The White Coat Entrepreneur

In this episode of The White Coat Entrepreneur , I have my former fellow, Dr. Matthew Urban, for a candid conversation about training, mentorship, and what it really takes to launch a private facial plastic surgery practice straight out of fellowship. Dr. Urban shares how his interest in facial plastic surgery developed during residency through rhinoplasty and facial aesthetic cases. While he init...

In this episode of The White Coat Entrepreneur , I share a comprehensive look into private equity, what it is, how it works, and why so many physicians misunderstand both the opportunity and the risk. After years of studying private equity and now being deeply involved on the leadership side, I wanted to break this down in a way that’s honest, practical, and rooted in real-world experience, especi...

I had the honor of having my dear friend Brian Hayes, founder and president of Orion Strategic Consulting, on The White Coat Entrepreneur podcast. If you haven’t listened to Part 1: The Aesthetic Edge - How to Scale Up Your Practice from a Seasoned Professional . I highly recommend starting there. In this episode, we dive deeper into the topics of leadership and culture, exploring what it truly me...

I had the pleasure of interviewing Christin Trujillo, entrepreneur, finance expert, and author of Med Spa Profitability, a book I’ve personally read and highly recommend.  Christin’s story is both inspiring and instructive. After years in the finance world, she launched her own business called Maven Financial Partners. She shares her journey from corporate finance to becoming a CFO for hire....

In this episode, I had a conversation with Dr. James Marotta, who is a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Long Island, NY.  He shares his journey from being a newly trained surgeon to starting his practice. “It takes discipline and hard work, but I knew I wanted to go for it.” With training from Columbia, SUNY Stony Brook, and Yale, Dr. Marotta brings many great points on en...

In this episode of The White Coat Entrepreneur, I had the honor and privilege of having a conversation with Daniel Davis, who is a managing partner at Thurston Group. He is a Marine Corps Veteran, and seasoned private equity professional with over 12 years of experience focused on growth equity investments in the healthcare sector.  From his early days as an infantry officer serving three com...

“Where deals fall through, is when there is a failure to integrate.” In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stuart Smith, who has over 25 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, and mergers & acquisitions. Stuart brings strategic insights to the conversation for anyone considering private equity. Not only does he have a passion for helping business owners, but...

"There are things you do in the beginning—short-term losses for long-term gain." In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Lindsey Pennington, who shares her inspiring journey of founding her practice in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 2017. As a facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Pennington took the bold leap into entrepreneurship, building her business from the ground up. Dr. Pennington wanted...

In this episode, I interviewed one of my equity partners with Alpha, Michelle Doran, a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner, co-founder of RN Esthetics, and National Trainer for Allergan Medical Aesthetics. From her early days as a surgical nurse to becoming a leader in the aesthetics industry, Michelle shares how she took a leap of faith, hustled her way to success, and built a thriving practice wi...

In this inspiring episode of The White Coat Entrepreneur , I chat with Dr. Dana Fender, the co-founder of Smile Doctors. From humble beginnings to a staggering $2.4 billion valuation across more than 450 locations, Dr. Fender's journey showcases the power of ambition and strategic partnerships. He reflects on the importance of gratitude and humility, sharing lessons learned during his rapid growth...

"You can't expect success to happen, you have to be persistent, and want it." In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Kian Karimi, MD, FACS, a renowned facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon and co-founder of the Los Angeles Multi-Specialty Cosmetic Academy. Dr. Karimi shares the motivational story of how he built his career from the ground up, and the invaluable lessons learne...

“I was one of the first non-doctor providers to step out and open my medical spa in Leesburg, Virginia. Some people doubted me, but I knew I could do it!”  In this episode, I interviewed one of my equity partners with Alpha, Sarah Safa MS, PA-C, a Certified Physician Assistant, Aesthetic Specialist, Founder of RefinedAesthetics, LLC, located in Leesburg, Virginia, and co-owner of Radiance Sal...

Explore the day-to-day operations with our guest, Dr. Carin Litani, who is a board-certified seasoned dermatologist and fellowship-trained MOHS surgeon in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Her focus is on skin cancer prevention and advocacy for proactive, healthy aging, which has garnered attention from patients, journalists, and Instagram followers. In this episode, she shares her experience with managin...

“I know if I focus on our team and our people, they are going to treat our patients and clients the right way, which in turn makes our shareholders happy.”  In this episode, I interview my business partner John Wheeler, who currently leads as the CEO of Alpha Aesthetics Partners. He is an esteemed professional whose career spans multiple areas, showcasing his commitment to culture building an...

In this podcast episode, I emphasize the importance of investing time in managing the business side of medicine, not just the day-to-day operations. Statistically, "90% of businesses fail within the first five years, while only 4% make it to a revenue of 10 million dollars." Drawing on my 30 years as a surgeon and entrepreneur, I share valuable insights into the common pitfalls people encounter wh...

In this episode, I interview Matt Phelps, the visionary behind the successful strength-training gym Metabolic. Matt's entrepreneurial journey began while training student-athletes at Lasalle, where he transformed a simple idea into a comprehensive business plan. His vision was clear – to offer unparalleled strength training workouts for members and to build a community-like family. Today, Metaboli...

Embarking on the journey of establishing a practice from scratch can be an incredibly daunting task. I vividly recall dedicating two years to countless phone calls, meticulously planning for this exhilarating yet intimidating phase of my life. I did not come from family money, and I found myself in a town where I had no connections. Little did I know, I was met with fierce competition, determined...

I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Grace Lee Peng, a notable figure in the field of facial plastics from Beverly Hills. With an impressive eight-year career, she has achieved tremendous success, so much so that her journey has taken an exciting turn. Six months ago, she decided to open her private practice. For some, the transition to private practice can be challenging, but Dr. Peng saw it a...

Are you in aesthetic medicine, striving to build a thriving practice, or facing challenges in scaling up your team effectively? If you're seeking valuable guidance, look no further. In this episode, I dive into an insightful conversation with Brian Hayes, a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience in the aesthetic medical industry. As a former corporate leader who transitioned to become th...

In this episode, I discuss my personal experience and reflections drawn from my time dating private equity. As an entrepreneur and passionate facial plastic surgeon, my journey of exploring the business side of aesthetic medicine led me to discover the world of private equity. Over the past four years, I have learned immensely about this side of the business. I have always enjoyed scaling up my sk...

I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Lauren Umstattd, a renowned and Board Certified physician specializing in Facial Plastic Surgery. In this episode, Dr. Umstattd opens up about her dream of establishing her practice and turning it into a reality. Despite being open for less than a year, she has already made a significant impact in the field, with a steady stream of patients seeking her expe...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing my past fellow Dr. Tim Minton, a fellowship-trained, double-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the greater Savannah area. If you're looking to climb the ladder to open up your practice - this is the episode for you. He goes into detail about his transition to building his cosmetic practice. Dr. Minton joined a multi-spec...

Last month, I interviewed Dr. Peter Vila, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, on this podcast. Discover his insights from our discussion and learn how he took a risk in his career by moving into private practice instead of academics. For younger surgeons, this can be overwhelming to decide right after fellowship. Dr. Vila shares his thoughts on taking risks early on in your career. Furthermo...

In this episode, I interview Dr. Theda Kontis, a renowned international leader in Facial Plastic Surgery based in Maryland. Dr. Kontis has had exceptional success in her career and serves as an inspiration to women looking to get involved in the AAFPRS organization. Recently, she was chosen as president of the academy in October of 2022. During our conversation, Dr. Kontis shares her insights on t...

In this podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Jonathon Sykes, who is a renowned surgeon from Beverly Hills, California. During this interview, he shared insightful information on his successful 35-year career. While many contemplate retirement when they can, Dr. Sykes chose to continue to keep going and sign a lease for another 12 years. As he mentioned in this interview, he firmly belie...