Connect
To Top

Meet Charlie Piermarini

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Piermarini.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Charlie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From as long as I could remember, I have wanted to be in the medical field. My grandfather was a Physician and a Lawyer and I have many other family members who were also Physicians. While growing up, I had some difficulties in elementary school and was required to do after school tutoring in order to pass 2nd and 3rd grade. I finally came into my own and hit my stride while in high school and college. I attended The University of Arizona for my Bachelor’s Degree in Physiology and while in undergrad I obtained my EMT certification. For six summers, I was the EMT at a summer camp serving children and adults with special needs. These experiences solidified my passion for medicine and helping people. After working as an EMT, I was accepted into the Masters of Physiology program at The University of Arizona to further my education in the human body. After two years of hard work, I was fortunate enough to have my master’s thesis published in a peer-reviewed journal. I am able to bring this advanced knowledge of physiology into my practice of medicine with my patients.

I attended the Touro University of California for a dual Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and Public Health. After graduating I moved back to Arizona, ready to practice medicine and change lives. I joined an amazing and caring family practice in Fountain Hills and was luckily enough to be mentored by Dr. Jyoti Patel. She really instilled in me to look at the whole patient and think of integrative and alternative medicine to help our patients. I then moved on to a large pain clinic and saw and managed over 25 patients a day suffering from many chronic and acute pain issues. I would moonlight on the weekends at urgent care to keep my general skills sharp, but eventually, the clinic was bought by a large local urgent care group and I decided not to stay on staff.

It was after four years in pain management that I was starting to feel burned out and wanting more from medicine. I knew deep down that I had not gone through so much schooling to only see my patients for 15 minutes and then leave the room. I was left empty, stressed and overworked. I not only wanted more, but I needed more. I was even contemplating leaving medicine and going back into medical device sales. I stilled cared deeply for my patients but was never really allowed to show my compassion and knowledge because the system was set up for quantity over quality.

It was after a couple of years in a row without a raise and increasing responsibilities and being pressured to see more and more patients, I decided to start to build my vision in a practice. While working full time at the pain clinic and moonlighting at the urgent care, I was slowly getting all my processes in line to start my own clinic. Despite more pitfalls and challenges than I care to remember, I was able to launch my own clinic in my own vision. On my days off I was seeing patients and was able to give them as much attention as they required. Since I bootstrapped my own clinic, I have had a say and my hand in everything that went into my clinic. I still schedule answer the clinic phone, schedule my own patients, order supplies, market and see patients.

As my clinic was slowly growing and starting to get more traction, I was called into HR and was given the ultimatum to either close my clinic or quite. Talk about a gut check moment. I decided to roll the dice on myself and I quite in March 2019 and was full time at my own clinic, working full time to build my dream. I would like to say it has been smooth sailing, but just as I was about to hire a nurse to help with some of my procedures- summer hit. My patient volume and revenue went as dry as an Arizona summer. After three months of trying different tactics, I had to take a part-time job two days a week with a friend and colleague who had started his own pain clinic.

I have refocused my vision of medicine that I know allows me to give my patients the best care. After over a year of working with patients to properly take CBD, I have launched my own company and line of products. My vision is to create a pain multi-specialty pain clinic where patients have many different options to help with their overall health and pain. A combination of medicine, massage, chiropractic care, IV nutrition, cryotherapy and nutrition to give our patients the best chance to be healthy and as pain-free as possible. Patients at normal pain clinics are left with limited options for their pain and if given the opportunity I know they will prosper in this situation.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I will continue to fight for what’s right for my patients and take care of the whole patient.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have had to overcome almost being held back in 2nd and third grade. Funding my own clinic and running everything from the day to day to also seeing patients.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I run a wellness clinic that specializes in non-opioid pain therapies, medically assisted CBD, IV nutrition and Men’s health. I am most proud of having the registered trademark of the term Medically Assisted CBD. I have seen so many patients benefit from this amazing molecule, it’s just a shame the industry is full of bad actors just trying to capitalize on all the hype.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I firmly believe that the harder you work, the luckier you get. I know that a played out saying, but if you work hard you will be placed in certain situations that allow you to capitalize on. There have been plenty of times when I did not get what at first I thought I wanted and I was pushed into a different direction and I am so thankful for those moments. If you want something, you’ll make it happen!

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in