Destiny Meets Healthcare: The Story Behind Riptide Wellness

Dr. D and Chase met while teaching anatomy and physiology at a local nursing college. What started as ‘water cooler’ conversations about healthcare quickly became a shared vision. “We call it destiny.”

While Dr. D encouraged Chase to pursue his PhD at CSP Global, he encouraged her to open her practice. “Our ages may be different, but our hearts and minds are in the same place.” Today, they’re business partners, co-researchers, colleagues, and friends — kindred spirits committed to leaving a legacy of impact in the health and wellness space.

Dr. Kim Dehlbom (L) with Chase Saulisbury (R) at the 2023 ECPI University Graduation.

For Chase, the road to health science started close to home. A native to Charleston, South Carolina, his fascination with the human body deepened when his father developed health issues. “I wanted to know every biochemical pathway of his condition and every treatment to make him better.”

That drive led him to serve as a first responder EMT during the COVID-19 pandemic, earn a master’s in biology, and become certified in genetic and hormone analysis. He now teaches anatomy and physiology to future healthcare professionals at Citadel Military College (Charleston, South Carolina) and is co-building their business.

Dr. D’s story is equally personal. From a childhood of health struggles, including weight issues and an eating disorder, to navigating her husband’s battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease, her experiences are at the center of her practice.

“I’m someone who has lived the journey from illness and confusion to clarity and lasting health.”

That journey launched her into a decades-long career as a licensed chiropractor, functional medicine practitioner, Certified Personal Trainer, and Group Fitness Instructor. Helping her husband reclaim his health when conventional avenues failed reinvigorated her purpose, leading her to CSP Global to pursue advanced research in physiology and kinesiology.

Why the Online PhD in Kinesiology?

Both Dr. D and Chase had already earned advanced degrees, but they were drawn to the unique blend of scientific rigor, flexibility, and meaningful connection at CSP Global. When searching for PhD programs, Chase noticed that many required full-time dedication for five years, which did not align with his schedule.

Upon finding and choosing CSP Global, Chase shares, “I have genuinely learned an abundance of applicable knowledge from this program, and the expectations are set at a high standard. I was shocked to see the support, the lively debates, and the peer learning that I have experienced with my core classes online.”

Dr. D echoes similar sentiments: “I was drawn by the program’s forward-thinking approach, the caliber of faculty, and the way CSP Global values both rigorous science and practical, patient-centered care. It was clear this program would allow me to bridge my clinic experience with innovative, impactful research.”

She also acknowledges CSP Global’s collaborative and supportive culture, which has empowered her to think extensively about how research informs patient care and public education. “I’m more motivated than ever to be a thought leader and advocate, using my story and expertise to inspire hope and deliver results for those who feel lost or ‘unfixable.'”

Balancing Business Ownership and a Doctoral Program

For entrepreneurs asking, “How do you balance a full-time career with a doctoral program?”, Dr. D and Chase’s experience proves that an adaptable format is essential. By choosing a 100% online PhD in Kinesiology program, they have been able to integrate their coursework directly into their clinic operations without sacrificing patient care or business growth.

As new clinic owners and educators, they appreciate CSP Global’s flexible online structure, which has allowed them to integrate their coursework in real time, fusing research with direct patient care.

Dr. D explains, “An online doctoral program like CSP’s allows me to pursue the highest level of education without sacrificing my existing commitments or family time. Online learning fosters not just flexibility, but connection and innovation. I collaborate virtually with peers nationwide, allowing me to bring new ideas straight into my clinic.”

Applying Doctoral Research to Clinical Practice

They are now collaborating on their dissertation research to maximize impact. Dr. D’s dissertation explores the relationship between targeted exercise interventions and the gut microbiome in adults with metabolic dysfunction. Meanwhile, Chase’s research focuses on the impact of nutrition and the metabolic pathways of the gut and oral microbiomes on nitric oxide production, a critical factor in cardiovascular performance and disease prevention.

Together, they’re bridging academic insight with clinical innovation, showing how meaningful research can fuel real change.

Riptide Wellness, the functional medicine clinic of Dr. Kim Delhbom and Chase Saulisbury.

Their growing business, Riptide Wellness, aptly named for the hidden forces that often go unseen like chronic illness, is their joint response to an incomplete system.

“Too often, chronic illness hides in the shadows just like a powerful riptide beneath the surface. Our goal is to empower individuals to optimize their health by identifying and addressing underlying causes.”

Riptide Wellness LLC offers a variety of services, including gut microbiome testing, functional blood work analysis, chiropractic adjustments, and nutritional and lifestyle protocols. Dr. D and Chase take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to care. This kind of personalized, preventative care is still rare in their southern city, so their mission is to make this accessible to everyone. The successful launch and growth of Riptide Wellness LLC was directly supported by the applied research frameworks Dr. D and Chase developed during their PhD in Kinesiology studies at CSP.

Future Goals: Expanding Community Impact

Their ultimate goal is to expand into corporate wellness, offering their services through employers, making health education and early intervention available to all socioeconomic levels. In the coming year, their focus is on deepening community impact and growing their practice while staying grounded in their values.