Our Story
Medicine That Actually Listens.
Monarch Functional Medicine was built out of frustration with a broken system — one where patients were dismissed, symptoms were ignored, and “normal” labs were used to end conversations that should have just been starting.
Trusted & loved by our patients.
Years of clinical experience
Founder & Lead Provider
Julie McDonald, PA-C, FMACP
Julie grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — and has never really left. Born and raised there, she attended Westwood High School before heading to Michigan Tech University, where she studied Biology. She went on to complete her Master of Medical Science at Midwestern University near Chicago.
What followed was over two decades of clinical work across Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine. She saw thousands of patients. She was good at what she did. And she grew increasingly frustrated by what the system wouldn’t let her do.
The Turning Point
Again and again, Julie watched patients walk out with their labs labeled “normal” and their symptoms labeled “stress” — no answers, no path forward. Thyroid issues dismissed. Hormonal symptoms minimized. Real suffering attributed to lifestyle. She knew there was more to find, and she knew how to find it. The system just wasn’t designed to let her look.
So she built her own practice. Monarch Functional Medicine was founded with one goal: to give patients the clinical depth they’d been denied. An approach that starts with curiosity instead of closing the conversation.
The Monarch Approach
At Monarch, Julie combines advanced genetic testing, functional lab analysis, and personalized protocols that treat the whole picture — hormones, metabolism, gut health, inflammation, and energy. She works with both women and men, though her specialty and deepest experience is in supporting women navigating perimenopause, hormonal imbalances, and the years when the body starts sending signals that conventional medicine ignores.
Julie’s practice is built on time — time she didn’t have in traditional medicine. Time to actually listen. Time to investigate. Time to adjust a plan when the first one needs refining. That’s what patients at Monarch get that they rarely get elsewhere.
When she’s not in the clinic, Julie is somewhere in the UP — at the lake, on a mountain bike trail, on skis, or on the sidelines of a soccer field cheering on her kids. She is, above everything else, a mom who understands what it means to need more than you have the bandwidth to ask for.
"My goal is to help all patients find the information and resources they need to achieve wellness in the most effective and least invasive way possible — because you deserve more than 'everything looks fine.'"
— Julie McDonald, PA-C, FMACP · Founder —
The Monarch Team
The People Behind Your Care
Julie McDonald, MMS, PA-C, FMACP
Founder & Lead Provider
Specializes in hormone health, metabolism, thyroid, and root-cause care for women and men. Founded Monarch after two decades in traditional medicine.
Michael McDonald
Administrative Support Specialist
Mike, a U.P. native and Kingsford High School graduate, served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. He later supported service members and their families at the Airmen and Family Readiness Center.
Jennifer Lahti, LPN
Clinical Operations
Jen, originally from Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin, moved to Marquette for NMU and transitioned from music education to healthcare, earning her LPN. She has over 20 years of experience across nursing, clinical care, home health, and hospice.
Over 20 years of experience as PA ★★★★★
How We Work
Our Core Principles
Root Cause, Always
We don't manage symptoms indefinitely. We investigate what's driving them — and we don't stop until we find something actionable.
Your Biology is Unique
No two patients get the same plan. Genetic testing, lab results, and your health history all shape a protocol built specifically for you.
Education Over Dependency
We want patients who understand their own bodies. Knowledge is the most powerful thing we can give you, it lasts beyond any program.
Sustainable, Not Extreme
Protocols that require heroic willpower don't work long-term. Everything we build is designed to fit real life — yours specifically.
Both Men & Women
While our deepest expertise is in women's hormonal health, the root-cause approach applies equally. Many patient spouses join after seeing results firsthand.
Ongoing Clinical Partnership
You're not handed a PDF and left alone. We're with you throughout — adjusting, refining, and supporting progress at every stage.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is this program for men too, or only women?
This program is for both men and women. While hormone patterns can look different, many of the root issues behind low energy, weight gain, poor sleep, brain fog, and feeling off are often the same, including stress, blood sugar imbalance, inflammation, and poor metabolic function. For men, this can also include identifying and addressing suboptimal testosterone levels that may be affecting energy, strength, recovery, mood, libido, and body composition.
2. What if my labs always come back normal?
That is one of the biggest reasons people come to us. Normal labs do not always mean your body is functioning well. Many people are told everything looks fine, yet still struggle with fatigue, weight gain, poor sleep, mood changes, or brain fog. We look beyond whether a number is simply in range and focus on the bigger picture.
3. What does the 3-payment structure look like?
The program can be split into 3 payments to make getting started more manageable. You do not have to pay everything up front, and we will review the full cost and payment schedule with you before you begin.
4. I'm already on medications, can I still do this?
Yes, in many cases you can. Many people begin this program while already taking medications. Your current treatment, health history, symptoms, and goals are all considered as part of your care, while your PCP or prescribing provider continues to manage any medications outside the scope of this program.
5. How is this different from just seeing a doctor?
This is a more in-depth, personalized approach. Instead of short visits focused only on symptoms or diagnoses, we look at the underlying patterns contributing to how you feel, including metabolism, hormones, thyroid, stress, inflammation, sleep, and lifestyle. The goal is to understand why things are off and give you a clear plan to move forward.
6. Do you accept insurance?
This program is not billed through insurance. It is offered as a cash-pay program so we can provide a more personalized, comprehensive approach without the restrictions that often come with insurance-based care.
7.What types of bioidentical hormones do you prescribe?
When appropriate bioidentical hormones may be prescribed in forms such as oral capsules, topical creams, or injectables, depending on your symptoms, labs, goals, and what makes the most sense clinically. We do not prescribe pellets. Pellets can be difficult to adjust once placed, may lead to inconsistent dosing for some patients, and do not allow the same flexibility as other options. We prefer forms that can be tailored more precisely and adjusted more easily as your needs change.
8. Do you offer peptides?
Yes, peptides may be recommended in certain cases as part of a broader treatment plan, depending on your goals, symptoms, and medical history. Peptides are not a starting point for everyone, and they are not a magic fix on their own. When used appropriately, they may help support areas such as body composition, recovery, energy, or overall wellness, but they work best when built on a solid foundation of sleep, nutrition, metabolism, and hormone balance first.
Ready to Start?
Take the First Step
Toward Feeling Like Yourself Again
Whether you start with a free strategy call or jump straight into the 12-Week Reset — the most important step is the first one.
Join hundreds of patients who have reclaimed their energy, hormones, and health.
Patient Results
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