Shelly Esnard, 39
Physician assistant and center director, Williamson Cosmetic Center
Shelly Esnard has been at the forefront of aesthetic medicine in Louisiana for more than a decade. At the Williamson Cosmetic Center, where she became a partner in 2008, Esnard has teamed up with aestheticians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and surgeons to make the center renowned for its variety of services. She has successfully lobbied the Legislature as head of the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants board of directors, and now serves on the Louisiana Commission on Preventing Opioid Abuse. Esnard was named the LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport PA Alumni of the Year in 2015. She spends her free time with her husband of 15 years and their three children.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Partnering with a very talented facial surgeon; Jon Perenack, MD, DDS. This really allowed us to expand the Williamson Cosmetic Center and incorporate other practitioners and services.
- Chosen as a National Faculty Trainer for Allergan (maker of Botox).
- Our practice was listed as Top 50 Allergan practices in the country and No. 1 in Louisiana.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
I enjoy volunteering at Our Lady of Mercy Church nursery on Sundays. I have also volunteered the last five years to my professional organization Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants. I have served as President for LAPA. This organization had suffered a great loss of members after Katrina and was faced with more regulations from the LSBME in 2011. I knew it was time to serve. I was able to organize the association, gain financial health and security, increase membership three-fold, and lead a legislative team to pass paramount legislation that has changed the practice landscape for Louisiana PAs making Louisiana a better place for a PA to practice. Recruiting new leadership was important this last year because I believe that the success of an organization starts with an evolving leadership team. As immediate past president, I, along with LAPA members, am proud of our new Board of Directors. I will always serve my profession in some capacity. Currently I serve on the Louisiana Commission on Preventing Opioid Abuse.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A graphic designer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Waiting tables at Lone Star Steak house. I learned a lot of line dances.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
It could have been line dancing.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Healthy relationships with my husband, family and children.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
Nothing in particular. I just make sure that I am prepared and have everything memorized.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Receiving the PA Alumni of the Year award in 2015 because it was based on my professional experience as well as my leadership advocacy for PAs in Louisiana.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
I prayed specifically for guidance with our business and my career. I had completed all the goals I’d set these last 15 years and suddenly I had a peace that I should enjoy where I am in life and that is all a gift from God.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Black scrubs.
WHY PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
Showing a patient their results in the mirror. I love when they smile. I really enjoy helping them feel beautiful. I hate preparing my Botox for the day. I wish they made a larger bottle.
MAC OR PC?
Both MAC at home and PC at work
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Facebook and Instagram. I don’t post a lot but I love to catch up with everyone else when I do get on.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Twenty to 30 texts and probably about the same emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET IN % BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
I’ll let it die before I charge it.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
About 40.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Amazon.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
iPhone apps.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
IOS 10 software update.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
6 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Hot breakfast at home in the mornings.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
When my Dad took away his Texaco gas card.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Not sure if it’s my favorite but it’s the one I remember most: A Jambox with two cassette decks. I could hook up a microphone to it.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I wish I could sing.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
Numbers. When they show up multiple times or in certain sequences, it always freaks me out.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I could watch and read every biography of her.
FAVORITE DRINK?
St. Cumber.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
All time favorite: Fleetwood Mac.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
St. Elmo’s Fire.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Hopefully Tina Fey.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Sleeping by myself. I would sleep on the floor of my parents’ room if I had to. And it still scares me.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Travel and study abroad. I always wanted to do that.
PETS?
I would love a pet. But that will add a fourth child to our family and no one is ready for that.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
I saw Kevin Costner twice, once in Aspen and then in Nashville. He is so handsome. I wish I had asked for a picture.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
My Dad gave me my first “real” job at the Williamson Cosmetic Center in 2001.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
I am so intrigued with age management. Aging is inevitable. I would love to find a way to incorporate an age management practice into our cosmetic and surgical practice.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Absolutely. Baton Rouge is home. I would like to spend significant time later in life in the islands. Hopefully that works out.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
That we continue to come together as a community and become one of the greatest capital cities in the country.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Take my family on an African safari.
- Go to Alaska.
- Spend six weeks in Tuscany on a culinary trip.
