Katie Mann, DNP, FNP-C, is the founder and aesthetic nurse practitioner of Curated Medical, a luxury medical spa in Scottsdale. “The concept for Curated Medical was to create a destination for aesthetics that doesn’t overwhelm you with too many options. As soon as you walk in our door, you know you are going to get the best of the best.” Learn about Dr. Katie Mann…
Hometown: Lodi, Calif.
First job: Receptionist at Mountainside Fitness. To be honest, this may have also been the first time I also thought about working for myself. I was so bored staring out the door for eight hours a day!
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: I love to try new restaurants and spend time outside when the weather is nice! Right outside of our office, we have a great walking path that is part of the greenbelt. There is nothing better than taking my dogs for a walk with my husband there in the “winter.”
Your most significant accomplishment and why: I have two. The first was completing my doctorate in December of 2019 (I am a doctor of nursing practice and family nurse practitioner). It took me five years to finish that degree, and I wanted to quit so many times. The other is more recent, I just opened the new location of Curated Medical in May of 2022. Prior to that, I had worked for plastic surgeons/med spas and rented rooms, so this is my first clinic. I searched for spaces for about a year and a half and then had to do a full build-out which took about five months. We had our grand opening soon after moving in, and it was incredible.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Finding the right space was very difficult. I needed to make plumbing changes and kept getting passed up by landlords because other tenants would take the space as-is. Aside from that, it’s hard to be a healthcare provider who starts a business without any business experience. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and talked to as many people as possible until I found the answer I needed.
Someone who inspires you and why: I am lucky because I get to talk to my clients every day. I am always inspired by my clients’ stories, not just the hardships that they have been through but their vast experiences. You never know who you will learn from or what you will pick up from a conversation.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Aesthetics sometimes looks easy to on the outside but it’s very difficult with a steep learning curve. Do it because you love it and are passionate about it. The first couple of years can be very difficult but stick with it and find as many learning opportunities as possible.
Favorite quote: “It takes 10 years to make an overnight success.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: My husband grew up doing ballroom and Latin dance. When we met, he was teaching a class for fun so I could learn salsa, bachata and a little bit of cha cha. We lived in Denver for a bit and there was a really cool Latin club there that we used to go to every weekend!
What makes someone fabulous: A fabulous person to me is someone who is genuine.