Regenerative PCP

We caught up with Maurica Cox, NP-C to talk about caring for patients in Petoskey, what continues to inspire her work in hormone health and regenerative medicine, and the everyday conversations that remind her why listening is often the most important part of great healthcare.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you enjoy outside of work?
Right now, most of life revolves around my family, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My husband and I spend a lot of time cheering on our kids at sporting events and school activities, and it’s been such a fun season watching them grow into themselves.

We also love escaping to our family cottage, spending time on the water, and cooking together.

The kids are always finding a new recipe they’d like us to try, so weekends often end with something homemade coming out of the oven.

Where did you work before joining the team?
Before joining Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center and RegenCen, I practiced at Charlevoix Women’s Health for several years.

Before that, I spent 8 years caring for patients in a women’s health practice in the East Lansing area.

Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in helping patients through every stage of life and continue to shape the way I care for patients today.

Have you tried any of the treatments you offer?
I haven’t personally experienced hormone replacement therapy, NAD+, or medical weight loss treatments.

I have had PRF, and I was really happy with my results. It’s a treatment I enjoy offering because I’ve seen firsthand how effective it can be.

What inspired your passion for hormone health and regenerative medicine?
Women’s health has always been at the heart of my career. I began as a labor and delivery nurse, which inspired me to become a nurse practitioner.

For more than a decade, I’ve cared for women through everything from contraception and pregnancy to perimenopause and menopause.

One area I’m especially passionate about is helping women navigate menopause. Too many patients feel their concerns are minimized or dismissed, and they deserve better than that.

Taking time to truly listen, validate what they’re experiencing, and develop a thoughtful treatment plan can completely change how someone feels.

While my background is rooted in women’s health, I also enjoy caring for men through testosterone replacement therapy. It’s rewarding to help both women and men regain their energy, confidence, and quality of life.

What concerns do you hear most often from patients?
For women, I commonly hear about fatigue, brain fog, difficulty sleeping, low libido, and hot flashes. Many tell me they simply don’t feel like themselves anymore.

For men, low energy is one of the biggest concerns, especially that afternoon crash. Sometimes they don’t initially recognize changes in their libido because they’ve gradually adjusted to feeling different.

As we talk through their symptoms, many realize they’ve accepted a new normal that doesn’t have to be permanent.

What improvements do men notice after testosterone replacement therapy?
The biggest thing I hear is that they simply feel like themselves again. Patients often notice more energy, improved focus, better workouts, quicker recovery, less joint discomfort, and an overall brighter outlook.

One comment I hear often is, “I didn’t realize how bad I felt until I started feeling good again.” That perspective is incredibly rewarding because it reminds me how much hormones can influence someone’s overall well-being.

Can you share a favorite patient success story?
One patient who always comes to mind is a woman in her mid-50’s who had spent years searching for answers. She had been prescribed multiple psychiatric medications but felt deep down that hormones were playing a significant role in how she was feeling.

We talked through her symptoms, discussed realistic expectations, and created a treatment plan together.

Six weeks after her first pellet therapy treatment, she came back feeling dramatically better. As she continued working with her psychiatrist, she was eventually able to discontinue several medications under their guidance.

The part that stayed with me most wasn’t just how much better she felt. She told me she finally felt heard. Knowing someone feels listened to and supported is one of the most meaningful parts of this work.

Outside of hormones, what treatments have surprised you most with their results?
Pelvic floor and vaginal rejuvenation treatments have been incredibly rewarding because they address concerns that so many women quietly live with, including urinary leakage, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and changes in sexual wellness.

These are very common concerns, but they’re still not talked about nearly enough.

I’m also continually impressed by medical weight loss.

Many patients have struggled for years and felt discouraged before finally finding a treatment plan that works for them. Watching improvements in their confidence, inflammation, overall health, and quality of life is incredibly fulfilling.

How do you see hormone and regenerative medicine evolving over the next decade?
I’m optimistic that these treatments will become even more accessible and better understood. We’re already seeing more research, more education, and more open conversations than we did just a few years ago.

My hope is that continued research allows us to better support both women and men while making hormone optimization and regenerative medicine a more accepted part of everyday healthcare.

If you were not in medicine, what would you be doing?
If money weren’t a factor, I’d probably own a small bakery surrounded by wildflowers and honeybees. I’d have fresh honey, lots of open land, and plenty of oversized cookies coming out of the oven every day.

What is your go-to coffee order?
I’m pretty simple. One cup of black coffee every morning. Sometimes it’s cold before I finish it, but that doesn’t bother me.

What is a health myth you love to bust?
One misconception I wish more people understood is that vaginal estrogen is unsafe or only appropriate for certain patients.

Because it isn’t significantly absorbed throughout the body, it can be an excellent option for many women, including some who aren’t candidates for systemic estrogen therapy.

It can make a tremendous difference for vaginal dryness, bladder health, urinary symptoms, and painful intercourse. These changes are incredibly common with aging, yet many women don’t realize there are safe, effective treatments available.

Simply knowing those options exist can have a meaningful impact on someone’s quality of life.