Today at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies in Coral Gables, Florida, we are announcing the launch of a new Aesthetic Medicine Certificate, a rigorous 12-week program. Directing the program is Daniel L. Campos, D.N.P., APRN, a University of Miami alumnus and one of South Florida's most recognized clinicians in aesthetic and antiaging medicine.
Designed for board-certified advanced practice registered nurses, the program spans 60 total contact hours, including 40 hours of on-campus didactic instruction and 20 hours of supervised clinical practicum, and culminates in an aesthetic medicine certificate.
The timing reflects an inflection point in both the health care workforce and aesthetics industry. By 2035, industry experts project the fast-growing global aesthetic medicine market could quadruple its already significant multibillion-dollar market size. Florida ranks among the top three states nationally for aesthetic procedure volume, generating an estimated $3.78 billion in annual revenues, stated AFAAAS.
At the same time, regulatory scrutiny around practitioner qualifications is intensifying, and nurse-led medical spas and aesthetic clinics have emerged as one of the fastest-growing categories within the sector. Formal academic pathways for nurse practitioners entering the field have remained scarce, creating a widening gap between clinical demand and structured, safety-centered training.
The Aesthetic Medicine Certificate program is open to nurse practitioners who hold a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) from a regionally accredited institution; maintain board certification and an active, unrestricted APRN license in Florida; and hold current BLS and ACLS certification. The hybrid program is delivered through live, weekly, on-campus instruction at the University of Miami Coral Gables campus, with all clinical components completed within Florida.
"The University of Miami shaped the clinician I am today. As a proud alumnus and as program director, my goal is to bring innovation back home and build an academic pathway that elevates safety, skill, and excellence in aesthetic medicine,” said Daniel L. Campos, DNP, APRN, program director and founder of the A4E Institute in Coral Gables. “This program was built for the nurse practitioner who is serious about entering this field with real competency and credentials. We are developing ethical, academically grounded clinicians who will raise the standard of care in aesthetic medicine across South Florida and beyond.”
Dr. Campos brings both academic pedigree and clinical authority to the program's leadership. A native of Cuba who has called Miami home since 1995, he earned a Master of Science in Nursing in adult and gerontology primary care from the University of Miami and his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Nova Southeastern University, where he graduated with highest honors. He is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in adult-gerontology primary care and holds membership in the American Academy of Antiaging Medicine. Widely recognized as a media educator and known to audiences across the United States as "El Doctor de las Estrellas" or "The Doctor to the Stars," Dr. Campos has served on nursing faculty at multiple South Florida universities and is a regular contributor on aesthetics and health to radio and television programs nationally.
“The School of Nursing and Health Studies has always prepared clinicians to lead with both excellence and integrity,” said Hudson Santos, RN, PhD, FABMR, FAAN, Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Miami. “Aesthetic medicine is no longer a niche specialty. It is a high-growth discipline where patients deserve providers who are academically trained, clinically supervised, and held to a rigorous standard of safety and ethics. This certificate program directed by Dr. Campos reflects a commitment to meeting the profession where it is heading, and to ensuring that nurse practitioners have an evidence-based pathway into this field.”
Graduates of the Aesthetic Medicine Certificate program are positioned to immediately integrate aesthetic procedures into independent or collaborative practice settings within their scope of practice, including medical spas, dermatology practices, plastic surgery offices, integrative and longevity clinics, and private aesthetic practices. The program's structure, combining academic rigor with direct clinical supervision, mirrors the model employers and state regulatory bodies increasingly demand as the industry matures.
The Aesthetic Medicine Certificate program is now enrolling for Fall 2026. For more information on this certificate program, visit https://share.sonhs.miami.edu/education/aesthetic-certificate.
About the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies prepares advanced practice nurses and health professionals for leadership in clinical practice, research, and health policy. Located on the University of Miami's main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, the school is nationally recognized for undergraduate and graduate education, nursing science, and its commitment to advancing the profession. For more information, visit sonhs.miami.edu.
About the Academy for Aesthetic and Antiaging Studies (AFAAAS)
The Academy for Aesthetic and Antiaging Studies (AFAAAS) develops and delivers advanced clinical education in aesthetic and antiaging medicine, partnering with accredited academic institutions to create rigorous, safety-driven programs for licensed nurse practitioners. AFAAAS is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida.