Dr. Mackenzie Varkula completed her bachelor's and master's degrees at Case Western Reserve University before studying medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a residency in Adult Psychiatry and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, both at the Cleveland Clinic. Following her training, she stayed on staff there and ultimately served as the Medical Director of Inpatient Services for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Varkula serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI Ohio and is active in the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association, chairing the committee for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She volunteered as a psychiatrist at the Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland for 10 years before its merger with the Centers for Families and Children in 2017.

Dr. Varkula is Board-Certified in both Adult and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She specializes in medication management and has a particular interest in young women's mental health.