Meet Dr. Mariel Schofield | Doctor of Physical Therapy and Co-Founder of Monarch Athletic Club

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Mariel Schofield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Mariel, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Our Physical Therapy Team at Monarch has been successful due to creating a supportive work environment. As a co-founder in a leadership position, my number one priority is to listen to and support my team. My vision with Monarch Athletic Club is to create a medical facility where clinicians and coaches still want to work in healthcare. Our current healthcare system is filled with intelligent, talented, and passionate individuals, yet many feel working in the system is unsustainable, productivity-driven, and leads to burnout. Monarch is a facility where those clinicians can work in an environment where they can spend time with patients, have access to education and resources they need to deliver high-quality care, be part of a multi-disciplinary team, and have a work-life balance. I will also attribute the success of our physical therapy department to the incredible clinicians that make the team. This team is a dream. Every clinician is driven to create solutions, work collaboratively, and support and learn from each other.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Monarch Athletic Club is a multi-disciplinary medical facility offering unlimited access to a team of healthcare providers. We are a true one-stop shop for all of your health, fitness, and wellness needs. Our pillars being controlling the controllable variables to health including: adherence to physical activity guidelines, sleep, nutrition, hydration, building a positive community, pain education, physical therapy, and appropriate medical screening and interventions. In this model, we are not limited by time constraints, insurance barriers, and we are not required to see a high volume of patients which allows us to create a strong support system and meaningful connections with our members. We aim to reduce the barriers to high-quality and accessible care by offering both in-person and virtual services, and incentivizing members when they achieve certain goals.

I am very proud of the physical therapy department we have created. What makes us unique compared to physical therapy elsewhere is a number of things. While there are amazing clinicians who work in the insurance-based setting and exceptions to this doe exist, in most traditional physical therapy clinics, there are significant time constraints and quotas to meet. This continues to worsen over time with reductions in reimbursement from insurance companies. Therapists are juggling 2-4 patients per hour. Care can be executed by an intern, aide, or student with little to no supervision. There is little emphasis on strength and conditioning and other behaviors that may be contributing to their health. There is not much time to spend listening to and educating patients. Clinicians are burnt out and drowning in documentation from the 20-30 patients they see in one day. Most clinics do not have gym equipment beyond therabands and light dumbbells. At Monarch, we are able to solve those barriers to care. The model targets the individual’s comprehensive health needs rather than the diagnostic label they were given a prescription for. The model gives patients unlimited access to personal training sessions, physical therapy sessions, nutrition consultations, quarterly medical evaluations, open gym, equipment, group classes, and amenities. The model has built relationships and community. Every patient’s exercise program is available to them on Truecoach, a programming app, to provide resources and promotes independence. All clinicians have the time, resources, support system, and education to meet patients where they are at and progress them toward their goals, while also having work-life balance.

This has been the most difficult journey to navigate with respect to physical, emotional, and financial sacrifices. I worked in an insurance-based clinic for three days per week and spent the remaining four days per week building Monarch. We opened in January 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic began and we were forced to adapt. Creating a cohesive work culture with a shared mission is critical to the success of any company. Our Physical Therapy Team overcame these challenges by creating a safe and respectful environment for communication, creating systems and hiring processes, valuing feedback, meeting regularly to discuss issues as they arise, setting expectations, and creating policies for when conflict arises.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This trip would involve a ton of fantastic food experiences and outdoor activities. Breakfast at Dialog Cafe, Huckleberry, or Cafe on 27. A journey to Erewhon is a must to see how insane the prices are for strawberries, water, and special smoothies. Dinners anywhere Evan Funke is the chef: Felix, Mother Wolf, or Funke. Elephante or Calabra for a drink and sunset views. A Point Dume beach day followed by dinner at Nobu Malibu. Playing beach volleyball and hooverball in Ocean Park and hiking in Temescal or Mandeville Canyon are also outdoor favorites. Lastly, for recovery, a sauna and cold plunge at either of our Monarch Athletic Club locations!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am incredibly thankful for the network of people who helped mentor and shape my career! This list is extensive! Growing up, Barry and Bonnie Goldberg from American University and Silvia Johnson from Metro Volleyball Club were all pivotal in my volleyball career. They taught me valuable leadership skills and, most importantly, how to be part of a successful team. During my time at the University of Miami, my volleyball coach was Nicole Lantagne Welch. She taught me many hard lessons about time management, communication, emotional intelligence, and being my own advocate. Dr. Wesley Smith was the catalyst for my healthcare career. He was my undergraduate exercise physiology professor at the University of Miami. He was the first professor that emphasized the importance of physical activity, community, social determinants of health, and nutrition in improving health-related outcomes. My experience working with him led to the desire to create a multi-disciplinary healthcare facility that targets behavior change and inspired me to go to Physical Therapy School. Dr. Josh Funk at Rehab 2 Perform, Dr. Zach Baker, and Dr. Jarred Boyd provided an enriching educational experience that helped cultivate critical thinking skills while I was in Physical Therapy School. Frankie Telfort is my strongest friend and kept me sane during my clinical rotations in Miami. My team at Monarch, Dr. Ryan Greene, Diana Cordova, Dr. Nati Schnitman, Dr. Alison Edwards, Dr. Taylor Black, Dr. Deanna Rodriguez, and Dr. Morgan Stanley have been the most incredible people to work with and learn from every day.

Website: www.monarchclubs.com

Instagram: Mariel.dpt

Other: https://linktr.ee/mariel.dpt