STRENGE Spine Center

06/19/2026

Meet Our Staff: Christina Finley

If you’ve had an appointment at Strenge Spine Center recently, chances are you’ve met the smiling face of Christina Finley! As our front desk checkout coordinator, Christina is often the last team member our patients see before heading home, and she makes sure they leave with a smile and everything they need.

Being our newest team member, joining us in March, that didn’t stop her from jumping right in on day one, becoming a valued part of our team with her positive attitude, caring personality, and willingness to help wherever she’s needed.

With 26 years of healthcare experience, Christina loves getting to know our patients and being part of helping change lives for the better. That compassion shines through in every interaction she has.

When she’s not at the office, you’ll find Christina spending weekends on the family farm with her husband and loved ones, spoiling her fur babies, or in the kitchen baking and cooking up something delicious.

We’re so thankful Christina chose Strenge Spine Center, and we can’t wait for our patients to get to know her as well. Welcome to the family, Christina!

06/18/2026

Meet Our Staff: Shae Lockhart

Meet Shae, our part-time medical assistant here at Strenge Spine Center. Although she’s only been with us for about four months, she fit right in from day one. With 16 years of healthcare experience and currently finishing her nursing degree at WKCTC, Shae brings both knowledge and heart to our team.

Even though she’s part-time, it didn’t take long for us to realize there’s definitely something missing when she’s isn’t here! No matter how stressed she is about an upcoming exam, she always has a smile on her face and is ready to jump in to help a coworker or care for a patient. Her feisty personality keeps us laughing, but she has the biggest heart and that shines through when she’s taking care of our patients.

When she’s not at the office or in class, you’ll find her at the drag strip cheering on her husband Charlie and kids Colten and Jessie, or proudly supporting her daughter Kinsley in all of her FFA activities. And of course, there’s always plenty of love left over for her fur babies.

We’re so glad Shae is part of the Strenge Spine Center family! There isn’t a day that goes by where we aren’t asking her if she’s ready to just drop out of school and work with us full-time! 😆

06/14/2026

Meet Our Staff: Kardata “Kay” Lott

If you’ve visited Strenge Spine Center, chances are Kay was the very first smiling face to welcome you! As our Front Desk Check-In Coordinator, she greets every patient with kindness, compassion, and a calming presence that immediately makes you feel at ease.

Although Kay has only been working in healthcare for a couple of years, she quickly realized this is exactly where she’s meant to be. Her genuine empathy and caring heart shine through in every interaction, and she truly loves helping others.

Around the office, Kay is known for her incredibly sweet, soft-spoken voice. In fact, our running joke is that she could probably tell us we’re being ridiculous, and we’d just smile and say, “Thank you!” because she says everything so kindly.

When she’s not at the office, you’ll almost always find Kay spending time with her son, Grayson, who is without a doubt the center of her world.

We’re so thankful to have Kay as part of the Strenge Spine Center family. Her warmth, kindness, and welcoming spirit make a difference to our patients and our team every single day!

06/12/2026

Meet The Staff: Shannon Slupski

If you’ve been a patient of ours then it’s almost certain you know Shannon! She is the friendly face behind the X-ray machine at Strenge Spine Center! With over 30 years of healthcare experience and a career in radiology that began after graduating X-ray school in 1992, she’s seen a lot over the years but she still loves what she does.

After spending years in positions that required her to wear multiple hats, Shannon says one of her favorite things about Strenge Spine Center for the past 2 years is getting to focus on the work she went to school for: taking X-rays and helping patients. Along the way, she’s made many patient friendships and enjoys making each visit as comfortable as possible.

When she’s off the clock, Shannon swaps X-rays for creativity. She loves drawing, painting, crafting, spoiling her dogs and cats, and treasure hunting at garage sales and flea markets.

We’re grateful to have Shannon’s experience, compassion, and creativity as part of the Strenge Spine Center team!

06/11/2026

Meet Our Staff: Taylor Rounds

Taylor has worked in healthcare for 8 years and has been part of the Strenge Spine Center family for the past year. Many of our patients may remember her friendly face from the front desk, where she originally worked at check-in before transitioning into her current role as Ben Kirchner’s Medical Assistant six months ago.

The move from front office to clinical care was a natural fit for Taylor. She quickly adapted to her new role and has become an invaluable member of our team. Not only does she keep things running smoothly for Ben and our patients, but she’s also been a tremendous help training and supporting other staff members along the way.

If you’ve ever walked by Taylor’s desk, you’ve probably noticed her impressive collection of Star Wars décor! Many of her unique desk decorations are created by her husband, Dakota, using his 3D printer. When she’s not at the office, Taylor enjoys spending time with Dakato, her stepson Drake, and their fur babies. She’s also a huge Disney fan and is always ready to talk about her favorite movies, characters, and Disney adventures.

We’re grateful for Taylor’s hard work, positive attitude, and willingness to help wherever she’s needed. Thank you, Taylor, for everything you do for our patients and team!

06/10/2026

Meet Our Staff: Abby Lockard

Abby has been a valued member of the Strenge Spine Center team for a little over a year and wears several important hats throughout the office. As our Front Office Lead, Financial Coordinator, and Clinical Research Assistant, Abby helps keep the front desk running smoothly while guiding patients through the financial side of their care. Many of our patients know her affectionately as “the money lady” because she’s always ready to answer questions and help them understand their financial responsibilities.

With 11 years of healthcare experience, Abby brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to our team along with laughter. When asked what she enjoys most about working at Strenge Spine Center, her answer is simple: making a difference in our patients’ lives.

When she’s not at the office, Abby enjoys spending quality time with her wife and son. She also loves spoiling her fur babies, who are an important part of the family too. And if you ever find yourself looking for Abby around lunchtime, there’s a good chance she’s enjoying her favorite honey chipotle chicken tacos from the coffee shop at Baptist Hospital. Some might even say she’s their biggest fan!

Thank you, Abby, for your dedication to our patients and for everything you do to support our team each day. We’re lucky to have you as part of the Strenge Spine Center family!

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Meet Our Staff: Jessica Morgan

If you’ve had surgery in the last year and a half, chances are you’ve met Jessica! As Dr. Strenge’s Medical Assistant, Surgical Coordinator, and our Lead MA, Jessica plays a vital role in keeping our office running smoothly and the surgery schedule full.

With 15 years of clinical healthcare experience, Jessica is often the go-to person for clinical questions and guidance. Whether she’s helping coordinate surgeries, assisting patients through their treatment journey, or supporting her teammates, she handles it all with knowledge, dedication, and a positive attitude.

When she’s not at work, you’ll likely find her cheering on her two daughters from the sidelines of a soccer field, enjoying time in a deer stand, or making memories with her husband, daughters and step kids. And recently, Jessica took on an exciting new role outside the office—she became an aunt for the very first time!

Thank you, Jessica, for everything you do for our team and our patients. We’re incredibly grateful for the knowledge, dedication and expertise she brings to our office. We are lucky to have you as part of the Strenge Spine Center family!

06/02/2026

Meet Our Staff: Dot Hatton (known to many as Little Dot)

Dot is our medical records/administrative assistant so if you've ever received a reminder call, requested medical records, or needed help navigating the administrative side of your care, you've likely interacted with Dot!

Dot has been working alongside Dr. Strenge for an incredible 14 years, first at Orthopedic Institute and then following him to Strenge Spine Center when he opened his own practice. As our Administrative Assistant and Medical Records Specialist, she wears more hats than we can count sometimes but we couldn’t do it without her!

When she's not at the office, Dot enjoys spending time with her family and spoiling her grand-dog. You can also find her riding on the back of a motorcycle with her husband or cruising the streets in her Mustang with the windows down and the music up.

Thank you, Dot, for all you do for our patients, providers, and team. We are so lucky to have you as part of the Strenge Spine Center family!

06/01/2026

Meet Our Staff: Melenie Swain (formerly Bishop)

Melenie serves as our Office Manager here at Strenge Spine Center, bringing nearly 20 years of healthcare experience and more than a decade of medical practice leadership to our team.

She oversees the day-to-day operations of the clinic, working closely with the providers and staff ensuring our patients receive exceptional care. Melenie is passionate about building strong teams, improving processes, and helping patients feel welcomed and supported throughout their spine care journey.

When she's not at the office, you can usually find her at a sporting event with her husband, Aaron Swain the Athletic Trainer for McCracken County High School. She also spends much of her time cheering on her daughter Brookie in both high school and all-star cheer, visiting her stepdaughter Jaci who attends college in Nebraska, and celebrating the accomplishments of her son Boston, a student at Murray State University.

Melenie's dedication to both her family and her profession reflects the values we strive to bring to our patients every day. We are grateful for her leadership and commitment to the Strenge Spine Center team!