Dr. Chet Carlson brings a wealth of knowledge, a strong sense of urgency and a compassionate, gentle manner to caring for his patients at Renaissance Health and Wellness. An osteopathic physician, he is skilled in the practice of osteopathic manipulative therapy, as well as being board certified in emergency medicine, and an active practitioner of emergency medicine. His twenty year military career shaped his genuine desire to be of service to his community.

Dr. Carlson's military career began in the Air National Guard as an F-16 mechanic before his acceptance into active duty pilot training; later, he was hand picked for a special assignment working with NASA, providing joint aerial defense for several space shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center, FL— all prior to attending medical school at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and graduating from the emergency medicine residency program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR. He retired in 2010 as a U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeon and the Chief of Aerospace Medicine for the 188th Fighter Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard.

During his last seven years as a practicing physician in the busiest emergency departments and trauma centers in Arkansas, Dr. Carlson recognized a particular patient population that seemed desperate for help, with few treatment options available: those suffering with the chronic, often excruciating pain of peripheral neuropathy and other musculoskeletal chronic pain syndromes. He felt that there had to be a better way to treat these patients than just prescribing addictive pain medications. His osteopathic medical training and philosophy is based on the belief in treating the whole patient, head to toe, mind, body, and spirit, instead of just temporarily alleviating symptoms of any one particular ailment. Dr. Carlson recognized the need to create a practice that would allow him to attend to a patient's total well being, while restoring his patients to their optimum functionality, overall health, and quality of life.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Carlson is a Designated F.A.A. Senior Aviation Medical Examiner, part-time corporate pilot and flight instructor in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as a volunteer mission pilot with the Civil Air Patrol. He is also a certified rescue SCUBA diver and co-owns Ocean Impact Diving Services in Ft. Smith, AR. His wife and three children are proud of his continued service to his community through the practice of medicine and feel blessed to have him practicing close to home.

Dr. Carlson believes in working closely with his patients to guide them through the treatment and decision making process in an educational and compassionate manner.  Dr. Carlson cares for each patient with kindness and gentleness - treating them like family members - to build trust and foster an atmosphere of hope and healing.

Dr. Carlson's osteopathic medical training and philosophy is based on the belief in treating the whole patient, head to toe, mind, body, and spirit, instead of just temporarily alleviating symptoms. Dr. Carlson recognizes the need to attend to a patient's total well being, while restoring his patients to their optimum functionality, overall health, and quality of life.  From chronic back, knee and joint pain brought on by osteoarthritis to migraines and peripheral neuropathy, Dr. Carlson and his practice have helped relieve the pain to more than 7,000 patients.

No one should have to live with pain brought on my age, disease or injury.  Dr. Carlson treats patients of many ages and is uniquely trained on procedures that are proprietary and exclusive to the region. This includes treatments for:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Knee/joint pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Back pain
• Medical Pain management

Communication is key to a successful physician-patient relationship.  Dr Carlson welcomes and values feedback in an effort to continually improve the patient experience.