Each healthcare professional's journey into the aesthetics space is unique, which holds true within our visionary collective of Portrait providers. Every one of these talented clinicians offers something special to their clients and community. Each week, we will be spotlighting a provider and sharing their inspiring story in their own words. We hope you enjoy these interviews as much as we have. 

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Portrait: Hi, Kristen! We can’t wait to learn more about you. Can you introduce yourself and share your favorite treatment?

Kristen: I'm Kristen Doezie. I am a registered nurse with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in nursing, and an additional master's degree in psychology. I work out of Temecula, California, and love focusing on full facial rejuvenation with my clients. One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to watch the progression of a first-time client. I also have a passion for skincare! 

Portrait: Tell us a little bit about your career path—how did you get into the medical field?

Kristen: I have been a nurse for almost fifteen years. A lot of my family works in the medical field, so it felt like a natural progression for me. For the first half of my career, I worked in labor and delivery, but quite honestly was feeling unsatisfied and burnt out. I decided to go back to school for my master’s degree, thinking that administration was the right path for me. Turns out I was wrong! Instead, I explored the idea of leaving nursing completely and pursued a degree in psychology with the intention of going into marriage and family therapy. Along the way, I found my home in aesthetics! 

Portrait: Wow, what a journey it’s been! How did you end up finding aesthetics specifically? 

Kristen: I’ve always had a creative side to my personality and have been interested in fashion and interior design, but I didn't know how that could translate to a career in nursing. When I was considering leaving bedside nursing for a clinical position, I came across an opening at a plastic surgery office. Originally, I made the shift for a much-needed lifestyle change: better hours, closer to home. But, I very quickly realized that this was the perfect blend of science and art. I had found a place where I could combine both of my passions into one! 

Portrait: We’re so happy you did! So, when did you join Portrait?

Kristen: I joined Portrait at the end of September 2021. 

Portrait: What were some of your biggest day-to-day headaches before Portrait? 

Kristen: I am a single mom, so trying to maintain a nine-to-five schedule, five days a week, while being at the mercy of someone else was really challenging for me. I never thought that I’d be able to have full autonomy over my schedule, but Portrait has made that entirely possible for me. Portrait has also allowed me to be authentic to who I am as an injector and brand my business accordingly. As much as I loved where I worked previously, their branding and marketing strategies were not in alignment with my goals. It’s amazing to be able to be myself and show my clients who I am. 

Portrait: How does Portrait’s EHR technology make your job easier? What does our technology help you accomplish? 

Kristen: The EHR technology is really straightforward–which I appreciate so much. It’s very user-friendly. I’ve used most of the features, from paper charting to aesthetic records, and our EHR system is by far the most simple and reliable. I also love the integrations available, like Aspire, which makes it really easy for injectors to allow their patients to redeem points towards services. Overall, there isn’t much room for error because there’s step-by-step guidance. 

Portrait: We’re focused on handling the operations side so you can focus on what you do best: serving your patients. Tell me a bit more about the operational support you’ve received from our team, from PCCs to PSMs, and all of the ready-to-go infrastructures we provide to make it easy to run your own business. How has this been a game-changer for you?  

Kristen: So I feel like there are the on-the-ground people, which are my PCC, the tech support team, and the inventory team. They’re the ones that are really there to support me in managing my schedule, looking at my inventory, and making sure the day-to-day goes really smoothly. My PCC, McKayla, is so reliable in making sure my patients are always being communicated with via Open Phone. We are constantly in communication with each other, so even though I’m not always in direct contact with my patients, I know that she’s on it! Open Phone also allows me to view communications, which hasn’t been the case in the past. Inventory is also a huge part of what we do, so knowing that someone is helping me manage that usage is amazing. 

Then my PSM is the one that helps bring it all together. My PSM assists with all of these interactions, but helps me focus on growing my practice on top of it all! I’ll give you an example: I do a lot on my own with networking and trying to grow my brand to hit new sales goals. I’ve been really focused on growing by attracting new clients. I had a meeting with my amazing PSM, McKenna, and she reviewed my practice analytics with me. One metric we covered was the average amount of Botox® used per patient visit, and it was so much lower than I expected! So while it’s great to grow outside of my current patient group, she was able to show me that I could also hit my goals by increasing my per-patient average by five units. She's the one that helped me put those pieces together and put my focus on the things that are the most meaningful in my practice. 

Portrait: What’s your favorite thing about being a Portrait provider?

Kristen: I mean, there's so many. Let's see. First, the autonomy: I love being able to feel that ownership of having your own business. I have an entrepreneurial mindset and I love that Portrait has given me the tools to have my own practice because I never thought that could happen for me. The connection between the injector community is also really special—being more collaborative than competitive, which I think is rare. There is so much expertise on our injector panel and everyone is always open to sharing their advice and experience. The training opportunities are also incredible, not to mention the compensation. 

During my first full month of working with Portrait, I tripled my income. As a single mom, it's just provided me with a lifestyle that I never thought could be possible. I’m in the office three days a week and make more money than I ever have, all while being able to pick my kids up from school every day and feeling satisfied with my career. The other thing about Portrait that I love is that because I can brand my business in an authentic way, I am able to attract my ideal client. Most of my patients now find me through my Instagram or word of mouth, so I've been able to curate this practice where I look forward to coming in to work every day because I’m attracting the patients I know I’ll connect with. 

Portrait: What type of success have you seen since becoming a Portrait provider? How has joining Portrait empowered you in your career? 

Kristen: The training has been wonderful—not only are they super helpful but the opportunities to do so come up frequently. I’m also learning a lot of new skills, like hyper diluted Radiesse^® and threads for instance, which I never had access to before. Being surrounded by injectors with more experience has allowed me to learn so many tips and tricks within the community. Also, Patrick is an incredible Medical Director and is instantly available when needed, which is so helpful and makes me feel confident and equipped to deal with any situation that may come up. Portrait has really encouraged me to become the best version of myself within the aesthetics industry. I’ve recently submitted an abstract to speak at The Aesthetic Show conference about difficult clients, and while I was selected on my own merit, I felt so celebrated and supported by my Portrait community in pursuing this. 

Portrait: Before and after pictures are a big part of what we do in aesthetics to show transformation and results. What was something you wish you could have done differently before Portrait, that you were able to solve after joining?

Kristen: I would definitely say the branding piece. I love doing all the branding and marketing myself, so being able to connect with my clients from an authentic place has been huge in helping me find my ideal clients. 

Portrait: Do you think there’s any other company in the industry like Portrait? 

Kristen: Even if there are companies pursuing the same model as Portrait, I don’t think they can ever really compare. Portrait has this incredibly gifted team of people with a clear vision and purpose of helping providers feel empowered. When you combine these values with such talented people, I don't foresee there being much competition—I think Portrait will be the industry leader here very soon. 

Portrait: What would you tell someone who is on the fence about joining Portrait?

Kristen: I always encourage providers to identify what is causing them to settle in their current position. Is it finances? Scheduling? Self-worth? There is something that makes them feel like they are settling, which is why Portrait sparks their interest in the first place. I really challenge them to identify that reason and see how Portrait can help expand their industry experience. I also stress that there’s really nothing to lose! The idea that you can have everything you've ever wanted in your career is possible, and so I guide them towards not settling for being stuck with where they’re at right now. 

Portrait: Think back to when you started in aesthetics. What advice would you give your younger self?

Kristen: I would tell myself to hang in there! To know that when you’re starting off as a new injector, it’s okay to feel scared, but know that the investment is worth it. Plus, having boundaries and knowing my self-worth is so important. One key to being a good injector is also working on yourself internally, so I would tell myself to keep that up as well. 

Portrait: What are the most impactful ways you’ve built your brand?

Kristen: I’ve really tried to build brand awareness by getting involved in the community. I joined a marketing group and do quarterly Botox® parties with them. They put me in contact with a lot of local brands, such as hair salons and jewelry brands. I’ve met a ton of clients through these events and also through exposure on their social media. I also joined the Chamber of Commerce to be privy to different mixers in the area, and even though I’m not injecting at these events, I’m building connections. The area that I live in is really big for wine and weddings, so I’m currently trying to get integrated with the wedding industry by creating a preferred network of wedding vendors. This way, when any vendor is referring their clients to different services, I’m on their preferred list. It’s a slower build, but it really creates a sustainable, loyal practice, which is the ultimate goal! 

Portrait: Why do you love what you do? 

Kristen: I love helping clients transform and recognize their own beauty. It’s such a sacred spot to be in with women, and men too. To be able to hear a client’s own beauty concerns and then offer practical solutions within a safe space where they can explore the possibilities is really special. To get to be alongside them on this journey towards finding self-care again and building a relationship with them that they can trust is super meaningful to me. 

Portrait: How do you differentiate yourself from other aesthetic providers?

Kristen: Beyond the fact that I feel like I'm very good at what I do and I always prioritize training and continuing education, I think what sets me apart is that I really focus on the mind-body connection with my patients. We talk a lot about the inner and outer journey to get to their goals. 

Portrait: What would you want potential clients to know about you?

Kristen: For any clients testing the waters with me, I want them to know that they’re safe. It’s such an honor and joy to be on this journey with them. Understanding their goals, their lifestyle, and what’s gotten them to this point is just as important as me suggesting a product. In my space, they will always be safe and heard, and together we will come up with the best treatment plan for them. 

Portrait: When it comes to products, what are a few favorites that every patient should have in their arsenal?

Kristen: I love for patients to be on a vitamin C serum, retinol, and obviously sunscreen. That right there, if you do nothing else, will greatly benefit your skin. If you want to take it up a notch and protect the skin barrier even further, I recommend ZO^® Skin Health’s Growth Factor Serum or Daily Power Defense. I’m also a huge fan of their Wrinkle and Texture Repair. 

Portrait: Describe what Portrait means to you in a few sentences. 

Kristen: Portrait means creating a patient experience that is authentic to who I am as a person and as an injector, while also having the autonomy and quality of life that I never thought possible.

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