We were lucky to catch up with Yanetsi Landa-Colon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yanetsi, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

Since 2016, I have been contemplating the prospect of establishing my independent practice, spurred by a colleague’s suggestion regarding medical aesthetics. As a board-certified Pediatrician with a tenure in pediatric practice commencing in 2011, my journey within the medical field has been marked by challenges and, at times, burnout, particularly after navigating through four job transitions. In 2018, while still fully engaged in Pediatric care, I embarked on a venture into the realm of medical aesthetics, propelled by a leap of faith.

Throughout this endeavor, I encountered numerous obstacles, among which mastering the intricacies of business management stands out as a persistent challenge. Despite progress, I acknowledge that this aspect continues to pose difficulties. Looking back, I recognize the value of a more comprehensive preparation, encompassing not only the clinical aspects of medical aesthetics but also a thorough understanding of business operations.

For aspiring professionals contemplating a similar journey, I offer the advice to dedicate significant time to acquiring business acumen. Engage in discussions with seasoned entrepreneurs, delve into relevant literature, and leverage available resources such as podcasts and online platforms. Embracing these opportunities for learning and networking is imperative, as they provide invaluable insights essential for navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship.

Yanetsi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a board-certified pediatrician with a specialization in medical aesthetics and wellness since 2018. Initially, while working full-time as a pediatrician, I pursued one-on-one and group training sessions to earn certification in medical aesthetics. At the time, I envisioned it as a supplementary endeavor in a rapidly evolving field of medicine. Facing burnout as a General Pediatrician, I recognized the necessity of planning my transition carefully. While my passion for pediatrics remains strong, I realized that my existing workload was unsustainable long-term. I aspired to continue practicing pediatrics part-time, necessitating an alternative income stream to achieve a balanced personal and professional life.

For many years, my focus was solely on pediatrics. However, after changing jobs four times, I decided it was time to pivot. I connected with other physicians on Facebook and discovered that many had transitioned from clinical medicine to establish their own medical aesthetics practices, or had integrated this specialty into their existing practices. The most contented doctors were those who had managed to reduce their clinical hours, allowing them time for monetizable hobbies and achieving a healthier work-life balance.

Establishing and maintaining my practice has been a significant challenge, a journey I am committed to continuing daily. Since mid-2020, I have dedicated my efforts exclusively to my aesthetics and wellness practice. At Mirar Aesthetics & Wellness, I help women of all ages reclaim their beauty and confidence through minimally invasive aesthetics and wellness treatments. My practice is distinguished by the ample time I dedicate to each patient, fostering a deep connection to address all their questions and concerns, and creating tailored treatment plans.

I am incredibly proud of the community at Mirar and feel honored by the trust my patients place in me to enhance their beauty from the inside out. My commitment to my work is profound, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all patients. Driven by my passion for women’s health and wellbeing, I am currently pursuing certification from the Menopause Society to become a menopause-certified doctor. I am thrilled at the prospect of soon being able to assist women navigating the complex physical, mental, and emotional changes associated with aging.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

I frequently get asked, and often ask myself, if I could go back, would I choose the same profession and specialty? The answer is yes. Reflecting on my journey, I wish I had invested time in my youth to learn a skill or vocation that could be monetized later. However, this is easier said than done given the demanding path to becoming a pediatrician, which involves four years of college, four years of medical school, and three years of residency.

Considering this, I often wonder if I could have found the time to acquire an additional skill during all my years of training. Nevertheless, prioritizing what is important and managing time effectively often makes a way. My primary reason for mentioning this is that having an alternative skillset is the only way I could have imagined not working full-time as a pediatrician. It wasn’t the nature of the work that was challenging—I loved keeping children healthy and helping the sick recover. I connected deeply with families, but the workload was overwhelming, leaving me with little personal time. The job is undeniably demanding.

After completing residency, I had to work full-time to earn a living and start repaying my student loans. I now realize there are numerous opportunities for physicians outside of clinical medicine. While my identity will always be linked to being a physician, and pediatrics will always hold a special place in my heart, I have found fulfillment in my current path.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I transitioned from practicing pediatrics to becoming a medical aesthetics physician. This change might seem unconventional, but that is precisely what pivoting entails. Here is the path I have taken to reach my current position:

From 2011 to mid-2018, I worked as a full-time pediatrician in various settings, including primary care, urgent care, and the emergency room. I later explored telemedicine and utilization management to find fulfillment and achieve a better work-life balance. In 2018, I established Mirar Aesthetics & Wellness, gradually growing my practice while continuing part-time pediatric work. I believed I had found a sustainable balance, but in March 2020, my employment in pediatrics came to an unexpected end. The hospital where I worked decided to reduce staff, including doctors, leading to my departure from my per diem pediatric position in the ER. This bittersweet moment caught me by surprise and prompted me to resign from all my other roles. At that point, I was juggling ER medicine, telemedicine, utilization management, and running my aesthetics and wellness practice.

In August 2020, I fully transitioned to focus exclusively on Mirar Aesthetics & Wellness. This pivotal decision has been incredibly rewarding, and I have no regrets.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mirarwellness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instragram.com/mirarwellness
• Facebook: Mirar Wellness by Dr. Yanetsi Landa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-yanetsi-landa-colon-00154a76
• Yelp: Mirar Aesthetics & Wellness by Dr. Yanetsi Landa
• Other: tiktok- @mirar.wellness

Image Credits

none