At Nightlight Chiropractic, we have a dedicated team of professionals with one goal: get you in, get you better, and get you out. They’re all great people, and you’ll see that when you come in for your appointments.
Dr. Andrew Merrill
Dr. Merrill is the Founder and Clinic Director of Nightlight Chiropractic, which originally opened just off Gore Street in Downtown Orlando in 2010. A 2006 Magna Cum Laude Graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida, Dr. Merrill’s journey into chiropractic began in the mid-1990s when his father (an anesthesiologist) was helped through chiropractic, sparing him unnecessary surgery. At that point, his career aspirations shifted from following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a medical doctor, toward the drug-free approach at the heart of the Chiropractic profession.
Dr. Andrew Merrill attended Stetson University in Deland, FL, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science while minoring in Health Sciences. He has completed post-graduate study in the Cox Technic Flexion Distraction for spinal disc herniations, a well-recognized approach for avoiding surgery. Dr. Merrill became certified in this highly effective technique after studying with Dr. James Cox in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and again in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Merrill also has hundreds of hours in post-graduate study relating to reducing inflammation through nutrition and rehabilitating athletes.
With professional experience ranging from treating impoverished children in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to treating athletes from the NFL, NBA, PGA Tours, and the Dew Action sports tour, Dr. Merrill has successfully treated tens of thousands of patients.
As a preferred provider for most major medical insurances, his common-sense approach and philosophy of “no unnecessary treatment” have not gone unnoticed. Dr. Merrill further endorses a “stay in your lane” approach to spinal care by having created a network of medical providers to refer to when necessary including Pain Management Specialists, Orthopedists, Neurologists, and Primary Care Medical Doctors.
He is a member of the Florida Chiropractic Association and the Florida Chiropractic Physician Association who runs a Facebook live webinar series focusing on common patient complaints and advice for optimizing health and wellness.
When not treating patients and running the office, Dr. Merrill can often be found spending time with his wife, stepdaughters, and sons. His passions also include golfing, playing the guitar and piano, and traveling.
Dr. Richard Bass D.C.
While working as a carpenter, Dr. Bass suffered from low back pain, sciatica, and numbness to both legs when bending over. His mother insisted that he see her chiropractor. Following a few weeks of treatment, not only did his sciatica and numbness stop, but a real surprise happened, he did not have back pain even with working construction!
Dr. Bass began his scholastic career working construction during the day and going to school in the evening. He completed his undergraduate biology degree with honors at Old Dominion University in Norfolk Virginia. He then completed his chiropractic training, graduating magna cum laude from Life University in Atlanta Georgia in 2005.
With a strong love of science, it is not surprising that his focus has been on the biomechanical causes of back pain, and treating the underlying factors contributing to the pain and not the symptom of pain itself. With car maintenance, you would not simply cover the symptom of the red light on your dashboard, you would want to address the actual cause behind that red light.
In his personal life, Dr. Bass is an enthusiastic supporter of the sport of Archery in the Orlando area. He is a Level 3 NTS Coach with USA Archery and a USA Archery Field Judge. As a Judge, he supports the Easton Sports Foundation OAS-The Olympic Archery in Schools program through USA Archery.
Priscilla
Priscilla has been with Nightlight Chiropractic for 7 years and working in the massage therapy field for 8 years. In her spare time, she likes to bake, mountain bike, and spend time with her dog.
Marilyn
Marilyn has been the patient care coordinator with Nightlight for the past 6 years. She has over 10 years of legal experience and is well versed in all aspects of the medico-legal arena. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family.
Chrisie
Chrisie is an Orlando native,Boone HS and UCF graduate, and former OCPS middle school teacher. She has been practicing massage for 3 years and is also a certified yoga instructor. In her spare time she enjoys reading, running, traveling, and golfing.
Zamantha
Zamantha is our receptionist/chiropractic assistant and was born and raised in Queens/Brooklyn N.Y. She has over 8 years of experience in the medical field. For fun, she enjoys family gatherings and traveling.
Janessa
Janessa has been practicing massage therapy since 2013. A graduate of FCNH, Janessa was born in New York and raised in FL. She loves playing with her dog and spending time at the beach for sunsets.
