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 initially considered an academic career, his path shifted as he explored the business side of medicine and pursued training in healthcare administration and finance. During the fellowship, he began planning for private practice—building a pro forma, studying market demand, and evaluating feasibility in his target geography. That preparation ultimately helped him secure financing despite early rejections and uncertainty.A central theme of the conversation is risk, independence, and leadership. As I often share with fellows and young surgeons, success in building a practice doesn’t happen by chance; you have to have a roadmap and a path to guide your decisions early on. That principle is reflected throughout Matt’s journey as he made decisions during training and mapped out his goals.We also discuss early practice-building, referral development, physician outreach, call coverage, and earning trust one interaction at a time. Over time, those relationships became the foundation of his growth, along with a key shift in mindset around team-building and viewing staff as an investment rather than an expense.Now, early in his career, Dr. Urban reflects that while the path has been challenging, he would choose it again for the autonomy, control, and fulfillment it provides.For more information on Dr. Urban, click herehttps://urbanfacialplastics.com/matthew-urban-md/

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 managing expectations, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and transparency within her practice. Reflecting over her 15 years, she offers her wisdom on building and leading a successful medical practice. "Being a good doctor goes a long way, especially when it comes to your patients." Furthermore, we discuss the rise of med spas and the pitfalls of pursuing quick-fix solutions. For example, attending a weekend course and saying you're highly trained. Both of us agree, that there needs to be continuous learning and dedication to excellence, especially when it comes to your face. Join us as we uncover the realities of dermatology and facial plastic surgery commitments. To learn more information on Dr. Carin Litani: https://dermatologypartnersinc.com/physicians/carin-litani-md/To learn more information on Dr. Edwin Williams: https://www.williamsfacialsurgery.com/our_team/dr-edwin-williams/

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 when trying to scale up their aesthetic practices. More often than not, people try to scale up on a poor foundation. Scaling up is never easy, but committing to the necessary time and taking calculated risks can lead to success. Tune in to this episode as I go over my journey including systems, policies, and procedures that have helped my practice grow.Additionally, if you're intrigued by this episode, I have an upcoming mastermind program starting in April. Check out the link below for more detailshttps://www.dredwinwilliams.com/program-3

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 to hinder my entry into the operating room and drive me out of town.In this podcast episode, I not only recount the challenges I faced in initiating my practice but also outline a time-tested approach that has proven successful for individuals venturing into the realm of small business. Presently, my practice thrives within a vast 22,500-square-foot facility, boasting a team of multiple doctors, nurses, and providers on-site. Our financial achievements have earned us a position in the top 1% of aesthetic practices nationwide.I hope that you find value in this podcast and the shared insights as you navigate the path to launching your practice or work towards enhancing your reputation within an existing one.

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 the founder of Orion Strategic Consulting, Brian has dedicated his career to providing leadership coaching and strategic business consulting to aesthetic surgeons and physicians. Brian highlights stories from the past where he has witnessed leadership, poor strategies, and limited awareness of servant leadership principles affect teams in the aesthetic medicine space. I have had the privilege of collaborating with Brian to enhance my practice, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. His expertise and guidance have propelled my practice to new heights.If you would like to contact him, see below for his contact information. https://www.thehunterorion.com/

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 expertise.From the very beginning of her journey, Dr. Umstattd embraced the principle of "going slow and steady." She recognized the importance of carefully building her practice to ensure its success. In our conversation, she emphasizes the potential risks associated with growing too fast and how it can lead to an overwhelming situation. Her thoughtful approach to team-building is also highlighted, emphasizing the significance of learning from past experiences to create a cohesive and successful team.With a passion for connecting with her audience and providing valuable educational content, she curates her own social media posts daily. Through TikTok, Dr. Umstattd educates individuals about facial plastic surgery, offering unique insights and responding to questions. Her dedication to staying active on social media allows her to reach a wider audience and build trust with potential patients.

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. Furthermore, he emphasizes staying connected within his network. A piece of wisdom from this podcast is to realize, "The pearl behind this experience is the substance that is there, and those who you are working with." It's best to keep your head up during the process and join someone that you can trust.To learn more about Dr. Peter Vila, follow this link https://www.drmichaelkim.com/about/meet-dr-peter-vila/

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 believes it's never too late to pursue one's passions. Dr. Sykes and I share similar approaches to natural facelift results and teaching. We both have trained many fellows throughout our careers and served on the AAFPRS organization. Teaching to us means finding motivation and fulfillment through sharing knowledge. This is a great episode to listen to. If you are interested in finding more information on Dr. Sykes background, follow this link. https://drjonathansykes.com/about/