Branching Out
Michele Torres, MD, a family-medicine-trained hospitalist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, wanted to diversify her medical practice. So she created Youthinity, a cosmetic spa that utilizes laser lipolysis to sculpt, slim, and contour women’s bodies.
Launched in September following 18 months of business planning, the spa includes other cosmetic treatments, such as Botox and Juvederm, for wrinkles in a relaxed spa environment. The business employs a full-time office manager and a per-diem nurse to help with procedures.
“I love hospital medicine and don’t want to leave it, but I don’t want to have all my eggs in one basket, either,” Dr. Torres says.
Dr. Torres has been a hospitalist for five years and founded an HM program at another hospital. But hospital mergers, the uncertainties of healthcare reform, and hospitalist scheduling demands made her want to establish a second medical practice that didn’t tie her down to as many hospital shifts. She currently works a seven-on, seven-off HM schedule, and is able to schedule laser procedures during the off weeks or after hours. She also hopes to reduce her HM hours as the business grows.
Another driving force behind the business was the desire as a female physician to offer procedures that are primarily—although not exclusively—sought by women.
“It’s really a very different experience than hospital medicine. You need to enjoy doing procedures,” she adds. “In a business like this, it’s also very market-driven and hands-on. People having the procedures done want to know their doctors. If someone is paying for this procedure, they want to feel pampered.”
