Meet Marlee Bruno M.m.s., Pa-c

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marlee Bruno M.m.s., Pa-c. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marlee, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience is something I had to cultivate within myself very early in life. By the age of four, I was already acutely aware that I was born into a “sink or swim” situation. My father was a drug addict who lost his battle with substances when I was just five, and my mom was an ICU nurse working nearly every day to make ends meet, while also struggling with her own mental health issues. I’m one of five children, and by the time I was seven, my mom had already been through five marriages–and divorces.

I never could quite wrap my head around why my mom always seemed to look for love in all the wrong places. Case in point: the Somerset County Prison, where I spent two of my birthdays visiting my stepdad, known to the state as inmate number 7419. By the time I was eight, I’d been through so many unfavorable experiences that I knew—deep in my heart—that I would never follow in those footsteps. I was determined to change the course of my life. There was a little voice inside me that told me the way out was to be a high achiever.

And so, that’s exactly what I did. My three older brothers struggled with alcoholism, and my younger sister has battled addiction her whole life. But by first grade, I knew that either I had to work hard to change my circumstances or else I’d become a product of my environment. So I got up every morning, dressed myself, and walked to school. I thrived in school—I performed in musicals, played saxophone in the band, won spelling bees, earned straight As, and even became captain of the cheerleading squad and homecoming queen. I pushed myself through college and grad school without ever taking a break. I really believed that with the hand I was dealt in life, I had to work tirelessly to make something of myself or stay victim to those circumstances.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a board-certified physician associate with 15 years of experience in healthcare. For the first ten years of my career, I worked in emergency medicine because, honestly, I loved the adrenaline and the fast pace.

But here’s the thing—I realized that this craving for adrenaline was rooted in my childhood trauma. I was constantly pushing myself because I felt like my life depended on it, and I knew it was time to heal that part of me. So, I became a certified master life coach, which helped me channel that drive in a healthier way.

Six years ago, I opened my wellness and aesthetics practice, Mind Body & Soul Medical, located in the heart of Pensacola, Florida. It’s my pride and joy—a safe haven where women can come to not only look and feel their best but also heal from trauma and life’s stressors. My mission and purpose is to help women feel empowered to go out and uplift others.

I also started Injector Coach Institute, a training academy where aesthetic injectors from all over the country come to learn cutting-edge techniques and heart-centered business practices.

I recently achieved a huge milestone by moving my practice, Mind Body & Soul Medical, to a beautiful 5,500-square-foot facility in downtown Pensacola, and we’re thrilled to welcome both patients and students into this incredible new space!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were:

Knowing myself. This is huge! When I coach women, I’m always surprised how many of them don’t know what they truly like or what they want out of life. I learned to ask myself these questions early on because I had to—no one else was going to figure it out for me. Knowing who you are is so key to navigating life.

Understanding that attitude is a choice. This was a game-changer for me! Once I realized that how I respond to things is completely up to me, I felt this huge sense of relief. Bad things can happen, but I get to choose my outlook, and that means I have power over my future.

Embracing vulnerability as a superpower. Growing up fast and always protecting myself made me a little hardened. But over time, I learned that vulnerability doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human. I allow myself to feel my feelings, then I move on. My feelings don’t run the show–I do.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

Oh, I’m a firm believer in going all in on your strengths!

When you focus on what you’re great at—and what brings you joy—you’re unstoppable. I’ve built my life around doing the things I excel at and love. The areas I’m not strong in? I team up with people who are and let them shine! It’s all about building a power squad of strengths and passion.

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Image Credits

Photos on behalf of Mind Body & Soul Medical

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