Kathy Taranto is a partner at AesthetiCare Medspa in Leawood, Kansas. In 2020, AesthetiCare did over $7 million in non-surgical aesthetics at one location. It opened in 2001 with one nurse and one aesthetician. Today, it has more than 30 employees and two locations. Taranto is also a partner at MINT Aesthetics, a full-service aesthetic training and consulting group. MINT gives her the opportunity to share more than 20 years of experience with other professionals in the industry. MINT has offered training and consulting since 1997 and has served more than 1,500 clinics across North America.

Bryan Durocher is the author of Wake Up… Live the Life You Love… in Beauty, and is the founder of Essentials Spa Consulting and Durocher Enterprises. Durocher was named one of the “Top 20 People to Know in the Beauty Industry” by Global Cosmetic Industry magazine, and provides coaching, consulting, global industry trends and marketing solutions for medical spa, spa and industry professionals. He has been published in many articles and has provided business education at a variety of national and international industry events.

Kari Stevison is the chief marketing officer at Plastix Marketing. Plastix is a digital marketing agency specializing in long-term growth strategies for plastic surgery and medical spa practices. For more than 25 years, she has worked with hundreds of businesses to drive brand awareness, lead generation, and customer loyalty. Finding her passion in the aesthetics industry over the past eight years, Stevison has worked exclusively with medical spas and plastic surgeons to effectively attract, convert and close patients.

Terri Ross is a world-renowned practice management consultant and international speaker in the aesthetic industry who has helped hundreds of medical aesthetic practices launch, grow and scale upward of $1 million in growth a year and beyond. In response to real-world challenges facing aesthetic practices, Ross launched APX, a business intelligence training and growth solutions platform for the medical aesthetics industry in the areas of sales, finance, operations, and marketing analytics.

Lora Kassaros is the practice manager for Dermatique Medical Spa in Geneva, Illinois. Kassaros has more than 30 years of a successful career that began in salon/spa ownership/management. Her expertise includes turnaround situations and growing businesses with dynamic marketing programs that are designed to increase revenue and patient retention. Kassaros is a published author for Skin Inc. and MedEsthetics magazines, a member of the advisory board for Brilliant Distinctions, and has spoken as a panelist at an AmSpa Boot Camp and a podcast guest on AmSpa's Medical Spa Insider.

Bree Black has an extensive background in sales, sales leadership, and business development. She started her career in aesthetics with Allergan working as a business development manager in the Seattle and Beverly Hills, California, markets. In 2019, Black co-founded Job Snob with then-colleague Kipper Doughty. Job Snob provides nationwide concierge recruiting, an industry-specific job board and acquisition matchmaking for medical aesthetic practices.

Kipper Doughty is one of the founders of Job Snob, a dedicated resource to assist medical aesthetic practices in the hiring process. In 2007, she began her career in aesthetics with Allergan. As an executive business development manager, she worked in both the Dallas and Beverly Hills, California, markets, where she recognized the strong need for a staffing solution in the industry. In 2019, Doughty co-founded Job Snob with her former colleague and friend, Bree Black. Job Snob currently works with medical spas as well as cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery practices, providing concierge recruiting, an industry-specific job board and practice acquisition services throughout the nation.

Kay Durairaj, MD, completed her surgical training at UCLA and is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. She specializes in faces, including surgery for eyelids, rhinoplasty, facelifts, and neck lifts. Her expertise is in neurotoxins, facial injectables, and fillers and she was voted one of the top 100 injectors in the country by her peers. She is vice chair of the Department of Head and Neck surgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and she serves as an advisor to multiple aesthetic industry organizations.

Gretchen Frieling, MD, is a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified dermatopathologist, with more than 18 years of experience in medicine and Dermatopathology. She is the founder of GFaceMD, the Soyier Skin Collection, FACEit Virtual Global Aesthetic Symposium, and FACEit Scholar Educational Platform. Dr. Frieling has an extensive academic background, including numerous publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, being selected editor of medical journals, being an author of noteworthy medical textbook chapters, being an educator at Harvard Medical School, and being a speaker at many national medical conferences. Dr. Frieling has mastered the art of redefining and revitalizing the face by eliminating fine lines and wrinkles and reestablishing volume with a minimalistic approach.

Kevin Harrington, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a pioneer in aesthetic injectables, with more than 18 years of experience. As CEO and founder of Face-Time Aesthetics, he is a highly sought-after, innovative leader. A faculty trainer for Allergan, Galderma, and the Face-Time Aesthetics Training Center, Harrington travels the country and internationally educating medical professionals, from beginners to advanced practitioners, on the proper use of injectables. His passion for anatomy has earned him a faculty position with the Academy For Injection Anatomy with Dr. Chris Surek. Harrington is an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida and affiliate director, cosmetic dermatology for the National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (NADNP).

Shelby Miller, DNP, FNP-C, is the founder of RUMA Medical Aesthetics. She is a board-certified nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree from Gonzaga University. Miller is a skilled cosmetic injector and is well-known in the medical aesthetic industry for producing natural, transformative results. She founded RUMA Training and has personally educated hundreds of medical providers in the aesthetic community. Miller is a national speaker, trainer, and GEN Now faculty member for Galderma, as well as a key opinion leader for Allergan Aesthetics.

Lori Robertson, MSN, FNP-C, is the clinical director and owner of Skin Perfect Medical Aesthetics in Brea, California. She has 14 years of experience as a cosmetic dermatologist and medical aesthetic practitioner. Robertson is currently a national speaker and trainer for Galderma Pharmaceuticals and MINT PDO threads.

Bradford E. Adatto, JD, has a background in regulatory, transactional, and securities law. Having worked in healthcare law his entire career, he has an in-depth knowledge of the “dos and don’ts” of this heavily regulated industry. Adatto has worked with physicians, physician groups, and other medical service providers in developing ambulatory surgical centers, in-office and freestanding ancillary service facilities, and other medical joint ventures. He regularly counsels clients with respect to federal and state healthcare regulations that impact investments, transactions, and contract terms, including Medicare fraud and abuse, anti-trust, anti-kickback, anti-referral, and private securities laws.

Michael S. Byrd, JD, is a leading advocate for doctors and dentists throughout the United States. He routinely lectures at continuing medical education seminars on the various business and legal issues that medical professionals face. Outside of health care, Byrd has used these same skills to handle sensitive and complicated business matters for entrepreneurs, business owners, attorneys, CPAs, high-net-worth individuals and public figures. With his background as both a litigator and transactional attorney, Byrd brings a comprehensive perspective to business and healthcare issues.

A serial entrepreneur in the restaurant, software and real estate industries, Philipp Sitter is the founder and CEO of RepeatMD. He has been featured on the Travel Channel, Forbes and Bloomberg, and has won awards such as the Innovative Leadership Award from the Houston Chronicle.

Jessica Cipriano, RN, began her career as a registered nurse in labor and delivery. She quickly rose to the role of clinical supervisor and had a fierce passion for taking the best possible care of her patients and mentoring her staff to do the same. She also served as the chair of the policy and procedure and evidence-based practice committees. In 2017, Cipriano began her career in aesthetics as a nurse injector. She loves staying on top of the newest evidence-based practices in aesthetics. Her goal with staff, patients, and colleagues is to drive them forward using evidence and research to continue to bring innovation to the field of medical aesthetics.

Linette Rivera, MD, is a double board-certified physician in internal medicine, as well as endocrinology and metabolism. She offers expert guidance in bioidentical hormone therapy and aesthetic medicine at her practice. She was one of the founders of Bella Mia Medical Aesthetics and Laser Institute in Tampa, Florida, and is now opening her new location, Glanz Aesthetics, in Miami. She believes each patient is unique and deserves a comprehensive, customized treatment plan that suits their needs and concerns. Being Hispanic, she has passionately learned about the different ethnic skin tones and how to treat them safely and effectively with different laser modalities.

Jessica Nunn is a partner at Maven Financial Partners who takes pride in her experience helping business owners and their families increase their financial awareness. Over the course of her career, she has built trust with her clients by making the complex simple; she delivers financial solutions that are meaningful and relevant to her clients’ lives and businesses. Nunn provides small businesses, their owners, and their families with a holistic financial perspective. Her commitment to the Skytale core value of fun is the reason she is able to make complex financial planning an enjoyable process for her clients.

Ken Winnard, MD, is an internal medicine-trained physician with a background working as a hospitalist. After years of seeing patients with chronic illnesses that could have been prevented with early detection, he decided to form his own preventative medicine and aesthetics practice, OneLife Health & Performance. Dr. Winnard has mastered the art of age management from the inside out. He combines health and lifestyle intervention with customized aesthetic care plans to keep patients looking and feeling like their youngest, most confident selves.

Randy Torban has spent the past 15 years identifying, creating, and enhancing workflows, identifying raw data trends, and translating them into actionable KPIs for retail and health care companies of all sizes. He currently serves as senior practice analyst for Symplast, a mobile EHR/practice management platform for plastic surgery and medical spas. With a focus on maximizing the patient's experience, Torban regularly presents best practices to help medical business owners increase revenue.

Michael Antosy is a national speaker and practice growth consultant at MyAdvice. He has consulted with thousands of aesthetic practices since 2010, and his counsel and guidance have been transformative in making his clients' lives better by saving them time, earning more profit and helping to make his practices more competitive in their markets. Antosy has presented at numerous aesthetics conferences. His passion is in helping his clients succeed.

Audrey Neff serves as the Director of Marketing for PatientNow, which provides practice management and marketing solutions for over 3,000 aesthetic practices worldwide. Neff brings a decade of experience in sales and marketing, eight years of which have been in medical aesthetics. She is a frequent industry speaker on practice management, a published peer-reviewed author, and has held faculty positions for more than 18 medical associations and conferences across the U.S.

Tiffany Winnard began her career in TV news, where she served as a news reporter and anchor for many years. Through this, she was able to meet many different people and learn the value in networking and hustling to grow a business and brand. After she left news, she and her husband opened a health and aesthetics practice, something completely new to her. But with Winnard's media knowledge, they soon were booking TV slots, advertisements, and events without spending a dime of their marketing money. With her media expertise and public relations mindset, she knows that brand and reputation are everything when it comes to maintaining a successful business.

Elizabeth Ackerson is the founder, medical director, and lead injector at Splendore the Medical Spa. She took a leap of faith on her dream, leaving her career in urgent and emergent medicine and opening her own medical aesthetics clinic full-time. Ackerson has exceeded all expectations of her business growth and more than doubled her space and staff, all through her own belief in the importance of educating the public and patient relationships. Over a decade of nursing experience, a background in emergency medicine, a passion for aesthetics and a life in the rural Midwest have given Ackerson a unique perspective on interacting with, educating, and gaining forever clients that will be valuable to many providers and business models. 

Kat Lofley, DNP, APRN, CNM, WHNP-BC, owns Renewal Aesthetics & Sexual Wellness in Salt Lake City. She is a national and international trainer whose specialties include fillers, neurotoxins, laser treatments, PDO threads, Oshot, Pshot and bioidentical hormones. She believes strongly that aesthetics is not about vanity but rather is about empowering the individual with confidence and helping their outsides and insides reflect each other. “Dr. Kat,” as she is known by her patients, received two doctoral degrees in nursing from the University of Utah, as a women’s health nurse practitioner and as a certified nurse midwife.

Shelia Anderson began her aesthetic career in Seattle. With a background in critical care nursing, there is always the search for cause and effect, analysis of the situation and a constant thirst for knowledge. Working with plastic surgeons enabled Anderson to understand facial anatomy and the aging process to which she is able to apply her aesthetic talents. Her work with dermatologists is key to her understanding of skin, lasers and energy devices. Anderson is one of the original trainers for Allergan and currently serves as a trainer for the Allergan Medical Institute (AMI) in addition to providing private training through her company, Shelia Anderson Aesthetic Training.

Since opening Lickstein Plastic Surgery in 2017 with her husband of 29 years, David A. Lickstein, MD, FACS, Lisa Lickstein has successfully branded and, together with her husband, partner Christina Hobgood Naugle, PA-C, and practice consultant, Amy Anderson, spearheaded the strategic growth of the practice from an 11-employee single-physician, single-location practice to a 30+ employee, five-provider, three-location practice (surgery office and two medical spa locations), quadrupling revenue and tripling profit in five years. Lisa Lickstein has held executive positions on multiple nonprofit boards, raised in excess of $1 million for philanthropic, political, and advocacy organizations, and had the honor of being appointed a member of the electoral college in 2016.

Laura Osterweil is a physician assistant employed with Erasable Inc. Medical Spa and Aesthetics Institute in Tampa, Florida. She started her career in aesthetics after a successful career in interventional radiology, where she was the director of advanced practice providers—PAs and NPs. As director, she designed and implemented the onboarding curriculum for multiple new hires.

Bradley Musser, MD, has been practicing family medicine and urgent care in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for more than 20 years. Along the way, he had seen his patients who achieved amazing results with aesthetic treatments and became interested in providing these treatments for his patients. He began training and mastering techniques and has been offering facial aesthetics treatments for the last six years. With his attention to detail and artistic eye, he constantly strives in making every patient feel special. In addition to performing treatments, Dr. Musser also spends time training new injectors and supporting them as they move into the world of facial aesthetics.  Continually learning more and passing knowledge along to others, makes all better injectors.

Jackie Spagnuolo is a licensed registered nurse practicing in New York. She received her master's degree from Long Island University, where she completed her degree as an adult nurse practitioner. She obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing from Touro College School of Health Sciences and her certificate for aesthetics from the Institute for Laser Medicine. With her experience in both art and health care, she wanted to merge her passion for both. She offers a wide range of services including injections, facials, body contouring, hair restoration and more. At 27 years old, she has been in the industry for more than four years, specializing in anti-aging procedures for the face and body. Spagnuolo takes an individualized approach to each of her clients to create a natural and subtle aesthetically pleasing look.

For more than 15 years, Ryan Miller has directed online marketing strategies for some of the world’s most respected health care providers. He continues to develop advanced search engine optimization strategies, offer tactical guidance in social media and reputation management, and deliver effective health care marketing with measurable results.

Mitra Silva is the Founder and CEO of Simour Design, a medical interior design firm. She leads a specialized team of designers to serve clients through creating intentional and transformational medical spaces. Simour Design specializes in medspas, plastic surgery centers, and all areas of the medical field, designing for clients from Beverly Hills to New York City, Washington DC to Chicago, and everywhere in-between. She was named by Ariana Huffington’s Thrive Global as an accomplished C-Suite executive, and was invited as a Speaker for The Medical Spa Show 2021 and 2022. She was also a Guest Speaker on the Medical Spa Insider Podcast and was featured on EverTalkTV.

Shannon King, BSN, BHA, RN, is the owner of Le Meilleur Beauty And Wellness in Norco, California. She recognizes her journey as a black woman in the world of aesthetics is a road not often traveled and looks forward to working with others to pave the way to improve outcomes for clients and providers of color. Her goal is to leave a lasting positive imprint on the world of aesthetics, improving diversity, equality and inclusion. In addition to growing her own medical spa, King offers coaching and consulting to other small business owners in need of assistance with “the B side”—business operations, business systems and compliance.

Samantha Lucero-Daga, DNP, NP-C, is an advanced aesthetics nurse practitioner with years of experience in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine. She is not only a nurse practitioner, but also doctorally prepared with a focus on minimally invasive aesthetic medicine. Her work includes helping to clarify the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine in California. And though her passion is minimally invasive aesthetic medicine, it was not her first career path. She has ample experience in business and sales—everything from investment firms to pharmaceutical sales. She is an educator, a published author, a speaker, and the founder of Ananya Aesthetics, a thriving boutique medical spa in Pasadena, California. 

With a financial background from working at a Fortune 500 investment bank after college and a law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law, Grace Lee, JD, started her legal career in complex commercial and business litigation. Her practice included representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes, contract disputes, employment issues and other business litigation matters. Lee now utilizes her broad range of skills to work with clients in resolving their regulatory and business matters in the health care industry.

After graduating from Texas Tech University and following her dream of attending law school at SMU Dedman School of Law, Brooklyn Townsend, JD, began her legal career at ByrdAdatto as a law clerk in 2020. During that time, she has grown her skills in various regulatory and business areas within the medical spa industry. Now, as an attorney, Townsend enjoys helping clients form the proper business structure while ensuring their innovative ideas are within state laws and regulations. She finds it rewarding in her work to create solutions to the complex questions that arise when it comes to running a business in the health care environment.

As the youngest of three brothers, Sam Pondrom, JD, learned early on how to work effectively as part of a team. After graduating from Oklahoma State, an intrinsic sense of curiosity and a keen eye for details led him to work as an accountant for two Engineering-News Record top 40 construction firms. It was here where he honed his ability to analyze complex issues and craft clear, concise answers. Pondrom utilizes these skills to work in partnership with ByrdAdatto clients to resolve their complex business and regulatory concerns in the most simple, straightforward way.

Madison M. White, JD, routinely assists clients with a variety of business matters, primarily in the health care industry. She regularly advises clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, as well as a range of health care legal and regulatory compliance issues. White combines her past health care litigation experience, regulatory and business expertise, and relationship skills to meet the critical business and legal needs of her clients.

Courtney Anderson is a graduate of Brigham Young University and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She is a proud wife and mother to her "miracle baby" Sofia, a retired competitive pianist, the host of The Glow Boss Podcast, an inspiring mentor, and founder/CEO of Spa Trouve, a full-service medical spa with five locations in Utah. Anderson discovered her passion for the medical spa industry when she started her medical spa back in 2011, and with some help from some very special people and a lot of hard work, grit and passion, she has been able to expand her brand across the state.

Known for her business philosophies of “profits with integrity” and “profit optimization through collaboration,” Nicole Chiaramonte is CEO of Advanced MedAesthetics Partners, Inc. (AMP), founder of Synergy MedAesthetics, co-founder of Aesthetic Investments, LLC, and a private investor in more than a dozen medical spas. She has 25 years of experience in startup management, with 15 years of management services organization (MSO) ownership in the legal and medical industries, and now specializes in non-surgical medical aesthetic practices. Chiaramonte has partnered with numerous respected providers, providing startup capital, guidance and comprehensive oversight of their entry into the medical spa space.

Justin Harper, MD, is an aesthetic physician and health care innovator with a diverse background encompassing plastic surgery, dermatology and medical technology. He founded Juvly Aesthetics in Columbus, Ohio, in 2014 and has grown it from a single practice to 10 locations across five states. In 2016, he founded Aesthetic Record, an end-to-end EMR and practice management software that brings the sophistication of data-driven operations to aesthetic practices of all sizes. With more than 500 features—including a complete clinical photography suite, fully integrated revenue generation platform and advanced business insights and EMR capabilities—this technology powers more than 6,000 aesthetic clinics and 15,000 provider and staff users.

Neekan Rivera, PA, has advanced experience and knowledge in both clinical and cosmetic dermatology. She specializes in full-facial rejuvenation and passionately provides a wide variety of aesthetic treatments for her clients. Rivera serves as a trainer for Allergan Medical Institute, Galderma and PDO Mint Threads, and spends much of her free time traveling around the country training other injectors. She uses a variety of techniques to help patients feel lifted, restored and highlighted while reversing the signs of aging and maintaining natural appearing results that are true to each individual’s unique beauty.

Francis X. Acunzo is the CEO of Acara Partners, a consulting and marketing agency for the aesthetic medical industry; is president/chief medspa officer of Princeton Medspa Partners, an industry consolidation group; is chief experience officer of medspa810, a leading franchisor of medical aesthetic clinics; and holds a seat on the MedEsthetics Editorial Advisory Board. Acunzo and his wife, Colleen, launched a medical spa 25 years ago through the merger of their Boston-based spa company and Candela Laser Corporation. As a business owner, board member and investor, Acunzo has displayed critical business perspective and an ability to provide visionary leadership. He has extensive experience with acquisitions, start-ups and turnaround businesses.

Grace McLaurin, DMSc, PA-C, has 23 years of experience as a physician assistant and has extensive experience in internal medicine, women’s health, bio-identical hormone replacement, thyroid disorders and non-surgical aesthetics. She founded Vitality Anti-Aging Center in 2006 because she felt a more integrative approach to health and wellness was her passion. She is a certified instructor for Allergan Aesthetics and has trained more than 3,000 providers in laser, injectables, hormones, thread lifts, vaginal rejuvenation, PRP, and more. She is an active member of the AAPA, ACAPA, and North Carolina Medical Society. She is also a partner in Vitality Surgical Center and V-Infusion Hydration Center.

Tiphany Hall, PhD, MBA, serves as the chief growth officer at Aesthetic Record, an all-in-one EMR and practice management solution that powers more than 3,000 U.S. clinics and serves more than 1.5 million patients. In addition to supporting the core Aesthetic Record platform, in 2021, Hall led the full-scale launch of the Aesthetic Record Marketplace, a multi-vendor e-commerce platform devoted specifically to the practice needs of the aesthetics industry.

Christin Trujillo is a financial consultant at Maven Financial Partners who helps aesthetic practice owners understand their businesses from the inside out to create a road map toward their goals. Whether navigating growth, planning the next 10 years, budgeting the next location or simply maintaining “business as usual,” Trujillo helps medical spa owners make sense of their financials by encouraging tactical habits and forward momentum to objectives and inspiring solutions to overcome obstacles. Her extensive knowledge and network in the medical spa industry give clients insights into industry benchmarks, resources and key partners to ensure they each meet their unique goals.

Brandon Mullen, BSN, RN-BC, has been a bachelor's prepared registered nurse since 2009. The intensive care environment was the perfect space to help cultivate critical thinking skills and attention to detail. The dynamic field of nursing allowed him to work in the health care software field, where he trained clinical end users how to use utilize various programs. He also provided feedback for software product development, advocated for client needs, and maintained and grew client relationships as an account manager. Throughout the years, a concurrent passion for all things aesthetics has led to full time concentration in aesthetic practice management since 2021. 

Ben Hernandez is a partner at Skytale Group who specializes in strategic management consulting for various service industries. He also offers his clients corporate-level financial analysis and guidance. As a co-founder of Skytale Group, Ben is passionate about leading an organization that people are proud to work with. He serves his clients not only with years of experience and service industry expertise, but also through upholding the Skytale core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, and fun. He loves to help small business owners achieve their dreams, aspirations, and visions. Previously, Ben has worked with an international investment banking group, a financial services and advisory institution, a hedge fund, and CPA and advisory firms.

Erica Crawford has extensive experience in the subjects of public relations and digital marketing. Crawford works with hundreds of aesthetic medical providers to help them build and/or grow their practices. She also contributes to continuing medical education as a faculty speaker for numerous aesthetic organizations and conventions, and she maintains relationships within the industry to stay abreast of innovations in the aesthetics space. Crawford is the president of Influx Marketing which specializes in custom web design and comprehensive marketing for aesthetic medical practices.

Max Baybak is a creative marketing strategist with extensive experience in digital product management, search engine marketing, digital advertising, marketing automation, public relations and corporate communications, social media, and content marketing. He is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Influx Marketing, which specializes in custom web design and comprehensive marketing for medical aesthetic practices.  

Landon Pryor, MD, is triple-fellowship-trained and board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Pryor’s goal is to provide individualized aesthetic treatment recommendations, customized for each patients’ unique priorities and goals. In addition to the many surgical procedures that Dr. Pryor performs, Pryor Health Plastic Surgery’s Medical Spa—supervised by the talented Nurse Practitioner, Susie Artale-Fritz—is designed as a state-of-the-art facility that has many complementary treatments and technologies for both men and women.

Jay D. Reyero, JD, is a partner at the ByrdAdatto law firm. His practice focuses on the representation of business clients, with health care being the core of his practice. His health care and regulatory expertise involves the counseling and advising of physicians, physician groups, other medical service providers and non-professionals. Specific areas of expertise include federal and state health care regulations and how they impact investments, transactions and various contractual arrangements, particularly in the areas of federal and state anti-referral, anti-kickback and HIPAA compliance.

Jeffrey J. Segal, MD, JD, was a neurosurgeon in private practice before beginning the second phase of his career as a serial entrepreneur in the health care field. He then founded or co-founded four separate health care startups. He lives and breathes health care and understands it viscerally. Dr. Segal founded Medical Justice, which touched on so many medico-legal issues, and also runs eMerit, which helps doctors control their online reputation through patient feedback. 

Hermine Warren, DNP, APRN, CANS, has been in nursing since 1974, with an advanced practice degree since 1980. She is also a certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS) in Southern California; is an educational/clinical trainer, both internationally and nationally; is a GENNow and P.A.L.E.T.T.E faculty member; and has maintained a clinical practice in the non-surgical cosmetic subspecialty field since 2004. Also, she is co-faculty for Academy for Injection Anatomy with Chris Surek, DO, FACS. Warren graduated with her master of science in nursing from the University of Colorado in 1979, and her doctor of nursing practice from Walden University in 2014.

Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS, CLT, began working in the aesthetic field in 1999, supporting plastic surgeon Jerome Lamb, MD, in his surgery center and medical spa. Her passion for safe patient care combined with her talented aesthetic eye allowed her to develop expertise with aesthetic injections. In 2005, she joined a dermatology practice, treating patients in in the Kansas City area. This transition allowed her to add laser and skin care treatments to her menu of services. A trainer for Allergan since 2009, she also trains nationally for Aesthetic Advancements Institute. In October 2019, Cirese partnered with her daughter, Mary Katelyn Cirese, and opened Georgous Aesthetic Bar, Kansas City’s first aesthetic bar.

Taylor Siemens, NP-C, has been in the medical aesthetics space for six years, working with some of the best plastic surgeons in Dallas. She is currently the clinical director of Vitalyc Medspa. Siemens is recognized for her work with laser resurfacing procedures and is passionate about cosmetic injectables and other anti-aging modalities. She practices under the philosophy that “the best injectable is the least detectable,” and she empowers her clients to age on their own terms.

Audra Ford, MD, MHS, has worked in a variety of settings—as a primary doctor for active duty and retired military and their spouses, in private practice, and as a medical director at Kaiser and several Concentra Urgent Care facilities. She is now a medical director and owner of her own medical spa, Vitality Boost Wellness, in Los Angeles. She has been on the speaking circuit for over 10 years across the country and is also a certified life and health coach. Ford has been in various leadership positions, has been published, and has attained numerous awards during her tenure in medicine.

Stanley Okoro, MD, FACS, graduated from Meharry Medical College, completed surgical training at Emory University and then finished an additional three-year training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center. He served in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of commander, and as the chief of plastic surgery. Okoro is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He has extensive experience in cosmetic plastic surgery of the face, breast and body at both his Atlanta practice and his international locations in Nigeria.

La-Tasha Walker, BSN, RN, is the founder of La-Mon'e Aesthetics, with Glenn Rosen, MD, serving as medical director. Walker started her career as a cosmetologist focusing on hair care and skin care. After nine years, she returned to school to pursue her nursing degree. Walker has been a registered nurse for more than 10 years. She has worked in various fields, from pediatrics to the operating room. Walker strives to bring education and safe aesthetics treatments to all skin types.

Mary Beth Hagen, MBA, CEO/founder of TITAN Aesthetic Recruiting, specializes in screening, training and placing new and experienced aesthetic injectors into reputable aesthetic practices. She has worked in the aesthetics field since 2005, first with Medicis (Galderma) and then with Allergan. Holding roles in sales, sales management, product management and national accounts, she has a wealth of experience and perspective to help guide physicians and aesthetic injectors in business and compensation plan development, staff training, and outcome assessments. TITAN recently launched the “Injector Preparation” series of courses, designed to guide prospective injectors entering the aesthetic market, as well as a membership program to help injectors learn and share ongoing education and networking opportunities.

George Baxter-Holder, ARNP, DNP, CANS has first-hand knowledge of how beauty-obsessed today’s Hollywood actors are. As a child actor in Hollywood he played the role of a genetically perfect boy on Star Trek: The Next Generation. His “bad boy” character made all around him start to age prematurely. In real life, George plays the “good guy” role. Trained as a board certified Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice, he helps patients reverse the signs of aging at SkinSpirit Medical Spa in Austin TX. Additionally, he is the most utilized trainer with Galderma Aesthetis and is also one of three faculty at Academy for Injection Anatomy with Chris Surek, MD. He holds a Doctorate from Duke University and a Masters from the University of Washington. And while he is no longer, “genetically perfect” he is working on aging well.

Hermine Warren, DNP, APRN, CANS, has been in nursing since 1974, with an advanced practice degree since 1980. She is also a certified aesthetic nurse specialist (CANS) in Southern California; is an educational/clinical trainer, both internationally and nationally; is a GENNow and P.A.L.E.T.T.E faculty member; and has maintained a clinical practice in the non-surgical cosmetic subspecialty field since 2004. Also, she is co-faculty for Academy for Injection Anatomy with Chris Surek, DO, FACS. Warren graduated with her master of science in nursing from the University of Colorado in 1979, and her doctor of nursing practice from Walden University in 2014.

Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS, CLT, began working in the aesthetic field in 1999, supporting plastic surgeon Jerome Lamb, MD, in his surgery center and medical spa. Her passion for safe patient care combined with her talented aesthetic eye allowed her to develop expertise with aesthetic injections. In 2005, she joined a dermatology practice, treating patients in in the Kansas City area. This transition allowed her to add laser and skin care treatments to her menu of services. A trainer for Allergan since 2009, she also trains nationally for Aesthetic Advancements Institute. In October 2019, Cirese partnered with her daughter, Mary Katelyn Cirese, and opened Georgous Aesthetic Bar, Kansas City’s first aesthetic bar.

Kiss Aesthetics founder, Medical Director and CEO, Kim Burke, APN, FNP-C, is no stranger to the aesthetic care field. She has trained and learned from the best in the aesthetic and plastic surgery industry; she also trains new injectors at Kiss Academy, her own private injectable training program. Burke has completed several professional training courses for assessments and consultations, dermal fillers, Sculptra and PDO thread lifts. In addition, she is a national trainer for the Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network (GAIN); she also trains for Revance and Prollenium.

Heather Rypien, RN, BSN, CANS, has mastered the art of injecting, specializing in Botox and all types of fillers. Customizing each treatment to the individual, she uses several innovative injection techniques in her practice, such as MicroTox, the Nefertiti lift, and Dermasculpt cannulation method of (bruise-free) injecting. She uses the "golden ratio" of proportionality, measuring brow length and height, forehead height, nose length, lip width and depth, cheek apex, distance between eyes, and much more. Rypien aspires to partner with patients on their beauty journey and goals. With extensive technical skill and an eye for balance, she allows each patient to walk out of the clinic feeling their most confident.

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Christine Petti, MD, FACS, is committed to remaining on the leading edge of aesthetic surgery. Through her dedication to continuing education and offering only the most advanced procedures and state-of-the-art equipment, Dr. Petti provides premium aesthetic results in all areas of cosmetic surgery. She has appeared four times since 2009 as a guest plastic surgery expert on The Doctors national TV show. Dr. Petti has achieved the annual honor of being named the #1 Cosmetic Surgeon and Favorite Cosmetic Surgeon in the South Bay by the Daily Breeze of Los Angeles since 2004.

Zaki Taher, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and is the founder of Lucere Dermatology & Laser Clinics, specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology services. His areas of special interest include general medical dermatology, precancers and skin cancer management, and medical and cosmetic applications of lasers in cutaneous surgery and rejuvenation. Dr. Taher is one of seven physicians across Canada who were selected to teach master injection techniques using the MD Codes Approach on a national scale. He is well known for his comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation. Dr. Taher is also an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta.

Steven F. Weiner, MD, is a board-certified head, neck and facial plastic surgeon. He interned and spent his residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he became an instructor for two years. In mid-2005, he laid down his scalpel and began concentrating his efforts in non-invasive and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, creating The Aesthetic Clinique. Dr. Weiner divides his time between his practice, physician trainings and lectures. He has served on multiple advisory boards, participated in FDA trials and authored several clinical papers. He is world-renowned for his filler techniques using cannulas and his reJAWvenation procedure, which he performed on The Doctors.

Iani Silveira, MSN, FNP-BC, CPN, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who specializes in regenerative and dermatological/aesthetic medicine. Her specialized approach is based on facial balancing and symmetry, providing natural results. She provides high standards of integrity and medical excellence helping patients enhance the beauty of their face and skin. Her aesthetic sensibility, sound judgment, and specialized expertise in cosmetic injectables have given her a reputation for providing fresh, natural results to her patients.

Loretta Nguyen Zanetti, APRN, is a nurse practitioner and co-founder of Erasable Inc. Medical Spa & Aesthetics Institute in Tampa, Florida. She started the practice in 2014 and has grown the business to an average of 600 appointments a month. Having performed more than 7,000 laser and aesthetic treatments, Zanetti has become an industry expert and key opinion leader, and she serves as an international trainer and speaker. She also serves as faculty for the injectables courses for Aesthetic Advancement Institute. She has also served more than 18 years in the U.S. Army as a health care provider and obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel as a family nurse practitioner.  

Julie Bass Kaplan, FNP-BC, CANS, is a family nurse practitioner who began her medical aesthetics career in 1999 when she founded Disappearing Act Medical Aesthetics. She has a special interest in teaching safe injection techniques—she is a faculty speaker for Palette Resources, is a speaker/trainer for Allergan Medical Institute, and sits on Allergan, Galderma and Revance’s advisory boards. Kaplan is a published author for several medical journal articles and speaks at various international conventions. She also provides individual injection training workshops through her company, JBK Aesthetics.

Jordan White, ACNP-S, BSN, RN, CNI, known to many as "the Murse Injector" on Instagram, is a sought-after aesthetic injector, national trainer and key opinion leader for Cartessa Aesthetics. When not injecting, White is traveling the country training others on advanced techniques and on the newest aesthetic equipment and devices. He is known for his injectable expertise, specifically lips, liquid rhinoplasties, non-surgical facelifts and jawline contouring. White has been featured in several publications, including being named the top aesthetic injector in Arizona by Phoenix Entrepreneur Magazine in 2022. White is passionate about providing results that are tailored to each patient's desired goals.

Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Erin Hennessey, APRN, DNP, worked for 12 years treating trauma and burn patients in the pediatric intensive care unit, which sparked her passion for and expertise in skin recovery and repair. She is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. A national trainer for MedAesthetics and a luminary for Sciton, Hennessey shares her expertise and techniques all over the United States. She is an active member of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, AmSpa, Sigma Theta Tau and the Dermatology Nurses Association.

Gideon Kwok, DO, is co-owner and medical director of eight Skin Perfect Medical Aesthetics clinics in Southern California. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, Dr. Kwok has been named one of the top injectors in America, trains and speaks around the country for Cutera and Radiesse, and serves on the advisory board for Galderma as a national speaker and advanced trainer. He is also co-founder of The Aesthetic Immersion, a training program that serves as a platform for providers who are passionate in medical aesthetics to advance their knowledge and techniques in the field.

Anil Rajani, MD, graduated medical school with honors from The University of Western Ontario after completing a bachelor of science from Dalhousie University. He is CEO of Style Aesthetics and founder of Plasmasculpt. He is known from his global trainings and from YouTube, as he has a successful aesthetic channel. Rajani is a trainer for Galderma, Allergan, Merz, Suneva Medical, and the American Institute of Aesthetic Medicine, as well as having his own training center, Rajani Aesthetic Advancements. Over the past 20 years, Rajani has been involved in treating skin conditions, and for several years he has worked with leading renowned cosmetic centers in the Northwest, as well as clinics throughout Europe and Canada.

Toni Lee Roldan-Ortiz has more than 25 years of experience in the beauty industry. She is a licensed aesthetician and also holds certifications in paramedical camouflage makeup, pastiche advanced skin analysis and oncology aesthetics. Roldan-Ortiz worked for a prominent plastic surgery office in New York and remained lead aesthetician for many years, assisting with growing the practice, training a team, creating treatment protocols and building sales. She has written articles and spoken on a variety of skin care topics at industry shows and presently trains physicians, nurses and aestheticians as a national master trainer for DermaConcepts, exclusive distributor of Environ Skin Care in the U.S.

Shawna Akin-Wiesner, MLE,  is a master licensed aesthetician, U.S. clinical specialist and master trainer for DermaConcepts, and owner of the Institute for Advanced Aesthetics, Inc., specializing in advanced aesthetic education, training and aesthetic practice business development. After retiring from a 16-year professional ballet career, she transitioned into a long and successful career as a master aesthetician in plastic surgery and dermatology practices in the Pacific Northwest. Throughout her aesthetic career, Akin-Wiesner has served as an educator for international cosmeceutical companies and national aesthetic device manufacturers. A passionate and committed life-long student of aesthetics, she has traveled the globe for her studies. Akin-Wiesner is also a member of the Society for Cosmetic Chemists and served as a consultant to Allergan’s Aesthetic Leadership Forum.

Sara Cole, NP, has been a registered nurse for 12 years and is a recent graduate of Rowan University’s AGAC-NP program. After spending eight years in the ICU, she yearned for a way to intertwine medicine with artistic creativity, leading her to aesthetic dermatology. Cole has been practicing as an aesthetic nurse specialist for four years in a private plastic surgery practice under Dr. Steven L. Davis. She is the founder of “Injectors Gone W.I.L.D” (Women Injectors Leading Through Development) and is an advocate for women’s mental, spiritual and overall health.

Renée Topala, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, began her career in adult acute care and trauma before deciding to pursue a career in aesthetics. She is a board-certified nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree from the University of Cincinnati. She is the founder of Advanced Aesthetics Group, which focuses on whole-body wellness, and AAG Aesthetic Institute, where she trains medical professionals to perform basic and advanced procedures with neurotoxins, dermal fillers and more.

Practicing medicine since 1994, Mike Kelleher, MMS, PA-C, completed training at the prestigious Emory University physician assistant program in December 2003. He has been committed to solely practicing non-surgical cosmetic medicine for the past decade. He is on faculty for the Allergan Medical Institute and is a former instructor for the Aesthetic Advancements Institute and Training and Curriculum creator for Ideal Esthetic Educators. He has also functioned as lead clinician, corporate trainer and corporate training developer for multiple national medical spa practices. In July 2021, he opened (R)Evolution, the first and only advanced cosmetic injectable practice in Decatur, Georgia. 

Kimberly Evans, MD, FACOG, is an OB/GYN with 20 years of experience in feminine health. She has revolutionized her practice to specialize in treating women with sexual dysfunction, low libido and other feminine wellness issues. She offers surgical and non-surgical options to address common issues experienced by many women throughout the world. Dr. Evans looks forward to introducing new technology that has revolutionized women's health care and maximizing how they work together to get the best effect. She looks forward to everyday improving their lives and feminine function.

Kaeli Lindholm is CEO of KLC Consulting and founder of the POP Aesthetic Leadership Academy, a 12-month business leadership incubator for women in aesthetics and wellness. Her mission is to help 100 inspiring and intentional women cross the next million-dollar milestone in their business in 2022. Widely recognized as a brand revisionist, Lindholm believes achieving "category of one" success requires taking a differentiated approach. Her coaching and academy programs bring unique perspectives that challenge the very construct of business success. Lindholm’s signature programs bring Fortune 500 leadership systems to high-impact women in aesthetics. She hosts the podcast The Fierce Factor.

S. Alexis Gordon, MD, FACS, is a board-certified physician and surgeon. After more than 18 successful years in practice as an urologist, she worked toward her goal of opening a medical center focused on helping patients look and feel renewed. She trained with renowned cosmetic doctors while researching the latest technologies, and opened Renew MD Facial Aesthetics in 2017. Renew MD Facial Aesthetics feels strongly about delivering the highest quality of care and achieving superior patient satisfaction. Every patient consults with Dr. Gordon, and all treatments are either overseen or performed by her. The practice's main goal is that every single visit is personal, professional and patient-oriented.

Steven Sorr, NMD, is a highly recognized naturopathic physician in the medical field. He has been featured in local media and spoken in high-profile venues, sharing his passion and expertise for living a healthy life without surgery or drugs. Healing his own back injury at 18 years old set him on the path of treating the root cause. He began a yoga practice in 2000 and has been teaching since 2007, focusing on alignment, joint health and posture. He holds faculty positions at Arizona State University and yoga studios, teaching nutrition, anatomy and physiology.

Linné Linder, ND, is a board-certified physician, known for being a lifestyle enthusiast, health and wellness expert, and aging-well advocate. After attending medical school, she directed medical programs as a dean of education, mixing her love for education and motivational training. However, after years in academia, she knew she needed to reinvent her career by combining her two passions: aesthetics and education. She continues to utilize her educational background to assist her patients with their overall health, wellness, and short and long-term beauty goals. Dr. Linder has been practicing aesthetic medicine in Portland, Oregon since 2015, utilizing her extensive experience in the aesthetics industry including all injectables.

Vrinkley Pruna, MSN, NP, is the COO and assistant clinical director at Shape & Skin Medical Spa & Weight Loss in Huntington Beach, California. She started her career in aesthetics at Shape & Skin when it opened in 2016, while working as a bedside RN on the ENT Stepdown Unit at Keck Hospital of the University of Southern California (USC). She was also selected as an undergraduate scholar and attended the Oxford Honors Program in England, which encompassed the diversity and disparities of global health care. Her true passions are learning, improving and redefining the aesthetic industry to better the lives of her patients.