Dr. Hamer is nearly a Florida native. She moved to Daytona Beach from Illinois at the age of two. She attended public school in Daytona Beach and grew up in the same house until she went to college only a few weeks after turning 18. She initially went to the University of North Carolina as a Biology/PreMed major. During her first year at UNCA, she chartered the Hippocrates Club which was a PreMed club for students. During her time in school in North Carolina , she also volunteered at the hospital in the pediatric intensive care unit. As a result of regularly attending her Hippocrates Club meetings, she met a chiropractor who she soon began to work for part time. This began her passion for Chiropractic. She saw Chiropractic to be a different approach from traditional medicine for people to attain better health and overcome illness. After two years at UNCA, Dr. Hamer found that it was time to move back to the beach. She attended the College of Charleston for the remainder of her undergraduate career. She was able to work for another Chiropractor while in school and continue with her community involvement.
Dr. Hamer graduated from Chiropractic School at Life University in Marietta, GA. She is not only licensed in the state of Florida, but also holds a license in and South Carolina . While in school, she was the student publications editor which allowed her to become active in every aspect of the University. During the summer of her third year, she went on a mission trip to for one month. In there was a Chiropractic clinic established for students from colleges around the who went to treat patients. She worked at the clinic everyday helping patients that would otherwise not have received treatment. This was a great experience for her.
Prior to opening Ponte Vedra Wellness Center , she worked in a thriving practice that integrated professions such as massage therapy, neurology, and internal medicine. In addition to practicing full time, Dr. Hamer also taught Anatomy & Physiology at the North Florida Institute of Massage Therapy. During her time in practice, she worked in several clinics throughout North Florida . One clinic was located in Palatka, where she was the first and only female Chiropractor in Putnam County .
In January 2007, Dr. Hamer passed her Neurology Board exam from the International Board of Chiropractic Neurology. The test was given at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Daytona Beach . She sat for this two day exam which consisted of both a written and a practical portion in October of 2006. It took three years of postgraduate studies to complete the Neurology program. Being a Chiropractic Neurologist is an elite honor held by only a few hundred physicians around the entire world. As a Chiropractic Neurologist, Dr. Hamer performs a more extensive neurological exam similar to a medical Neurologist. The difference is she diagnoses and treats those patients without drugs or surgery. These conditions include both spinal and peripheral problems.
Some of Dr. Hamer’s hobbies include swimming and biking. She also enjoys reading and volunteer activities. Her parents reside in Daytona Beach, and she has one younger brother who lives in Ft. Lauderdale and is recently married. She is engaged to Jeff who is a Firefighter. They have a Siamese cat named Bailey and Lucy, a Yellow Lab.
Dr. Hamer is active within her community including Chamber, BNI, Rotary and the North East Florida Chiropractic Society. She was recently nominated for Small Business Leader of the Year for 2008 with the Jacksonville Chamber. She holds this title for the Beaches Division of the Chamber.