We were lucky to catch up with Lea Pace recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

There is something so magical about the relationship a long-term health care provider forms with their patients. For years, I’ve called “Bob” my favorite patient. Bob was in his 90s, a widower, and resisted going into doctors offices but somehow was motivated to come see me when he needed something. He’d fill me in on how he was doing at golf, billiard championships, and how his sons were treating him. I remember one day being so grateful of our relationship and telling him, a patient, that I loved him. I admitted this was the first time I’d said this to a patient but somehow felt comfortable doing so with him.
A few years ago, Bob’s health took a turn for the worse after an unexpected emergency surgery. I had the opportunity to meet one of his sons I’d heard so much about over the years and experience the support from his family. Bob’s health continued to decline slowly over time.
In 2024, I opened my own medical practice in San Diego, a dream of mine. I had to leave many amazing patients behind as I moved into my new space, under the supervision of a new physician. I told the office manager at my previous practice to keep me abreast of Bob’s health even though I was no longer working there.
One night in 2025 I had a dream about Bob on a Saturday night. He was smiling and in good spirits, it was good to see him. I can’t say I’d ever dreamt about his before nor did I regularly dream about patients. That Monday, I got a text message from my previous office manager, letting me know that Bob had passed away over the weekend. I let her know about my dream, and she told me Bob wanted to say good bye. I cried and reflected on what a special human Bob was and how lucky I was to get to care for him after he’d lost his wife.
There is something so meaningful to me about the role patients allow me to play in their lives. As a primary care provider, you experience many of life’s great ups and downs with them. One of the greatly gifts I’ve been given in life is my role as a physician associate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a physician associate (PA) and health care provider at my core, and more recently, have also become an entrepreneur. In my early 20’s I knew being a PA was more of a calling than a career, being that I am a natural caretaker and science brain. My rewarding career in health care began in 2009.
After many years in the health care field, I’d learned much about how to care for my patients, what areas of medicine bring me the most joy, and how to run a successful health care business.
I opened Prospera Internal Medicine & Aesthetics in June of 2024, a boutique wellness spa in San Diego incorporating wholistic internal medicine services with non-invasive medical aesthetics. Since taking the reins, I’ve been able to focus more on activities that actually improve the health of my patient population, rather than simply treating symptoms and chronic diseases. My practice offers a unique blend of sought after services from disease prevention, hormone balancing, high quality neutraceuticals, medical weight loss, and carefully curated medical aesthetics including neuromodulators, dermal fillers and biostimulators, and a number of skin lasers and energy based device skin treatments.
Patients feel the difference the moment they walk through the door. We spend a great amount of time getting to know them and ultimately prioritize their needs while taking optimal care of them.
Watching Prospera thrive and elevating the health of the community I live in has been a tremendous source of joy and pride in my life. I would encourage any well seasoned PA to harness their skill set and follow their entrepreneurial dreams.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

I’ve learned over the years that, even though the physician I work for may have more years of schooling than I do, many patients prefer to see me when they have a medical need. I’ve discovered that knowing how to form a meaningful bond with a patient is often more valuable than training at an ivy league school. When getting to know a patient, I spend a good amount of time hearing their stories, understanding their family history, and relating to them. Once a patient is under my care, I make a concerted effort to fiercely advocate for them and their health care needs. When a patient feels heard, understood, and supported, you become more like a family member than someone their insurance assigned them to.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I had quite a time finding my medical director, Dr. Kalpana Sundar! I spent months interviewing doctors, explaining my vision, and searching for a meaningful connection. Time after time, someone would seem promising, only to not work out because of what seemed like a small detail. So many square pegs!
After yet another physician not working out, I complained to my health care attorney how I was struggling, and he seemed to want to help me. He connected me with an older retired physician medical director but, given that I’d spend the majority of my career working for older white men, I knew I had my heart set on making my business as diverse and female as possible. My attorney gave me the information of Dr. Sundar, an experienced physician who had run a successful specialty practice as well as a medical spa. Dr. Sundar and I immediately clicked, I had met my match. I’m so grateful for this connection. Today we are business partners and friends. She’s been an amazing mentor to me and having this type of relationship with another female health care entrepreneur has been priceless in my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prosperaima.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prospera.im.aesthetics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prospera.im.aesthetics
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/pa-lea-pace
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/jSCFY7PDJ20
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/prospera-internal-medicine-and-aesthetics-san-diego
• Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@prospera.im.aesthetics