Inspiring Conversations with Monique Cofino of Onward Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Cofino.

Hi Monique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After graduating from a doctoral program for physical therapy, I was ready to go all-in on my profession. However, I quickly realized the limited quality of care being delivered to patients and the burnout that seemed to rip through from therapist to therapist. I knew my patients deserved better. I knew I deserved better. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some highly skilled leaders in our field who were determined like me to “do physical therapy right”.

In the middle of the pandemic, I opened the doors to start Onward Atlanta in August 2020. A one-on-one performance based boutique physical therapy clinic, offering excellence in care. Of course, I was nervous over the risks of opening a business in the midst of uncertainty with the pandemic, but I knew my passion was the driving force and that I had an army of like-minded individuals spearheading change through a continuing educational company, that I have the pleasure of assistance with.

Onward Atlanta was birth out of not only pure passion for offering a reimagined and better physical therapy, but also out of a need for it in the community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Due to appointments being strictly one-on-one, we were able to easily put in place safety measures during the heightened era of COVID-19. There’s no having to deal with multiple patients during the same hour in a confined space, unlike the majority of physical therapy clinics. But, of course, the pandemic presented its own unique challenges with running a new business and delays in supply chains.

But I think the pandemic also really showed people how important their health and fitness is in combatting serious illness, viruses, and diseases. So I almost felt like there was this big influx of eager individuals looking to enter the fitness world, feel guided in their journey, and find a place where they could knock out injuries or limitations that were holding them back.

And that’s what really fires me up. I’m not in the business for just changing back pain, but rather changing lives.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Onward, we believe that excellence looks different. And by different, we mean better. You’ll never feel rushed during an appointment and you’ve always got our undivided attention. One-on-one means the client is never sharing their appointment time with another person so that we can focus fully on your specific needs and get you better faster.

When people choose to prioritize their health, Onward Atlanta ensures that success because we’re quite frankly obsessed with building resilient human beings.

I specialize in treating a multitude of orthopedic areas, such as low back pain, shoulder injuries, and headaches/neck pain. In addition, I am certified in treating the fitness athlete. I love rehabbing CrossFitters, runners, and weightlifters because I know how much it would drive me crazy if I “had” to miss the gym. There is almost always a way to get these athletes remaining in the gym, modifying their workouts for them to attain a similar workout stimulus, and getting them back to performing at their best quickly and safely.

What sets us apart, aside from our skill and constant desire to “sharpen our irons”, is that we’re obsessed with getting and showing you results. You’ll never have to wonder if you’re getting better or not in PT because from Day 1 we have a plan to constantly track your progress at each visit. We love what we do so much that we dedicate hundreds of hours teaching other clinicians around the world how to perfect their craft and continue striving for better for their patients, just as we do. Onward is also methodical in our approach. Meaning, I’m never guessing what is causing your pain and throwing a bunch of different interventions at you hoping that at least one of them work.

I’m proud of how recognizable Onward has become in a short amount of time. You can’t scale a mediocre product. And I’m proud ours is far from that.

I’m proud of the mission we’re on so much so that I love celebrating the victories of others following suit to make a difference in PT. And, it’s humbling every time a patient tells me “I’m not afraid to do X anymore”. We, as a society, need more of that.

What matters most to you?
People. And the people that make up community.

I think community is what helps move mountains. I think our faith in one another and a Higher Power has the ability to make undeniable change. Whether that change is kindness, support, societal, or even just positive change in a home or school, that stuff matters at the end of every day.

I firmly believe when people come to me for their pain, it’s not just physical. Especially pain that’s been going on for a long time. That can weigh really heavy on you from an emotional, psychological, and your ability to perform your “role” in your home, at work, at school…

I always tell my patients that I understand pain isn’t just physical. It’s much more complex than that. And let’s figure those layers out. That way that person can then fulfill their role to their best ability in their community, their home, on their team, etc.

Pricing:

• $150 Initial Evaluation
• $150 Follow Up Session
• $80 30-min session (for current patients)
• $0.00 Restore and Perform Membership (pricing varies)
• $150 Virtual/Telehealth Appointments

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.onwardatlanta.com
• Instagram: @onwardatl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onwardatl/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlY79kVIRM6y5IcI8EQLOA

Image Credits:
Eric Michael Savage