This is a question I hear often—from friends, family, and even patients. The answer goes back to around 2010, when I started to notice the healthcare system becoming increasingly commoditized and consolidated. In short, it was circling the drain.
Fewer students were going into medicine, while the best and brightest were choosing finance, engineering, and tech. Meanwhile, physicians were being devalued and replaced by allied health professionals like NPs and PAs. It became clear to me that if I wanted to continue being entrepreneurial, it wouldn’t be by running a traditional private practice—that model was dying.
So, I asked myself: What else can I do within medicine that still serves patients—especially my aging ones—and lets me keep building something meaningful?
Aesthetic medicine made sense. My patients were asking about the things that come with aging: “Why do I look older than I feel?” Concerns about varicose veins, fine lines, wrinkles, age spots—the list goes on. Traditionally, this was the realm of dermatologists or plastic surgeons, but most of them only receive a few months of aesthetic training in residency. How hard could it be?
So over one cold winter, I dove in. I taught myself cosmetic dermatology. Painful? Absolutely. (My wife can attest to the complaining.) But we did it. I hired a consultant, brought in 13 physician investors, and we opened the doors to Blue Seas Med Spa in April 2012.
The early years were tough. We learned quickly that doing well meant staying ethical—never overselling, never pushing procedures or products people didn’t need. We also invested in equipment that, in hindsight, turned out to be ineffective—but we learned and adapted. Over time, we built one of the most respected med spas in the area, even as competitors sprang up all around us.
Our core values remain unchanged: always act in the client’s best interest, never push unnecessary treatments, and train our staff to be the best in the business. That philosophy created a culture that’s now infectious. I’m incredibly proud to be part of a team of 19 people who have grown into providers that genuinely love what they do.
Now, people ask: Why would a women’s health expert still have anything to offer in the med spa space?
Well, the med spa industry is evolving—from aesthetics into true wellness. We’re now seeing interest in hormone therapy, weight loss, body contouring, muscle toning, and overall vitality. This is exactly where my background in women’s healthcare becomes incredibly valuable.
I’ve been counseling patients on hormone replacement therapy for decades. Bioidentical hormones, pellets, supplements—they’re part of my daily practice. At Blue Seas, we bring a unique, risk-based approach to these therapies that many others overlook. Take GLP-1 agonists, for example. They’re everywhere right now, but most people don’t know they reduce both fat and muscle—creating a thinner, but older-looking face. Kind of the opposite of what we’re aiming for.
Maybe fillers will balance it out. Maybe not. Time will tell.
The point is this: Make sure your med spa has a physician at the helm—someone with broad clinical knowledge and a strong understanding of risk versus benefit. Because it’s no longer just about smoother skin. It’s about total wellness, in the broadest sense of the word.
