An interview with Dr. Ryan M. Greene, DO, MS, Founder of Monarch
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interview
24 Jun 2025
Dr. Ryan M. Greene, DO, MS is the Co-Founder, Managing Partne and Medical Director of Monarch Athletic Clubs. A revolutionary wellness and life practice with supporting AI Health model
Dr. Ryan M. Greene, DO, MS, is an osteopathic physician specialising in human performance, integrative medicine, and evidence-based recovery. He is the Co-founder and Medical Director of Monarch Athletic Club, a pioneering health and wellness ecosystem based in Los Angeles that blends physician-led care with training, recovery, nutrition, and mind-body optimisation all in one seamless experience. Monarch is redefining sustainable, preventive healthcare for the modern era.
Dr. Greene has served as an advisor to clinical and telehealth platforms focused on advanced therapeutics, longevity, and psychedelic medicine, including the use of psilocybin and ketamine to support mental health and TBI recovery. His academic foundation includes a Master’s in Exercise Physiology, Immunology, and Human Nutrition, as well as postgraduate training at Dartmouth and the Mayo Clinic. He is currently a fellow at the University of Arizona’s Centre for Integrative Medicine and serves as an ambassador for FIGS.
Health is our greatest asset and the key to achieving what we are here on this planet. We have made achieving health too complicated; thus, Monarch has simplified that journey by offering everything for a reason. Dr. Greene states.
Tell us a bit more about your background.
After years of studying exercise physiology, human nutrition, and integrative medicine—and completing surgical residency clinical training at institutions like Dartmouth and the Mayo Clinic—I became increasingly frustrated with the fragmented nature of healthcare and wellness. Patients were often forced to navigate siloed providers, conflicting advice, and reactive treatment models. I saw a clear need for a more connected, proactive system—one that addressed the full spectrum of performance, prevention, and recovery. That vision led me to co-found Monarch Athletic Club, a fully integrated ecosystem where fitness, medicine, nutrition, and mind-body optimisation come together under one roof to support sustainable, personalised health.
How did your entrepreneurial journey begin? | While completing my fellowship, I came to a stark realization: the traditional healthcare system would limit my ability to truly serve people as a physician. In what could best be described as an existential reckoning, I began envisioning a new model—one inspired by the integrated support systems available to elite athletes. I believed this level of care shouldn’t be reserved for professionals on the field, because our physical, mental, and emotional needs are fundamentally the same. That vision became the foundation for Monarch Athletic Club: a fully integrated wellness ecosystem designed to elevate everyday performance and long-term health for all. From there, I am fortunate the universe led me to my now business partners who had a similar desire, demonstrated success in the hospitality industry and were able to support getting the idea off the ground. |
Please do explain Monarch to us… | Monarch Athletic Club is redefining the future of health by building the first vertically integrated wellness ecosystem that merges fitness, medicine, recovery, and performance under one roof, with physician oversight. We’re taking the same comprehensive, data-driven approach used by elite athletes and making it accessible to everyday professionals who value longevity, resilience, and proactive care. Our model not only increases retention and lifetime member value, but also generates industry-leading margins by consolidating services typically spread across multiple providers. With proof of concept in place, strong unit economics, and growing demand for premium health optimisation, Monarch is positioned to scale nationally as the new standard in preventative healthcare and lifestyle performance. |
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced? | Since opening Monarch, we’ve faced a series of extraordinary challenges—from launching in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating disruptions caused by the LA wildfires. Beyond these external hurdles, one of our greatest obstacles has been educating the market on the true value of what we offer. While our monthly price point exceeds that of traditional high-end fitness clubs like Equinox, we provide something fundamentally different: an integrated, physician-led ecosystem that addresses fitness, recovery, medical care, and performance in one seamless experience. It’s not just a gym, it’s a reimagining of healthcare and wellness, and helping people understand that has taken time and persistence. |
What was one of the most interesting (or useful) things you learned this year? | There have been promising developments in the insurance space that open the door to an idea I’ve been refining: a Monarch-designed, in-house healthcare cost coverage program. This model would reward members for engaging in healthy behaviours like training, recovery, and diagnostics with the benefit of reduced healthcare costs. It’s a powerful opportunity to align personal accountability with meaningful financial incentives, all within our integrated ecosystem. |
What advice would you give to someone trying to followin your footsteps? | If you have a dream, a vision or are passionate about anything, I believe it is our obligation as humans to pursue those interests as we never know what or who will improve the lives of not only ourselves, but our communities and those we care about. |
Something you do weekly that helps you progress, a good habit, a clever tool or something you do that supports you personally | I’ve developed very intentional morning and evening routines, rituals that help me prepare for the day ahead and unwind from the pace of each one. I also ground myself with a phrase I learned during residency: “No matter how difficult, every day will end and you’ll have a fresh start tomorrow.” It’s a reminder that resilience is built not just in action, but in how we reset. |
What’s next, what are the big things to come? | We have five additional clubs in our pipeline and plan to continue expanding with two to three new openings per year. Alongside our physical growth, we’re developing our own end-to-end technology stack, an integrated software platform designed to streamline operations while incorporating cutting-edge AI. This platform will go beyond basic scheduling and business functions, empowering individuals with personalised, data-driven insights to better understand and optimise their health. |