Meet Dr. Dana Tankell

Compassionate, Personalized Chiropractic Care Backed by More Than 30 Years of Experience

For more than three decades, Dr. Dana Tankell has been helping patients throughout San Diego improve their health through personalized chiropractic care. She is passionate about helping people move beyond pain by identifying the underlying factors affecting their health and creating individualized treatment plans that support the body’s natural ability to heal.

Known for her patient-centered approach, Dr. Dana believes that every patient deserves to be heard. She takes the time to understand each person’s concerns, lifestyle, and health goals before developing a customized plan of care. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, she treats the whole person, helping patients achieve lasting improvements in their overall health and wellness.

Dr. Dana’s passion for chiropractic began through her own interest in understanding how the body functions. As a former gymnast and manager of her wrestling team, she witnessed firsthand how lifestyle, nutrition, and movement influence both performance and overall well-being. That curiosity led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science from Hunter College before pursuing her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Life University in Marietta, Georgia.

Today, Dr. Dana combines over 30 years of clinical experience with a variety of chiropractic techniques to provide care that’s tailored to each individual. She specializes in Thompson Drop Table, Diversified, SOT, Activator, and Chiropractic BioPhysics, while utilizing Koren Specific Technique (KST) as the foundation of many of her treatments. By determining which approach is best suited to each patient’s needs, she is able to provide care that is both gentle and effective.

Dr. Dana has extensive experience helping patients recover from auto accident injuries, sports injuries, chronic neck and back pain, headaches, and migraines. She also enjoys supporting women throughout pregnancy and helping patients improve posture, restore balance to the nervous system, and achieve long-term wellness.

Above all, Dr. Dana is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where patients feel empowered throughout their healing journey. Her goal is to help every individual experience better movement, improved health, and a higher quality of life through personalized chiropractic care.

When she’s away from the office, Dr. Dana enjoys spending time outdoors, practicing yoga, dancing through life, and taking walks with her dog, Sunshine, who occasionally greets patients at the office with a friendly wag.

Specialized in Korean Specific Technique (KST)

A Personalized Approach to Every Adjustment

At the core of Dr. Dana Tankell’s approach to chiropractic care is Korean Specific Technique (KST), a gentle technique that allows her to tailor each adjustment to what the body needs in that moment.

Using a system of binary “yes or no” responses, similar in concept to applied kinesiology, Dr. Dana evaluates which technique may be most appropriate and whether the focus should be on a physical, chemical, or emotional imbalance.

KST uses an adjusting instrument that delivers light, precise tapping, making the technique comfortable for people with a wide range of sensitivities. Because adjustments can be performed in different positions, Dr. Dana can also evaluate patterns that may become noticeable only during specific movements or activities—such as sitting, walking, running, or participating in sports.

This flexibility can be especially valuable for active patients. Dr. Dana has even used her adjusting table to mimic the positioning and movement involved in catching a wave, allowing her to assess a surfer in a way that relates directly to the activity.

Patients appreciate the gentle, individualized, and thorough nature of KST and the ability to address their chiropractic care from multiple perspectives.

Community Involvement

Dr. Dana Tankell’s commitment to caring for others extends beyond the walls of Chiropractic Connection. She believes in giving back to the San Diego community through volunteer efforts and by supporting the first responders who dedicate themselves to keeping our community safe.

Whether she’s providing her time, sharing her expertise, or showing appreciation for those who serve, Dr. Dana is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others. Her community involvement reflects the same compassion and dedication she brings to her patients every day.