the experience to help her client’s use their bodies more efficiently. Emily will often incorporate deep tissue and trigger point work to relieve client’s muscle tension. She also uses therapeutic stretching and muscle energy techniques when they are needed. Her massage sessions can be very focused to address specific areas of tension, or they can provide an allover feeling of deep relaxation.
Massage Therapist
Chiropractic Assistant
East West College of the Healing Arts, 2008
Deep Tissue, Swedish, Myofascial Release, Thai Massage
Eva has always had a love for movement, art, and dance, and became a certified Yoga teacher in 2005. She has enjoyed being a licensed massage therapist since graduating from East West College of the Healing Arts in 2008. Eva has spent most of that time working alongside Doctors and Chiropractors on injury rehabilitation in a clinical setting. Her style is infused with many deep tissue techniques, involving increased relaxation, stretching, myofascial release and the breath, with a balance of science and intuition. She is constantly amazed by the power humans have to heal and regenerate.
Massage Therapist
Chiropractic Assistant
East West College of the Healing Arts, 2010
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Acupressure, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Reiki, Myofascial Release
Michelle Caldwell was originally inspired to pursue massage therapy for its basis in an intimate understanding of the human form and anatomical movement after studying life drawing. Taking an interest in figure drawing and painting while simultaneously observing and appreciating the effectiveness of holistic medicine, she has developed a working understanding of muscular structures and how the condition of such structures plays a crucial role in holistic health. Michelle has earned a degree in Fine Art from Portland State University since beginning her career as a licensed massage therapist and has traveled extensively while maintaining her massage practice before returning home to Portland.
Massage Therapist
Chiropractic Assistant
East West College of the Healing Arts, 2018
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Acupressure, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Reiki, Myofascial Release
Hannah Ebrite has always had a keen interest in how to naturally rehabilitate and maintain health with alternative methods. Her massage approach relies on myofascial, neuromuscular, and trigger point therapies to help patients relieve tension that builds up as well as craniosacral techniques to bring on deep relaxation. When Hannah isn’t massaging you can find her hiking, biking, reading, or playing in the garden.
Massage Therapist
Haley is a graduate of East West College of the Healing Arts, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Skidmore College in upstate New York, and received her yoga teaching certification from YogaWorks in NYC.
Her practice blends Swedish, myofascial, deep tissue, structural, stretching, and craniosacral techniques, and she works both intuitively and with a detailed knowledge of the body. Sessions are tailored to address the unique needs of each client, with the intention of bringing balance, awareness, and ease.
Massage Therapist
Originally from upstate NY, Shannon moved to Portland in 2007. After time spent in the community mental health field, she became interested in massage therapy as another approach to helping people in their healing process. Shannon is fascinated by how being present and more at ease in our bodies effects the way we move through the world. Her massage style includes; Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Structural Integration, Tui Na, Craniosacral therapy and combines techniques from the different modalities she’s studied for therapeutic, client centered treatments.
Shannon enjoys all things creative, performing, reading, and her little dog, too.
Massage Therapist
Bachelor of Science Wellness & Alternative Medicine, 2011
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, Acupressure, Light Traction
Willow Saunders was impassioned by health and wellness since studying massage in 2005 and after practicing for several years she became enamored and intrigued by the many modalities of healing. This curiosity led her to further her education, and she went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Wellness and Alternative Medicine in 2011. After taking a brief hiatus from practicing, she realized how rewarding massage is as a practitioner and yearned to embody it once again. Her approach to massage has a personalized, therapeutic style focusing on deep tissue and light traction to help one feel unbound. The letting go helps clients bring awareness back within.
Massage Therapist
Oregon School of Massage, 2016
Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Acupressure
Jasmine moved to Portland Oregon from her native Florida and immediately fell in love with everything the PNW has to offer. She enrolled in the massage therapy program at Oregon School of Massage to compliment her undergraduate degree and pursue something more in tune with her talents and ideals. She graduated and was licensed in spring of 2016 and has been practicing since. Jasmine has cultivated and honed her technique and approach to give a well-intentioned, focused massage. She is able to customize the session to the needs and wants of the client. Jasmine draws from a deep understanding of the body and from her studies in Neuromuscular deep tissue, Trigger point therapy, Shiatsu—acupressure and stretching techniques, among others. Jasmine is driven to help her clients on their journey to a better state of health. She strives to educate and empower her clients, helping them become an active participant on their wellness journey.
