James Chmelik, Head of Growth and Operations

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I’ve always been fascinated by the human body, the physiology of sport and exercise, biomechanics, and  peak athletic performance. Over the past 15 years, I’ve gained personal and practical experience in each  facet of the health, fitness, and wellness industry and I'm grateful for the knowledge and skills I’ve built in  the roles I’ve served in. I’m excited to continue blending my passion for all things Health and Wellness  with Business Operations as the Head of Growth and Operations at Carolina HealthSpan Institute. 

I’m motivated and determined to be a part of transforming the consumer healthcare experience. No one  can argue the fact that our current healthcare system is broken and that simply treating signs and  symptoms of illness versus the root cause does not lead to long-term positive outcomes. I believe in a  proactive and preventative approach to health that’s focused on lifestyle behavior change and  regenerative therapies. I’ve seen firsthand how innovative treatments like Hormone Optimization,  Peptides and IV Nutrient Therapy can provide life-changing benefits to all individuals.   

I read the book ‘Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain’ in 2010 and resonated  with a quote that Dr. Ratey included in his introduction.  “In order for man to succeed in life, God provided  him with two means, education and physical activity. Not separately, one for the soul and the other for the  body, but for the two together. With these two means, you can attain perfection.” - Plato   I define wellness as optimal physical and mental health and I’m a firm believer in the mind-body  connection. It’s imperative that we exercise both the body and mind to stay sharp and maintain our edge.  I regularly push myself outside of my comfort zone by completing challenging tasks so that I can develop  the best version of myself.   

I picked up tennis later in life when I met my wife in 2012. I’ve been playing for over 10 years now and  have built an intense passion for improving my game. I love athletics, sport, and high-level competition.  On the court it’s just me and my opponent. I am only as good as the work I’ve put in leading up to the  match. I’ve set a personal goal to become nationally ranked in the top 50% of USTA 4.5 tennis players in  my age group by the end of 2026.