Soaring to Success: From Flight Nurse to Spa Innovator with Karen Tayes
About The Guest
Karen Tayes is a board-certified nurse practitioner, flight nurse, and founder of Elysian Med Spa in Panama City, Florida. With roots in emergency services, Karen brings a unique, high-stakes mindset to patient care in the aesthetics world—one that values trust, precision, and human connection. Driven by her desire to create a pampering, empowering experience for women, Karen launched her med spa with a focus on personalized care, community engagement, and education. Her commitment to lifelong learning and her ability to form emotional bonds with patients set her apart in the ever-evolving aesthetics industry.
Whether she’s climbing stairs in memory of first responders or mentoring her team, Karen leads with heart, grit, and a deep belief in never giving up.
Here’s a Glimpse Of What You’ll Learn:
How Karen transitioned from flight nurse to aesthetic entrepreneur
Why emergency medicine shaped her unique approach to med spa care
What it means to build a business rooted in community and connection
How she educates patients to empower their treatment decisions
What the “Disney effect” looks like in a med spa environment
The emotional moments that make aesthetic care deeply personal
Why grit and determination matter in business growth
How technology is helping streamline operations and enhance care
The importance of lifelong learning in a fast-changing industry
How her nonprofit work honors first responders and builds local impact
This episode is for anyone who believes success is a mix of perseverance, passion, and showing up for the people you serve—every single day.
In this episode...
In this episode of the Aesthetics Growth Podcast, host Bref McHugh sits down with Karen Tayes, founder of Elysian Med Spa, to explore how she transitioned from high-pressure emergency care to building a thriving med spa focused on beauty, wellness, and community.
Karen shares how her experience as a flight nurse taught her the value of autonomy, precision, and listening to your gut—lessons she’s carried into aesthetics. She speaks candidly about launching her business, the fears she had to overcome, and the intentional way she built an environment where women feel safe, seen, and celebrated.
From collaborating with local businesses to creating emotional, milestone-worthy patient experiences, Karen’s story is filled with inspiring takeaways on leadership, resilience, and doing business with heart. She also dives into how she uses technology to grow her practice and how a memorial nonprofit keeps her grounded in gratitude.
This episode is a must-listen for any provider looking to grow with integrity—and make a real difference along the way.
Resources from this episode
- Bref McHugh on LinkedIn
- Elysian Med Spa Website
- Karen Tayes on Facebook
- Karen Tayes on Instagram
This episode is brought to you by:
The Aesthetics Growth Podcast, brought to you by ClinicGrower.
ClinicGrower is a U.S-Based Growth Marketing firm specializing in helping medical aesthetic practices to successfully grow, scale and dominate their local markets.
To learn more, visit ClinicGrower.com, or Contact Us Today.
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