Meet Our Team
Dr. Kiper attended the National University of Health Sciences located in Lombard IL for his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. While at National, he served as the University President for the Motion Palpation Institute, teaching students manual therapy and rehab techniques. He also practiced as a chiropractic intern at The Salvation Army clinic in downtown Chicago.
In addition to his D.C. degree, Dr. Kiper attained his acupuncture license and also received additional advanced post-graduate training in various physical medicine techniques including; McKenzie therapy® (now Mechanical Diagnoses and Therapy or MDT) Motion Palpation Certified, Dry-Needling, Webster Technique, Graston Therapy and RockTape®.
After shadowing many different clinics, he never felt connected to how most chiropractic and physical therapy practices treated their patients and operated their businesses, so he set out on a mission to create, develop and grow a physical-medicine practice like no other in Chicago. This practice would be “clinical outcome focused, patient centered” and not “profit focused”. Lakeside Spine and Wellness in Ravenswood is the product of that vision.
Dr. Kiper is excited to serve the vibrant north-side Chicago communities of Andersonville / Ravenswood / Lincoln- Square, with a personalized, evidence-based treatment approach. He is also beyond thrilled to have found and mentored some of the brightest, passionate and talented group of young providers in the country!
When he’s not treating patients and running the business, you can typically find him racing sailboats on lake Michigan, snowmobiling up in the north woods of Wisconsin, dining at restaurants around Chicago, and spending time with his partner Clayton, their Rottweiler Ryder, and his friends and family.
Dr. Pare decided to attend The National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois for his Doctor of Chiropractic degree where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. While in his clinical rotation, he worked with Lakeside Spine and Wellness as a Chiropractic Assistant and Rehab Specialist. Since graduating in April 2018, he worked downtown in the Loop. His focus there was in educating his patient-base of business professionals and weekend warriors on effective self-care to reduce pain and increase performance.
Dr. Pare has obtained extensive continuing education and post-graduate work such as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) which he is now fully certified in. Additionally, he received post-graduate education in Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), both of which focus on proper joint function, mobility, and core stability. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition from the University of Western States.
His passion for health lies in educating patients on the steps needed to ensure a pain-free and functional life, without the need for continuous care week after week. He values the ability of his patients to be independent and focuses on giving them the proper knowledge-base to reduce the need for future care and therapies. He has a natural ability and mind for treating chronic pain, and has helped many patients at Lakeside who have been told in the past that pain management is their only option.
Dr. Pare enjoys exercising, biking, yoga, climbing, and shuffleboard. He loves to cook and explore the Chicago culinary scene with friends and family. On the weekends, he tries to get out of the city as much as possible to enjoy camping, hiking, and boating around the Midwest.
Her appreciation for preventative care continued after her mother experienced relief with Chiropractic treatment for joint pain due to an autoimmune disease. This health challenge sparked a passion for conservative care that led Dr. Mendez to pursue a doctoral degree in Chiropractic Medicine from National University of Health Sciences.
During her doctoral education, Dr. Mendez spent a year in the Functional Medicine branch of a large multidisciplinary clinic downtown Chicago where she spent over 1000+ hours with patients learning Functional Medicine. In addition, Dr. Mendez attended advanced post graduate coursework including McKenzie Therapy (MDT), Acupuncture, Dry Needling, Functional Medicine, and Clinical Nutrition. One on one clinical experiences with patients, incredible mentors, and countless hours of continuing education, have prepared Dr. Mendez to tackle a wide variety of health concerns.
The ability to move the body freely and be active is one of the most important markers of overall health. Her goal is to educate and empower patients to feel well-equipped to manage any and all health obstacles life may throw their way. Dr. Mendez is bilingual and uses that skill to serve both the Spanish and English speaking communities in the Chicagoland area.
In her spare time she enjoys trying new fitness classes, spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants, and taking her pup out for long walks.
He attended Aurora University where he was a member of the NACC conference champion cross country team. He later attended The University of Iowa studying Human Physiology and was the Executive Director of the RiverRun 5K, an organization supporting those with disabilities find housing and employment.
His passion for physical medicine stems from his time in the PT office following a hip surgery he had at 16 years old. He wanted to pursue a career that focused on helping others while incorporating his active lifestyle. He was introduced to Chiropractic medicine when he was injured as a collegiate athlete. This introduction led him to Palmer College of Chiropractic where he earned his Doctoral degree while specializing in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), or Mckenzie Therapy. While at Palmer he served as the President of the Sports Chiropractic Club where he taught a range of rehabilitation principles to his peers. MDT is regarded in scientific literature as one of the best methods of assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions.
Throughout his doctoral training, Dr. McTague distinguished himself by being selected twice for participation in the esteemed rotation programs at the Veteran Affairs Healthcare Systems in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. At the VA, Dr. McTague contributed to an integrative care team, collaborating with specialists in Pain Management (PMNR), Neurology, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
Outside of the clinic you can find Dr. McTague running around town training for his next race, walking his dog Arizona, at a local concert, or on the couch at home enjoying a movie.
Fusing several modalities during his sessions with patients, such as TMJD, Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage massage, Myofascial and Swedish massage; Ken and the doctor’s at Lakeside create unique and individualized treatment plans for each patient’s needs.
When Ken is not working with his amazing team at Lakeside, he loves to spend his free time with his wife and their dog either relaxing at home, playing at the beach, working out, making music with friends and watching or playing basketball or volleyball.
With his prior experience, he is able to successfully help patients navigate the often confusing insurance plans and medical billing process.
Clayton is happy to be a part of the Lakeside Spine & Wellness team, and is excited to help patients on their healing and wellness journey!
When not at Lakeside, Krista is an interdisciplinary theater and film artist based in Chicago. She graduated with an Acting BFA from CCPA at Roosevelt University. When not on stage or in front of the camera, Krista is the Artistic Director at Mount Productions, a start-up film company in Chicago. With the (little) remaining time she has in her schedule, Krista is a Teaching Artist at Lifeline Theater, and an Operations Lead at Nothing Bundt Cakes in Andersonville.
Outside of work and school, Sabina enjoys reading, baking, playing video and board games, and taking walks to enjoy the Chicago scenery – as a California native, she loves the different Midwestern seasons! We’re thrilled to have Sabina as part of our team, blending firsthand experience and heartfelt dedication to make every patient feel seen, heard, and supported.