The Snell family quickly found the rhythm that makes Norton Commons special: children running between friends’ houses, neighbors gathering, busy workdays giving way to evenings outside, and a household full of energy, kindness, and anticipation for the future.

John and Kristin Snell have lived in the neighborhood for a year and a half, but their roots in Louisville run much deeper. John, originally from Michigan, came south for work and has now practiced medicine in Louisville for 20 years. Kristin grew up in Northern Kentucky and arrived for nursing school, never looking back. Together, they have built a life centered on family and community—one that now includes three children with one on the way.

Their story began at Norton Suburban Hospital, where, as Kristin puts it, “nurse meets doctor equals happiness.” They may have met in the dim hospital hallways, but it led to a bright and bustling family life filled with laughter, purpose, and plenty of moving parts.

Professionally, John and Kristin bring an impressive blend of experience and compassion to their work. John attended Michigan State, where he studied physiology and remained for medical school and his residency in internal medicine. Maintaining his "whole-person" approach to health care, he opened his primary care practice, John L. Snell, DO, on Meeting Street in March 2026. Based on a concierge model with a patient-centric focus, Dr. Snell is able to spend significant time with each patient in search of the root cause of any health concerns. For the family, having the practice in the neighborhood is more than convenient; it’s a way to serve the community they also call home. 

Kristin is equally accomplished. She earned her BSN from UofL, became dual certified in women’s health and family medicine as a nurse practitioner, and completed a PhD with research focused on depression in specific populations. Now a full-time professor at UofL, she teaches maternal and newborn nursing. In addition, she serves in John’s medical practice providing women’s health services, hormone treatment, menopause care, and an array of aesthetic treatments.

Their most important roles, however, are Mom and Dad. Kylie, 11, is preparing for sixth grade at Kammerer. She loves her close group of friends, arts and crafts, and cultivating what her family describes as a wonderfully complex array of tastes. Lucy, 8, is entering third grade at NCES. She makes friends easily, enjoys choreographing dance routines, and has a natural instinct for caring for her younger brother. Crew (3) is the family spark plug with boundless energy. He loves any kind of ball, wide-open grassy spaces, and a good pancake. Rounding out the household is Amber, the family’s tabby cat, who adds a calm presence amid the daily commotion. 

Each family member brings something distinct to the Snell household. Kristin is the educator, healer, mother, and planner who somehow still makes time for stories, volunteering, dance routines, and Lego time. John is the fearless leader with a kind soul, quick energy, and a joke at the ready. Kylie and Lucy keep everyone young and “hip,” and Crew is all smiles, offering a continuous supply of hugs. Soon, the Snells will be adding more love to the mix with the pending arrival of their fourth child in January. The turn of the year will always be bustling with celebration as all four children will have January or February birthdays.

The Snells love spending time outdoors and have embraced the many parks, pools, and playgrounds that make Norton Commons so inviting for families. They enjoy meeting new friends, welcoming people into their home, and watching their children build relationships of their own. The Snell family often dines around the neighborhood but favors Gustavo’s, not only for the food, but because the Reyes kids are close neighbors and have become some of the Snell children’s best friends. 

One of their favorite NoCo memories came during their first Halloween on Mistflower Circle when they hosted a party for neighbors. By the end of the night, their daughters had ten new friends sleeping over. For a family that had already lived in Louisville for years, that night marked something special: a new circle of friendships formed right outside their door.

That sense of connection is the draw of living in NoCo. While they are still searching for the social activities and events that fit them best as a family, they have already found meaningful ways to be involved. Kristin serves as a room mom at school, and both she and John volunteer at NCES. Kristin also teaches community health nursing and enjoys taking students, and sometimes the children, to Harbor House, connecting her work as an educator with her heart for service. They have also recently poured time and creativity into establishing an Airbnb above John’s practice. Christened The Pink Lily, it’s a carefully curated space designed with women in mind.

When not working, volunteering, or keeping up with school schedules, the Snells enjoy travelling and spending time with family and friends. Michigan and the beach are favorite destinations, with days built around sandcastles, ice cream, sunsets, and unwinding together. Their beach house is a treasured getaway, where the pace slows, and memories come easily. Last Christmas, the family traveled to Disney. Along with the expected magic, they discovered the fun of trading pins, which they then brought home as tangible memories. Crew still wakes up asking for Mickey, a sweet reminder that family adventures linger long after the suitcase is unpacked.

In many ways, the Snells represent what families often hope to find in Norton Commons: a place where professional and family lives can balance, children grow up surrounded by friends, and a simple neighborhood gathering can generate lasting connections. With a new medical practice and Airbnb, school days ahead, a baby on the way, and plenty of memories to come, the Snell family is settling in with warmth, enthusiasm, and open hearts.