When Mary Martinez Coffey was dispensing 19 medications at once for a single patient, she had a moment of clarity that would change the trajectory of her career and the lives of countless patients. As a clinical pharmacy practitioner, she realized something was fundamentally wrong with simply treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes.
That pivotal moment led to the founding of Boutique Wellness in February 2018, a unique integrative medicine practice in Winston-Salem that combines functional medicine, hormone therapy, aesthetics, and holistic care under one roof.
The Wake-Up Call That Sparked A Transformation
Mary recalls the exact moment that changed everything:
"I dispensed 19 meds one time for one medication. I woke up. I'm like, what am I doing?"
This realization prompted her to pursue additional education focused on slowing down the aging process naturally. She earned her fellowship from the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and certification in clinical nutrition.
Her approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional medicine to integrative care, focusing on getting to the root of why people get sick rather than simply managing symptoms with prescriptions.
The Boutique Wellness Approach: Healing The Body Naturally
Coffey’s practice philosophy centers on helping the body heal itself naturally through regenerative medicine. She explains the connection between aesthetics and internal health with refreshing honesty:
"People come in for wrinkles, right? And then I talk to them about hormones and estradiol and estriol and collagen and water."
This whole-person approach has proven particularly effective for patients dealing with fatigue, brain fog, and hormone imbalances that have become increasingly common in recent years.
What Brings Patients To Boutique Wellness
The most common reasons patients seek out Boutique Wellness include concerns about wrinkles, weight loss challenges, and general feelings of unwellness. However, Coffey notes something deeply concerning about modern health:
"People have been fighting fatigue and brain fog since COVID, even before that, and think it's now normal and it's okay to feel this way. Meanwhile, it's not."
When patients receive a glimpse of true health, Coffey says they gain hope and motivation to continue their wellness journey. Her favorite patients are those who educate themselves about their treatment options. She explains:
"I tell them to go home and research this and then come back because they're my favorite patients. The people that educate themselves because then I'm not around them, but they will stay compliant."
Stress Management: The Foundation Of Health
When addressing the widespread problem of stress, Coffey offers practical, actionable advice. Her first recommendation is discipline in allowing time for yourself. She advises:
"Seven consecutive days of 15 minutes of breathing, seven full breaths, writing things down, and doing it consistently. You will see a transformation just in that."
The Critical Importance Of Sleep
Sleep emerges as a cornerstone of Coffey’s treatment philosophy. Her primary goal for new patients is achieving eight full hours of quality sleep each night. She explains the critical connection:
"Unless we're dampening that cortisol, they're not going to sleep well at night."
Expanding Into Regenerative Aesthetics
The integration of aesthetics into Boutique Wellness came through a partnership with Dr. Joe Clever, the practice’s medical director. This addition serves a dual purpose: bringing patients in who might not otherwise discover hormone replacement therapy and integrative medicine, while diversifying income streams necessary for wellness centers to thrive.
Coffey shares her vision for the future of healthcare:
"The future of integrative medicine is regenerative aesthetics and regenerative medicine. It's healing the body naturally with your own ability, and that's part of what the aesthetic component does as well as integratively."
Manolo’s: Where Wellness Meets Culture
Below Boutique Wellness sits Manolo’s Boutique Wines and Bistro, an event space and restaurant that reflects Coffey’s love of wine, music, and good food. What began as a wine bar inspired by her partner’s Londo Wines vineyard in Sonoma has evolved into a unique community gathering space.
The concept creates a complete experience where patients can relax after treatments with a glass of wine while enjoying live music. Coffey shares her inspiration:
"I love music. I love jazz. I grew up in New York, so there was always good food, good museums, good music. Here now in Winston, we just want to bring that back, you know, culture, good food and good vibes."
Supporting Local Restaurants And Musicians
In an innovative pivot, Manolo’s now partners with local restaurants that excel at catering but lack dine-in spaces. Recent partnerships have included Spaghetti Park and Island Cuisine from Clemmons, offering diverse culinary experiences as tapas-style dining.
This model supports local businesses while providing variety for guests. The venue also regularly features live music, with plans to bring back Tuesday jazz nights and Friday performances. Special events like flamenco dancing performances featuring dancers from Cuba typically sell out quickly.
Lessons From Running Two Businesses
Managing both a medical practice and restaurant has been transformative for Coffey, though she admits the restaurant wasn’t something she initially envisioned running. She reflects:
"It's one of the hardest businesses, but it has transformed me and helped me to make better decisions as a business owner for upstairs and boutique wellness."
Her biggest lesson centers on surrounding herself with positive people and maintaining spiritual practices. She explains:
"I'm a strong Christian and I will say prayer is really key. I wouldn't be able to make the decisions I have unless I allocate an hour of prayer time or just listening to someone that motivates me that's better than me."
The Daily Discipline Of Success
Coffey’s daily routine demonstrates the discipline required to run multiple businesses successfully. She wakes between 3:50 and 4:50 AM, dedicating her first hour to prayer, meditation, and personal tasks before checking emails or diving into work demands.
Exercise represents another non-negotiable element of her routine. She shares:
"I go to the gym every day, even if it's just 20 minutes. It's part of my mental health. It increases all neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, which is what I need."
This commitment to personal wellness allows her to practice what she preaches and maintain the energy needed to serve patients upstairs and guests downstairs.
Advice For Aspiring Business Owners
When asked about lessons learned, Coffey emphasizes not making quick decisions and allowing time to sit with major choices. However, her core advice revolves around self-care and spiritual grounding.
Making thousands of daily decisions, from equipment purchases to personnel issues, requires clarity that only comes from proper rest and reflection. Coffey acknowledges:
"I wouldn't be able to do it with my own wisdom. The biggest takeaway for me is allowing that time to meditate, allowing that time to be and to assimilate all the changes that have happened so that you're always guided accordingly."
Looking Ahead: Supporting The Community
Coffey’s goals for the future center on supporting local restaurants, venues, and musicians. Her passion project involves creating spaces where the community can experience good food, wine, and live entertainment in an intimate setting.
Early 2026 will feature a flamenco performance on January 30th with live dancers from Cuba, offering just 36 premium seats for an exclusive experience. These events exemplify Coffey’s vision of creating memorable experiences that nourish both body and soul.
Experience The Boutique Wellness Difference
Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, seeking hormone balance, interested in aesthetic treatments, or simply want to optimize your health, Boutique Wellness offers a comprehensive approach that addresses root causes rather than symptoms.
The practice welcomes both men and women, with an increasingly diverse patient population as word spreads about the transformative results possible through integrative medicine. Learn more about Mary Coffey and her approach to wellness to discover how she can help you achieve optimal health.
Ready to take the first step toward true wellness? Contact us to schedule your consultation and begin your journey to feeling like yourself again.
For those seeking an evening of culture, Manolo’s Boutique Wines and Bistro provides an intimate space for events, casual dining, or simply unwinding with a glass of wine and live music.
Listen to the full podcast episode to hear more about Mary’s journey and her vision for bringing integrative medicine and cultural experiences to the community.