Med Creator 101

Every successful med creator has lessons they learned the hard way. From first videos that barely got views to chasing virality, navigating negative comments, and signing brand deals without fully understanding the terms, even experienced creators have made mistakes along the way. In this special Med Creator 101 compilation episode, Mimi Banks and Dr. Dustin Portela revisit conversations with five medical creators who share what they wish they'd known earlier in their journeys. They explore the importance of starting before you feel ready, creating content without sacrificing scientific accuracy, protecting your professional credibility, and understanding why a large following doesn't always translate into business success. Whether you're just getting started or looking to grow your presence online, these lessons offer practical advice on what to avoid, what to prioritize, and how to build a more sustainable approach to content creation.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

What does it take to turn your everyday expertise into a personal brand with more than one million followers? Dr. Maren Locke started The Budget Dermatologist with an iPhone, a YouTube channel, and the skincare advice she was already sharing in her practice. Six years later, she's built a community of more than one million followers by making affordable skincare education the foundation of her content. In this episode, Mimi Banks and Dr. Dustin Portela sit down with the board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon to discuss how she developed her niche, why authenticity and affordability became central to her brand, and how she adapts her educational content for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. From quick, actionable skincare tips to in-depth product education, Dr. Locke shares how she approaches content creation across platforms, along with her perspective on when to save or splurge on skincare products and treatments. For licensed professionals looking to build their own presence online, this conversation explores how starting with what you know, what you believe in, and what you already do every day can help shape a distinctive personal brand.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

Your social media presence should reflect who you actually are, not who you think you need to be to go viral. In this episode, Mimi Banks and Dr. Dustin Portela sit down with Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, facial plastic surgeon and president-elect of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, to discuss building a personal brand rooted in authenticity, professional expertise, and real-world results. Dr. Azizzadeh shares why trying to replicate other surgeons' content was a mistake, how he approaches showcasing his work without chasing dramatic viral transformations, and why he maintains separate social media accounts for his aesthetic and facial reanimation practices. For licensed professionals building their presence online, the takeaway is clear: your content should set accurate expectations for who you are, what you do, and the experience people can expect when they meet you in person.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

For Dr. Kelly Killeen, social media isn't a side project, it's one of the biggest referral engines in her private practice. In this episode, Mimi Banks and Dr. Dustin Portela talk with the Beverly Hills plastic surgeon about how she built a following that converts into patients. Dr. Killeen explains why she ignores likes and followers entirely in favor of quality comments and consult requests, how staying unapologetically herself online means patients already trust her before their first appointment, and why matching your in-person reputation to your online presence matters more than any growth hack. For any private practice owner wondering whether content actually moves the needle on new patients, this conversation makes the case with real numbers behind it.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

Dr. Kelly Killeen: Instagram: @klkilleen | TikTok: @kellykilleenmd

Putting yourself online means opening yourself up to criticism, but not every comment deserves your attention. Dr. Dustin Portela breaks down how physicians can navigate negative comments, know when to engage versus block, and set boundaries that protect their patients, personal lives, and time. Plus, he shares why finding your own voice and letting go of perfectionism is key to building a sustainable presence on social media.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

If you've ever tagged a brand hoping they'd want to work with you, this episode takes you inside how brands decide who they work with. Mimi Banks and Dr. Dustin Portela talk with Justin Ollivierre, La Roche Posay's Head of Brand Engagement, about what actually happens on the brand side before a creator ever gets a paid offer. Justin covers the tools brands use to evaluate creators, the red flags that make a partnership a hard pass, and why consistency, authenticity, and a well-optimized bio can matter more than follower count. It's a rare look at exactly how brands like La Roche-Posay decide who they work with, straight from the person making those calls.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

Tools and Creator Must-Haves:

CapCut: https://capcutaffiliateprogram.pxf.io/09bxrL
Gimbal: https://amzn.to/3QEu6ZO
Anker External battery charger: https://amzn.to/3DdtBTi
Car mount: https://amzn.to/4bkEu2k
Car mount (portable): https://amzn.to/3EVgNl8
DJI Osmo Camera: https://amzn.to/43eptwP
DJI Osmo Mic: https://amzn.to/44WJFnC
Ring light (portable): https://amzn.to/43joyvm
Ring light: https://amzn.to/4ikDBcd
Nikon DLSR Camera: https://amzn.to/3FbK0rR

Five dermatologists, each with millions of followers and one episode that gets them all answering the same two questions every med creator who starts on social asks themselves: where do content ideas come from, and how can I avoid risking my license? What you'll hear from Dr. Shereene Idriss, Dr. Whitney Bowe, Dr. Neera Nathan, Dr. Heather Rogers, and Dr. Tia Paul might change how you think about your own content.

Your next five posts start here.
The Content Rotation is a free 5-day challenge that takes you from idea to published with one prompt + one guardrail at a time.
Join free at MedCreator101.com.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

You didn't build a practice by guessing, and your content strategy shouldn't run on guesswork either. In this Med Creator Minute, Dr. Dustin Portela reveals why consistent posting alone doesn't guarantee growth and what you should look out for: a strong hook in the first three seconds, a retention graph most people never check, and metrics like shares and saves that matter more than follower count. If you're an injector, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or practice owner trying to figure out whether your numbers actually mean anything, this episode breaks down exactly which metrics predict real growth.

Ready to stop drafting and start publishing?
Join The Content Rotation, a free 5-day challenge that gives you the prompts + guardrails to publish one post every day.
Sign up free at MedCreator101.com.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

Dr. Chris Tomassian posted his first dermatology video in a poorly lit bathroom and got four views. Today, he has nearly 3 million followers, and a thriving practice built on the back of it. Dr. Tomassian, founder of the Dermatology Collective, joins Dr. Dustin Portela and Mimi Banks to share how he turned raw, unscripted content into a brand bigger than the feed. From surviving pushback in residency to using social proof to open his own practice (with a second location on the way), Chris shares why simplicity beats strategy, why chasing virality is a trap, and why staying consistent matters more than any single video's performance.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela

Dr. Tomassian: Instagram: @dr.tomassian | TikTok: @dr.tomassian | YouTube: @dr.tomassian

Develop your skills: Enroll in medcreator101.com

If you’ve ever felt stuck on what to post, this episode is for you. Dr. Dustin Portela and Mimi Banks share how to develop engaging content from choosing the right format and persona to finding inspiration in what’s already around you. From patient questions and audience insights to trends and AI, this episode explores how to turn everyday moments into ideas that actually resonate.

Follow us on Instagram: @medcreator101

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@MedCreator101

Mimi Banks: @mimibanks | @mbsocial.agency

Dr. Portela: Instagram: @drdustinportela | TikTok: @drdustinportela