Clinical Development Director

We sat down with Lee Middleton, BSN, RN, to talk about her work as Clinical Development Director. With nearly two decades of experience, Lee has shaped the way our teams deliver regenerative and aesthetic care. From her own early journey with menopause to her perspective on the treatments changing lives today, she shares what it takes to help patients feel like themselves again—and why she believes the future of hormone and regenerative medicine is just getting started.

Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where do you live, and what do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I’ve been with the company for over 16 years, starting out as a nurse injector and now working as Clinical Development Director. My role today is to support our teams, open new locations, and make sure every patient experience reflects the quality we stand for. My husband and I recently relocated to Tequesta, Florida, though our main home is in South Africa. Outside of work, I love anything outdoors—hiking, being on the water, spending time with our adult children. Honestly, my husband and I can be doing almost nothing and still have a great time together.

You’ve been open about your own wellness journey. What treatments have you tried?

All of them! I went through menopause early, at 42, so I became passionate about hormone optimization right away. Estrogen was critical for protecting my bones, and over time I’ve also found testosterone essential for overall wellness. I love PRF, not just for aesthetics but also for bladder and vaginal health. I use GLP-1s in a small maintenance dose, not only for weight management but also for their anti-inflammatory benefits, which work beautifully with BHRT. And NAD+? I always feel the energy boost when I do a series. For me, these therapies are long-term tools for staying healthy and strong well into my 90s.

When patients come to you for regenerative consultations, what symptoms do you hear most often?

It’s less about the classic menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, and more about patients saying, “I just don’t feel like myself.” They feel fatigued, depressed, unmotivated—coming home from work and going straight to bed. Many think it must be “just getting older,” when in reality optimizing hormones can restore their energy, mood, and quality of life.

What advice do you give someone who feels “off” but doesn’t know where to start?

I always begin by asking what they already know or believe about hormone replacement therapy. From there, the first step is baseline labs—not just estrogen and testosterone, but thyroid, vitamin D, and more. Then I recommend meeting with one of our certified menopause care specialists for a deeper dive. Even if they’re not ready to start treatment, that baseline information is invaluable.

How do aesthetics and regenerative medicine complement each other in your work?

For years, aesthetics focused on the outside—softening wrinkles, lifting the jowls, brightening skin. Those results matter, but when someone still has no energy, poor sleep, or bladder issues, it isn’t the full picture. Wellness and beauty are intertwined. When we optimize both the inside and outside, patients feel whole again.

Do you have a favorite patient success story?

One that stands out was a patient in Traverse City, my age, mid-50s. She came in for a quick Botox treatment but ended up sharing that she was going through a divorce, grieving her mom’s death, gaining weight, and struggling with energy and sleep. We talked for over an hour, and she eventually started both GLP-1s and BHRT. Just three months later she came back in tears, this time with gratitude. She told me she felt like herself again after years of not being heard by her providers. Those are the moments that remind me why we do this.

Which treatment has surprised you most with its results?

NAD+. Beyond my personal benefit, I’ve seen patients, especially in Winter Park, commit to regular NAD+ injections and notice real changes in stamina, workouts, and weight maintenance. It’s rewarding to see the physiology we know to be true actually play out in clinical practice.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about regenerative treatments?

Two things, really: first, vaginal rejuvenation is life-changing and often overlooked until someone really needs it. Second, there’s no age “cutoff” for hormone therapy. Too many patients are told they can’t start or continue BHRT after a certain age, and that’s simply not accurate when it’s done safely and monitored well.

How do you see hormone replacement and regenerative medicine evolving over the next 10 years?

I hope it becomes standard care. No more myths, no more fear, no more patients being dismissed. Women (and men) are already becoming CEOs of their own health, seeking progressive, science-based care. My dream is that in the near future, hormone optimization in perimenopause and beyond is just the norm, not the exception.

And just for fun—what’s your coffee order, and if you weren’t in medicine, what would you be doing?

My coffee order is simple: almond milk latte, no sugar. And if I weren’t in medicine? I’d be outdoors, in nature, probably living full-time in our home in South Africa. That’s the dream for retirement.