A healthcare operator focused on safe, disciplined, people-centered care
I’m Heidi Faust, LCSW. I’m a healthcare operator with more than 20 years in outpatient healthcare, including over a decade leading clinical quality, safety, and client experience in complex healthcare environments.
I built much of my career at Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry, where I was part of the team that grew the organization from a single location to more than 350 clinics nationwide.
Most recently, I served as Chief Clinical Officer, overseeing counseling, psychiatry, clinical quality, compliance, and credentialing across a complex, multi-state healthcare organization.
My work has always centered on building durable clinical systems, strengthening safety programs, and supporting clinicians and staff so they can do their best work. I’m known for steady judgment, clear standards, strong ethics, and a calm, client-centered leadership style.
I’m building this carefully, with my own capital and reputation at stake, and with the intention of being present long after the ink dries.
An industry shaped by women
Medical aesthetics is a women-built, women-led field in many ways. Most practice owners are women. Most clinical teams are women. Most clients are women navigating identity, confidence, aging, and change in deeply personal ways.
I’m a woman operator who understands that reality firsthand, both professionally and personally. I lead with high standards and clear expectations, but also with empathy, direct communication, and respect for the emotional labor that often goes unseen in healthcare environments.
That combination matters. It’s why teams trust me, why difficult conversations stay constructive, and why people feel supported even when the work is demanding. This approach isn’t about gender. It’s about understanding the humans behind the work and building environments where people can do their best work over the long term.
What guides my work
The way I operate is shaped by a few consistent principles:
- Safety as a non-negotiable
- Clear protocols and consistent standards
- Transparency and accountability
- Client experience as a measurable outcome
- Systems that support clinicians, staff, and patients
- Evidence-based care delivered with empathy and respect
These principles guide how I evaluate opportunities, lead teams, and steward care environments. They also guide how I show up for owners, staff, and patients during periods of change.
Why medical aesthetics
I came to medical aesthetics after recognizing a familiar pattern from other areas of healthcare I’ve worked in: strong clinicians doing excellent work, often without enough structure, operational support, or consistent oversight to sustain long-term success.
Many aesthetic practices are looking for:
- Stronger safety and compliance foundations
- Clearer supervision and governance models
- More consistent client experience
- Better operational rhythm and follow-through
I bring a combination that’s somewhat uncommon in this space:
- Clinical training and provider experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Executive leadership experience across large, complex healthcare operations
- Deep background in quality assurance, compliance, and risk management
- Empathy for the emotional side of identity, confidence, and change
- Operational discipline that supports stability, not shortcuts
My own experience with weight loss, skin health, and aging has also shaped how I think about aesthetic care. When done thoughtfully and safely, it can be genuinely meaningful for people. When done carelessly, it can cause harm. That distinction matters to me.
What I’m building
I’m building Haven Health as a clinical-first medical aesthetics practice designed for long-term stability, safety, and trust.
My focus is on establishing one well-run flagship practice through either:
- Acquiring an existing medical aesthetics practice with aligned values, or
- A carefully designed partnership or co-location that allows for a strong clinical and operational foundation from the start
In all cases, I intend to be directly involved in operations, clinical standards, and day-to-day stewardship. I’m not pursuing rapid expansion. I’m focused on building something durable, well-managed, and respectful of the people and legacy involved.
Outside of Work
I live in Stafford, Virginia with my husband and our two young children, close to my extended family throughout Northern Virginia. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and hosting family and friends, staying active, and spending time with my kids at sports, parks, and on trips together. I also enjoy skincare, design, and travel, along with ongoing learning in healthcare, leadership, and business.
I have a long-standing interest in design, skincare, and aesthetics, which naturally complements my professional focus on safe, thoughtful care and client experience. Like my work, I value consistency, quality, and doing things with intention. I approach my work the same way I approach parenting: with a strong sense of responsibility, respect for continuity, and a long-term mindset.
A note for practice owners
Many owners reach out simply to explore possibilities, not because they’re ready to sell. Those conversations remain private, unpressured, and owner-led.
I approach every discussion with discretion and respect for what you’ve built. My goal is continuity of care, stability for staff, and a thoughtful next chapter for the practice, whatever that ends up being.