Dr. William Ruch, DC
Dr. Ruch opened North Oakland Chiropractic Clinic in 1987. For over 39 years, he has dedicated his career to bringing chiropractic care to those who are in need of extra gentle treatment. He has developed methods to carefully adjust joints with small repetitive motions. He can safely treat people with prior back surgery, implants, joint replacements, osteoporosis, hypermobility conditions, and people who are fearful of traditional chiropractic care. In addition, the methods he has developed to realign the ribs are especially helpful for alleviating anxiety and insomnia. He is working to document the connection between hypermobility, insomnia, anxiety and the over-stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
The same year he went into practice, he began teaching at Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California (he retired from teaching in 2023). Dr. Ruch has spoken at several chiropractic conferences, taught seminars for members of the healthcare community, and has authored numerous scientific articles, written chapters for and published numerous photographs in several textbooks. Through Life Chiropractic College West, he published the 2nd edition textbook, Atlas of Common Subluxations of the Human Spine and Pelvis, which is now a part of his curriculum and considered a standard reference throughout the chiropractic community. He published a second textbook, Advanced Adjusting Techniques, in addition to two self-help books on adjusting:The Level Pelvis Method and Got Knee Pain?. He has recently republished his Textbooks — both in digital & paperback formats, via his new publishing company Postura Press.
Dr. Christine Thompson, D.C., DACNB
Dr. Christine Thompson (DC, DACNB) is a board-certified chiropractic neurologist with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in innovative chiropractic care and functional neurology, helping patients address a variety of conditions, including neck pain, back pain, headaches, and vertigo. By combining cutting-edge neuroscience techniques with physical and occupational medicine, Dr. Thompson works to restore optimal body, brain, and nerve function.
Dr. Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from San Diego State University before graduating magna cum laude with her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, California. She is dedicated to providing patient-focused care and creating customized treatment plans designed to promote recovery and restore physical wellness within 2-4 weeks.
In addition to chiropractic care, Dr. Thompson offers nutritional counseling and recommends meal plans and supplements to support her patients’ overall health.
Dr. Katie Bastable, DC
Dr. Katie Bastable is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Reichian Breathwork Practitioner, and Kundalini Yoga instructor, who is passionate about the human body’s ability to thrive when given the most supportive circumstances.
She has a long history of experience and knowledge with a diverse range of holistic and natural health practices and modalities. Her background includes organic gardening/farming, herbal/plant medicine, bodywork, spinal movement series, breathwork therapy, dance & movement, nutrition and detoxification.
She uses a variety of chiropractic techniques and often incorporates gentle, lower-force methods like Activator, drop table, craniosacral, TMJ work, and extremity adjustments. She is Webster Certified and offers prenatal/pregnancy care. Known for her intuitive and compassionate approach, her goal is to create a calm and caring space where people can release tension, feel more embodied, and support lasting healing from the inside out. Her practice focuses on exploring root causes for blockages within the body’s structure, interference within the nervous system, and impaired function of the bodily systems. In her years of experience working with patients, she often finds a correlation between the mind and the body, and how that impacts breathing suppression patterns, emotional guarding, postural tension, and rigidity in movement and gait. She works to support patients with reducing the negative impacts of thoughts, toxins and traumas in their bodies, and helping them find improved function, movement so that they can feel more alive and vibrant.
Dr. Robert “Bobby” Romero, DC
Dr. Romero (Bobby) is a Bay Area native who received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at San Diego State University in 2019 prior to completing his Doctorate in Chiropractic at Life Chiropractic College West (LCCW) in Hayward, CA in 2024.
Dr. Romero uses a biomechanically-derived approach to bring quality care to patients who are looking for a gentler touch compared to conventional chiropractic techniques. Having apprenticed under Dr. Ruch, he is well-versed in the Level Pelvis Method as well as various modalities that include Cupping, Myofascial Therapy and therapeutic exercise.
While at San Diego State, Dr. Romero spent a semester providing care to participants attending the Adaptive Fitness Clinic, gaining invaluable knowledge on appropriately prescribing and progressing therapeutic treatments to those with challenging or atypical physiology, including those living with stroke-induced symptoms and congenital abnormalities. During his time at LCCW, he learned techniques for adjusting extremities and also treating with spring-loaded instruments (also known as an Activator).
Having a lifetime of experience in athletics and martial arts, Dr. Romero has a strong grasp on what a body needs to move with confidence and feel at ease, beyond the absence of pain. A future goal of his is to become proficient in pelvic health treatment with his partner who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy from UCSF.