About
Meet our Founder and learn more about Animas Chiropractic in Durango, CO
Meet Dr. Lauren Preston
Born in Austin, TX, Dr. Preston joined Durango Community in 2015. She was raised as a competitive swimmer, and started triathlons freshman year of college at Texas Tech.
Dr. Preston competed in Half Ironman World Championships in 2015 and Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 2021.
She is currently actively involved in Durango’s cycling, swimming and triathlon scene, and is personally connected to active lifestyle circles within the community.
Professional Experience
Dr. Preston earned her undergraduate degree with focus on nutrition, psychology and kinesiology from Texas Tech University before training at Palmer Chiropractic College, Florida.
She has a passion for treating active families, with special training in pediatric, prenatal (Webster technique), sports and postpartum care.
She also earned an advanced Dry Needling certification, including Foundations, and Pelvic Floor/Lumbo-pelvic Needling.
Our Mission & Vision
At Animas Chiropractic, our main goals are centered around your wellness, comfort, and long-lasting positive relationship with your body. We aim to first get you out of pain as quickly as possible, so that you can live your life pain-free. We then shift our focus to long-term goals, and improving our patients’ lives via preventative and wellness care.
We are a community-focused clinic with the goal to bring value to our community with specialty chiropractic services.
Our Services
Ruby Ryan
Lead Exercise Physiologist
Ruby Ryan is our lead Exercise Physiologist, with a degree in Exercise Science from Colorado Mesa University.
She specializes in Shockwave treatment, using her expertise in human anatomy and sports medicine to provide tailored care and meaningful results for our patients.
Susan Mebel, MSN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare Leader | Learning & Development Strategist
Susan Mebel is a seasoned Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience spanning emergency medicine, urgent care, telemedicine, geriatrics, and innovative healthcare delivery. With clinical roots in high-pressure environments like Atlanta’s Level I Trauma Center and modern telehealth platforms, Susan brings a depth of medical knowledge and a calm, patient-centered approach to care.
In addition to her clinical expertise, Susan is a proven healthcare administrator and Learning & Development leader. She has successfully built and scaled training programs for fast-growing startups, leading clinical onboarding for hundreds of providers, implementing quality and operational improvement initiatives, and driving organizational transformation through strategic change management.
She received her Bachelors and Masters of Nursing from Emory University and, prior to this, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Boston College.
When she’s not working, you’ll find Susan mountain biking, skiing, running trails, or planning her next international adventure.
Kinsey Thomas BSN, RN
Co-Founder, Animas IV & Wellness
Kinsey grew up in Texas, where her passion for medicine and helping others started early. Throughout high school and college, she took every opportunity to be in healthcare. After she relieved her EMT in high school she went on to work at Children’s Health while in nursing school. These experiences ultimately lead to her to landing her dream job as a Pediatric Trauma/Neuro ICU nurse.
With over a decade of experience as a critical care nurse, she has spent the past six years as an ICU/Pediatric nurse at Mercy Hospital. Her passion for healthcare, wellness, and helping others feel their best led her to co-found Animas IV & Wellness where she specializes in IV therapy and vitamin injections tailored to support overall health, athletic recovery, and immune resilience.
As a busy mom of three, she understands the importance of accessible, effective wellness solutions. When she is not working, she is busy with her husband and kiddos. You will find them floating the river, camping or playing with their chickens!
