Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffani Botts Massey
Hi Tiffani, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been working as a Physician Associate (PA) in Dermatology and Aesthetics for over 10 years now. In this field, staying informed is essential. There’s always something new to learn as more medications get approved, new treatments for chronic diseases emerge, and the cosmetic side of dermatology, which has seen rapid growth over the last decade, continues to expand.
To keep up with this constant need for up-to-date information, most of us turn to conferences. When searching for high-quality conferences both in Florida and nationally, one stood out for being low-cost and high-value — the Florida Society of Dermatology PAs (FSDPA). FSDPA is a non-profit committed to furthering the education of dermatology providers in Florida and nationwide. I attended my first New Wave Dermatology Conference, hosted by the FSDPA, in 2017, and I was blown away. The amount of practical information I took back to my practice was incredible, and it was so affordable.
After attending the conference for a few years, I connected with someone involved in the FSDPA who asked if I’d be interested in volunteering. I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the amazing experience that is New Wave. I volunteered for the entire four days of the conference, attending every lecture, helping wherever needed, and participating in all the social events. Apparently, I made a good impression because a few months later, when a board member stepped down, they reached out to ask if I would join the Board of Directors, despite it not being an election period.
I was honored to be included and brought with me a strong work ethic, a commitment to the society, and plenty of ideas for future growth. Before long, I was appointed Vice President, where I had the opportunity to work directly with our President-Elect and help choose the speakers and lecture topics for the conference. I asked for their trust in revamping the cosmetic side of the conference — as I believe this is the future of dermatology, and it was underrepresented at the time — and we managed to bring in some of the biggest names in aesthetics to deliver the highest level of aesthetic education New Wave had ever seen.
Thanks to the trust I earned from the board, the following year we expanded. Not only did we host our usual one-day aesthetic workshops, but I also introduced an aesthetic lecture track, two aesthetic workshop tracks, and a beginner track (for providers new to dermatology), all running simultaneously over the four days of the conference. It was a huge undertaking, but we succeeded in making a name for ourselves in both Dermatology and Aesthetics. I think the reason it was such a success is because all those that went before me for FSDPA really delivered an incredible conference for dermatology PAs. They laid the ground work for me to be able to expand and grow. Without their years of hard work we wouldn’t have been able to achieve such success.
As the current President, I now serve on the CME committee to help guide the creation of next year’s conference, and believe me — it’s going to be even better than anything we’ve seen before! At FSDPA we currently have a strong board, an incredible Director of Operations, and we have partnered with a new conference management company Gateway Consulting! All of these things together mean we will continue to grow, improve, and become better every chance we get!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growth and change never come without challenges. When I first introduced new ideas to the FSDPA, there were some pushbacks from those who were hesitant about change. It’s natural — people are often cautious when it comes to trying something new, especially when it involves significant shifts. However, I believe that in order to keep up with the ever-evolving fields of dermatology and aesthetics, we have to embrace change and push forward.
Another challenge has been balancing my time and energy. As a volunteer-based organization, being a part of the FSDPA means that we are all volunteering our time. There have been weeks where I put in over 40 hours of work for the FSDPA on top of my regular full-time job. On top of that, during my Vice Presidency I began working full time at my own small business, Boostology Medspa in St. Petersburg, FL. With the opening of a new location for my medspa, being a business owner, being a mom, being a wife, AND juggling the FSDPA there were times that I was spread too thin. Running a business is already a full-time commitment, so you can imagine how challenging it was to manage all these responsibilities at once.
Despite these hurdles, I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and the growth we have achieved at the FSDPA and within Boostology. I have learned that pushing through discomfort and finding balance are key to achieving something truly rewarding.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own and operate a small business in St. Petersburg, FL. It is a medical spa called Boostology, and we specialize in injectables, medical weight loss, and all things related to the skin. What started out as a side hustle back in 2019, quickly grew to become much more. When I started the business I was still working full time as a dermatology PA, and then eventually the business grew so exponentially that I was able to leave my full time dermatology job and start operating our medical spa full time. There are not many other medical spas that have providers or owners with a dermatology background. People seek me out for my expertise. It is very often you will find me diagnosing a skin cancer during someone’s Botox appointment. We have grown so much is such a little time, it has really been remarkable. I am most proud to say that we have never paid a single dollar for marketing. ALL of our patients are referred to us by their friends, loved ones, or other medical offices in the area. It is an incredible feeling that so many people trust and value the work we do at Boostology Medspa.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Educating others. I genuinely love when patients or friends ask me questions about skin. I am a firm believer that you should NEVER stop learning. In an ever changing world, if I want to stay at the top of my game I need to keep my ear on what is coming, and be able to answer any question a patient has. I can’t tell you how many patients sit in my chair and tell me “Wow. Nobody has ever explained any of that to me before!”. It speaks to the true LACK of educated providers and injectors out there and I have made it my mission to make sure every patient leaves knowing more than when they came in, and every provider that trains with me knows every detail they need to know! Due to this love of mine, my incredible colleague and friend Heather Gates, PA-C and I started our own training company, Skin Academy. We aim to deliver real, hands on learning, of the highest level.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boostologymedspa.com
- Instagram: @tiffdermpa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FSDPA
- Other: https://www.skinacademytraining.com
Image Credits
Mike Ossola and William DeCosta
