12 Qualities to Look for in a Med Spa Medical Director — and How to Find the Right Person for the Job

When you’re opening a med spa, the medical director is one of the most critical hires you will make.

Spa amenities can be overseen by a general manager without a clinical background, but clinical offerings must be directed by a qualified medical professional.

The medical director is legally responsible for all medical decisions and procedures carried out in the med spa.

They make sure procedures are performed safely and appropriately, that patients are well protected, and that the business is compliant with state and federal health regulations.

Finding the right person to fill this role can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a clinical background yourself.

This guide will help you understand the most important things to include in your job description, interview, and contract so you can confidently launch.

Your Med Spa is Required to Have a Medical Director

Many treatments provided by med spas include medical procedures. Med spas must have at least one licensed medical professional on staff to oversee medical procedures, and there may be other guidelines depending on the location of the facility.

State laws around medical oversight can vary by state and are subject to change. Before making any decisions around the medical side of your business, consult a qualified healthcare attorney to ensure compliance.

Seven states allow nurses with advanced training - such as a nurse practitioner or advanced practice registered nurse - to act in the role of spa medical director. Depending on the laws of those specific states, a nurse may need additional training or authority to take on the role.

States that permit nurses to act as med spa medical directors are:

• Colorado (NP)
• Connecticut (NP)
• New Mexico (NP)
• Oregon (NP)
• Arizona (NP)
• Washington (NP)
• Illinois (APRN)

All other states require the medical director to be a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy.

In addition, five states require that med spas be owned in full or in part by either licensed physicians or by a physician-owned business entity.

States that require physician ownership of med spas are:

• Arkansas
• California
• Illinois
• New York
• Texas

What Does a Med Spa Medical Director Do?

Broadly, the medical director leads all medical activities at the med spa. Anything you offer that cannot be performed at a typical, nonmedical spa falls under their domain.

In many smaller med spas, medical director is not a full-time job. Part-time medical directors typically work for a flat monthly retainer or an hourly consulting rate.

This can be a cost savings for you if your spa doesn’t perform a high enough volume of medical procedures to warrant full-time oversight.

Typical Duties of a Med Spa Medical Director

• Perform or review patient consultations to assess the patient’s needs and recommend an appropriate treatment plan
• Review and approve treatment plans developed by other med spa staff, to ensure they align with medical guidelines and the patient’s desired outcome
• Oversee all medical procedures, whether performed by themselves or by another clinician
• Oversee post-procedure follow-up care to ensure patient safety and satisfaction
• Verify that all clinical staff maintain necessary training and licensing
• Ensure the med spa complies with federal and state medical regulations
• Awareness of various state requirements to review and sign off on clinical documentation for patient visits
• Maintains quality control of anything that could impact medical outcomes, including facilities, tools, operating procedures, and hygiene practices

While it’s the medical director’s job to make sure the med spa meets all the necessary government regulations, it’s important that whoever is doing the hiring also understands those rules.

That understanding will ensure the job description is written accurately and that the interviewer knows the right questions to ask candidates.

How to Hire a Medical Director

The first question when recruiting a medical director for your med spa is, where do you look?

1. Start with an attractive role
   Begin by creating a profile of an ideal candidate. This is different than a job description and helps a practice know what they need or are looking for before they start their search. For example, they may only want someone that has aesthetics experience and can work as an active provider delivering services. Whereas others may not need that. Also, make sure you create an attractive position. Research the salaries and benefits at other med spas in your region. The aesthetics industry is growing, and good medical directors are in high demand.
2. Build your network
   To find candidates, develop relationships with local dermatologists and plastic surgeons. You may find a doctor interested in taking on a part-time role, or they might refer you to qualified people in their network.
3. Explore the industry
   You might find candidates at aesthetics and med spa conferences. These events can also give you a good sense of what to look for and how to make your position appealing. Don’t forget the power of Google. A thorough online search can reveal the presence of ideal candidates — perhaps one that does not already have a medspa and seems unlikely to open one.
4. Post to job boards
   You could list the position on job boards — look for boards affiliated with professional associations for dermatology, plastic surgery, and aesthetics to get quality candidates. There are also specialized job boards for medical positions.
5. Outsource your search to a professional
   You could also hire a recruiting agency that specializes in aesthetic medicine. Using a recruiter will cost you, but it takes the time and hassle of finding and vetting candidates off your plate.

12 Qualities to Look for In Your Med Spa Medical Director

Every med spa will have its own criteria for a successful candidate. We’ve identified 12 criteria that every med spa should look for in addition to your own personal preferences.

Look for candidates who fit these 12 requirements at a minimum:

1. Appropriate medical degree and licensing for your state
2. Licensed to practice medicine in the state in which the spa is located
3. Strong understanding of government regulations
4. A good sense of the business operations involved in running a practice
5. Experience with compliance audits or risk management
6. Familiarity with med spa-specific technology such as EHR systems
7. Leadership skills
8. Strong communication skills
9. Ethical integrity
10. Experience in aesthetic medicine
11. Experience in training or mentoring roles
12. While not required, board certification in a relevant specialty like dermatology or plastic surgery should be considered a major plus

What to Ask in the Interview

Interviewing candidates for the role of medical director for your med spa is, in many respects, like interviewing candidates for any other executive-level position.

Because of the clinical nature of the role, however, there are some medical-specific questions you should remember to ask:

1. Verify the credentials listed on their CV
2. Establish their familiarity with legal regulations around aesthetic medicine in your state
3. Ask about their experience in the specific procedures offered at your med spa
4. Ask about their approach to patient care and make sure it aligns with the spa owner’s approach to customer satisfaction
5. Ask about their management approach and make sure it fits within the company culture you want to build
6. Ask how they approach staff training
7. Ask for examples of how they have handled complications in the past
8. Ask for examples of how they have handled compliance issues

Medical Director Hiring Red Flags

Be wary if candidates for the medical director role throw up any of these red flags:

• Few or no patient ratings or evaluations
• A history of disciplinary action
• A history of malpractice claims
• The bare minimum in continuing education
• Unwillingness to discuss specific treatments or job duties

What to Include in a Med Spa Medical Director Contract

Once you’ve found the right person, it’s time to bring them on board. Take this step seriously; have all contracts drawn up by a qualified attorney with experience in medical employment.

Scope of Responsibilities

The contract should outline the expected duties of the medical director. Don’t assume they share your idea of what the job will entail.

In addition to listing responsibilities, define how they should be carried out, particularly if remote work is involved.

For example, are you OK with the director doing administrative tasks remotely as long as they’re on-site on days procedures are performed? Or do you want them in the clinic for all the hours they’re scheduled to work?

Time Commitment

Do you expect your medical director to be full time or part time — and what do those terms mean to you?

Be clear on how often the medical director is expected to be on-site and how many hours you expect them to devote to the job.

Compensation Model

There are several common methods for compensating med spa medical directors. Choosing one depends, in part, on whether your medical director is a W2 employee or an independent contractor.

Find a model that works for both your business and your candidate, and make it official in the contract.

Possible compensation models include:

• Flat monthly retainer for part-time oversight
• Hourly consulting rate for part-time oversight
• Annual salary plus bonuses and benefits for full-time employee
• Commission or revenue share per procedure or location, for full or part-time employee - and always check state guidelines on compensation to ensure you are not at risk for violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute or Stark Law

Additional Expenses

In addition to standard employee benefits like health insurance and paid time off, it’s common for a practice to cover the cost of maintaining your medical director’s qualifications.

In the contract, outline the med spa’s budgetary commitment to ongoing training and conference attendance.

Also detail whether the med spa or the medical director is responsible for the cost of maintaining professional licenses and certifications.

If your medical director is part-time, they may already have their own malpractice insurance. If they are full-time, you may have to provide it.

Make it clear in the contract who is responsible for malpractice insurance, and the minimum insurance level.

Ethical Considerations

Put your med spa’s code of ethics in writing so there can be no misunderstanding.

The contract should detail expectations for confidentiality, adherence to ethical standards, and legal compliance.

Renewal and Termination

A standard employment contract includes clauses for contract renewal and termination. You and the candidate can decide the contract’s term and if it automatically renews. 

There should also be instructions for how either party can terminate the contract before the term is up.

Medical Director FAQ

How much does a medical director cost a med spa?

The cost of a medical director varies greatly depending on the med spa’s location, the candidate’s level of experience, and specialization.

The median annual base salary for a part-time medical director is $19,200, though experienced directors can charge up to $60,000.

For a full-time medical director, base salaries typically range from $120,000 to $250,000 per year.

In addition to base salary, budget for ancillary costs including benefits, malpractice insurance, continuous professional development, and fees to maintain licenses.

Can a nurse practitioner be the medical director at a med spa?

Nurse practitioners with the appropriate level of training and authority can act as medical directors in Colorado, Connecticut, New Mexico, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington.

Advanced practice registered nurses with the appropriate authority can act as medical directors at med spas in Illinois.

Can a med spa medical director work remotely?

Some medical director duties, such as developing protocols, administrative oversight, and staff training, can be carried out remotely.

However, most states require the medical director to be on-site when specific clinical procedures are performed.

Some states also require initial patient consultation be carried out in person and not via telehealth.

About the Author 

Robin Ntoh is VP of Aesthetics at Nextech. A recognized expert in the business of elective healthcare and aesthetics, Robin has seen success in the launch of both her own consulting company and the addition of consulting services for Nextech — serving more than 400 clients. Her 35+ years include small- to mid-business management as well as executive leadership for one of the leading aesthetic HCPs, Nextech.