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You’re standing before an exciting milestone in your career — launching your very own med spa! It’s your chance to build something truly yours.
However, opening up a medical aesthetic practice comes with big responsibilities, including hiring the right medical director. Finding the right candidate for this role isn’t always straightforward, and you’ll probably be wondering:
- What qualities should I look for?
- Where can I find the best candidates?
- Do I even need an MD, or a collaborating physician?
A thorough hiring process will help you find a qualified medical director who aligns with your standards and can play a critical role in your medical spa’s success.
Let’s dive into how to find the perfect medical director.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Always consult a healthcare attorney or malpractice insurance provider for federal and state-specific regulations.
Understanding the role of a medical director in a med spa
A medical director is a licensed physician responsible for overseeing medical treatments, ensuring compliance with state laws, and maintaining patient safety.
Most states have a strict corporate practice of medicine and require med spas to operate under a medical director to legally offer medical treatments like Botox, fillers, and injectables.
Depending on the state law, the medical director may need to own the medical spa or be a majority partner, such as in California, Texas, Florida, and Nevada.
Other states allow registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) to own med spas as long as a medical director oversees the medical services.
In the latter example, the med spa is split into medical and business operations. The MD oversees the medical side, and the non-physicians manage the business side through a management service organization (MSO).
Key responsibilities of a medical director
The medical director plays an active role in ensuring your med spa operates safely, legally, and effectively.
Here are some of their key duties:
- Clinical oversight: Supervising injectables, laser treatments, chemical peels, and other aesthetic procedures.
- Patient safety & risk management: Implementing safety protocols, managing adverse reactions, and ensuring top-quality care.
- Staff training: Providing ongoing education for nurses, aestheticians, and medical professionals.
- Regulatory compliance: Ensuring adherence to federal and state laws to avoid fines or legal issues.
- Policy development: Establishing treatment guidelines, consent protocols, and emergency procedures.
- Informed consent & documentation: Ensuring proper paperwork to protect both patients and the practice.
- Quality assurance: Monitoring outcomes, addressing complications, and improving care standards.
What is the difference between a collaborating physician and a medical director?
After reading the above, you might wonder, ‘How is that any different from a collaborating physician?’ Do you need both, or can you hire just one?
The short answer: Most med spas will hire one or the other.
An MD is typically more hands-on, a collaborating physician is less so.
A collaborating physician partners with a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) to provide medical oversight as required by state law. They typically review treatment plans, sign off on medical procedures, and offer guidance when needed, but they may not be actively involved in daily operations.
The MD is a licensed physician with a more hands-on role in the med spa’s clinical are and operations. They ensure compliance with state laws, oversee medical treatments, train staff, and develop protocols to maintain high standards of care.
They’re typically more involved in the day-to-day operations of the clinic.
From a compliance point of view, a medical director is required for med spas offering medical treatments, while a collaborating physician is only required in states where nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs) need physician oversight to perform certain medical procedures.
Essential qualifications of a medical director
Your medical director must be equipped with certain credentials, experience, and skills to be able to oversee your med spa’s treatments and compliance.
Let’s break down the key qualifications to look for.
1. Medical Degree (MD or DO)
As a basic qualification, a medical director must hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited medical school.
While both MDs and DOs are fully licensed physicians, DOs receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which emphasizes a holistic approach.
Regardless of the degree type, the medical director must have a deep understanding of aesthetic medicine to effectively lead a med spa.
2. Active medical license
A medical director must hold an active and unrestricted medical license in the state where the med spa operates. This ensures they’re legally authorized to practice medicine and oversee medical procedures.
Before making a hiring decision, verify the candidate’s credentials with the state-specific medical board to ensure they meet all necessary legal requirements.
3. Board certification (preferred)
While not always required, board certification in a relevant specialty — such as dermatology, plastic surgery, or internal medicine — is highly preferred for a medical director.
For your med spa, this means credibility and expertise in cosmetic procedures, patient safety, and top-tier aesthetic care.
4. Relevant clinical experience
The medical director should have hands-on experience with aesthetic medicine and cosmetic procedures.
They need to have in-depth knowledge of all your treatments, from standard injectables to laser services to the latest techniques, such as polynucleotides.
This ensures they can effectively lead your team and confidently manage any challenges that arise in your med spa.
5. Knowledge of state-specific laws and regulations
A medical director must have a deep understanding of state-specific laws governing med spas, as regulations vary significantly across states.
They should be well-versed in:
- Scope of practice (defining which treatments licensed practitioners can perform)
- Delegation and supervision (for non-physician providers like RNs, NPs, and PAs).
Beyond state laws, they must ensure compliance with federal healthcare regulations such as HIPAA (patient privacy) and OSHA (workplace safety) to protect both patients and staff.
Qualities to seek in a medical director
The right medical director should possess several non-negotiable qualities to fit your med spa culture and lead a successful med spa team.
🚀Qualities to look for in a great medical director:
- Strong leadership skills: They lead by example and provide guidance.
- Excellent communication skills: An MD needs to be able to explain complex medical terms to patients and help bridge any gaps between medical professionals, aestheticians, and clients.
- Passion for aesthetics: A medical director who genuinely cares about aesthetic medicine and patient outcomes will do a much better job.
- Business acumen: While they don’t need to manage the business side, a basic understanding of finances and operational efficiency is a plus.
- Mentorship and training skills: They must be able to transfer their knowledge to both medical and non-medical professionals.
How to hire a medical director for your med spa
You know what to look for in a medical director. But how do you actually find and hire one?
Let’s look at the steps that will help you connect and potentially lead you to your next medical director.
1. Network within the medical community
Networking is an effective way to connect with qualified medical professionals.
Join aesthetic medicine associations like the American Med Spa Association (AMSPA) or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). They often organize events and boot camps that may help you connect with MDs.
Also, spread the word in your professional community, reconnect with former colleagues, or ask your current employees to share that you’re looking for a medical director.
In fact, many AMSPA members stated they’ve found their medical director from a previous job.
2. Post on job boards and industry platforms
Posting on specialized job boards and niche industry platforms is a smart way to target qualified professionals.
Niche platforms dedicated to healthcare professionals, like Health eCareers, Find a Doctor, and Honest Doctor, provide access to a pool of candidates with specific expertise in aesthetic treatments.
You can also explore industry-focused networks like the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa) job board, which connects you with individuals who understand the unique demands of a med spa.
3. Connect with medical director companies
Partnering with companies specializing in connecting medical spas and medical practices with medical directors can simplify the process, especially if you’re short on time.
These organizations have established networks of qualified professionals and can match you with individuals who meet your specific needs.
They pre-screen candidates, ensuring they have the qualifications, experience, and understanding of med spa operations.
Some companies to consider are Guardian MD, AMN Healthcare, The Medicus Firm and others.
4. Conduct interviews and prepare the right questions
The interview helps you get a full picture of the candidate beyond what they’ve put in their resume.
Prepare a list of questions that will reveal more than just their technical experience and qualifications.
Questions you might ask medical director candidates are:
- What experience do you have overseeing aesthetic treatments?
- What led you to the aesthetics field?
- How would you foster a culture of safety and accountability?
- How do you balance patient care with other tasks?
- How do you measure success and performance?
Provide a real-life scenario they might encounter in your med spa and ask how they’d handle it. It will tell you a lot about their problem-solving and judgment.
5. Verify credentials and check references
As a med spa owner, you have the right and duty to verify your candidates’ credentials and references — the same goes for the medical director.
Background checks help you ensure they’re qualified, trustworthy and compliant with industry standards.
Here’s what to check:
- Medical credentials: Ensure the candidate holds a valid, active medical license in your state and board certification through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or other certifying bodies.
- Certifications: Check for certifications in aesthetic medicine or specialized treatments to ensure their experience matches your services.
- References: Optionally, contact the candidate’s previous employers or colleagues to verify their performance and work ethic.
6. Discuss compensation and make an offer
Once you’ve found your candidate, it’s time to talk money. The medical director’s compensation isn’t one-size-fits-all — it depends on several factors.
Candidates with years of experience and specialized qualifications and coming from locations with higher costs of living will demand higher compensation, which is expected.
Also, some are paid a flat monthly retainer, while others earn hourly rates or revenue-based compensation. Expect the total pay to range between $246K and $449K per year.
Finally, send an offer letter clearly outlining the compensation, job specifications, and benefits. You want everyone on the same page before they sign!
Launch your med spa successfully with Pabau
Having a high calibre medical director on your team is a crucial step in building a successful, compliant, and patient-focused med spa.
However, finding the right fit takes time and effort. You need to know the right qualities to look for, where to find them, and how to vet top candidates.
But hiring is just the beginning.
Even the best medical director can only do so much without the right support. Running a med spa efficiently requires more than expertise — it requires the right tools to streamline compliance, patient management, and operations.
That’s were Pabau comes in. As an all-in-one practice management software, it’ll help you simplify patient management, stay compliant, and save time on all those manual operational processes that are costing your team time.
Want to ensure you deliver high-quality patient care at every touchpoint? If the answer is yes, drop us a line to book a free demo today!
