Community Leadership & Women’s Health Advocacy in Connecticut
Community impact is central to the mission of Milford Med Spa & Wellness. We believe healthcare leadership extends beyond clinical practice into education, advocacy, mentorship, and systems-level change. Through public events, professional collaboration, and strategic partnerships, we work to expand access to evidence-based hormone care, advance women’s health outcomes, and strengthen the next generation of healthcare leaders in Connecticut.
Community Leadership & Public Health Events
In April 2026, Milford Med Spa founder and Medical Director Dr. Courtney Holmes, DNP, APRN, presented at the 7th annual Women’s Mental Health Conference at Yale School of Medicine.
Her presentation, “When Anxiety Isn’t the Whole Story: Treatable Hormonal Contributors to Women’s Mental Health in Perimenopause and Menopause,” focused on helping clinicians recognize when symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, brain fog, cognitive changes, worsening ADHD symptoms, and changes in libido may have an overlooked hormonal component.
A key message of the presentation was that a mental health diagnosis may be accurate and still not be the whole story. Perimenopause and menopause involve significant neuroendocrine changes that can affect mood, sleep, cognition, stress response, and sexual health. Recognizing those connections can lead to more complete assessment and better collaboration between mental-health and women’s-health providers.
After the presentation, therapists, psychology and psychiatry students from Yale School of Medicine, other presenters, and authors stayed to ask questions and continue the conversation about the connections between women’s hormones, mental health, and sexuality. Those discussions helped to break down silos in healthcare, creating valuable new professional connections across disciplines.
For Milford Med Spa, this type of work reflects a broader community mission: bringing current women’s health and menopause education beyond our own treatment rooms and into the spaces where future clinicians, educators, and leaders are learning how to care for women.
Resources for Mental Health Professionals
As part of the presentation, Dr. Holmes created a dedicated online resource for attendees with validated screening tools, referral guidance, literature, professional position statements, and additional education on the connections between perimenopause, menopause, mental health, and sexuality.
Her goal was to help mental health professionals recognize patterns, ask the right questions, normalize possible hormonal contributors, and refer women for appropriate evaluation and treatment when needed.
[View Clinical Resources for Women’s Hormones & Mental Health →]
American Heart Association, Go Red for Women & STEM Goes Red at SCSU 2026
Milford Med Spa proudly supports the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women initiative and STEM Goes Red at Southern Connecticut State University.
In March of 2026, Dr. Courtney Holmes, DNP, APRN participated as a STEM Goes Red mentor and speaker, meeting with young women interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (including nursing). She spoke with them about women’s heart health, hormones, and the importance of understanding how women’s health changes throughout the lifespan.
The most meaningful moments happened after the presentation, when students and faculty approached Dr. Holmes with questions about the women they loved: their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who were experiencing symptoms they now realized could be connected to hormonal changes and women’s cardiovascular health.
These young women left with information they could bring home and share across generations, helping the women in their lives: recognize treatable symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, ask informed questions of their healthcare providers, and advocate for their own evidence-based care, so they can live healthy & functional lives longer.
The mission of AHA’s Go Red for Women is also deeply personal for Dr. Holmes. After losing her mother to heart disease at only 68, she has made women’s cardiovascular health and hormone education an important part of her work. Participating in STEM Goes Red brought together two causes central to Milford Med Spa’s community mission: empowering the next generation of women to pursue STEM careers while giving them knowledge that can improve the health of the generations of women who came before them.
[Explore the Women’s Heart Health & Hormones resources shared with STEM Goes Red students →]
The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause
In March 2025, Dr. Courtney Holmes, APRN brought The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause to Milford, CT hosting a free community screening and expert-led discussion focused on menopause awareness, advocacy, and evidence-based hormone care. The event was hosted at the Milford Arts Council, whose generous donation of space made this important public health conversation accessible to all.
The launch was organized in collaboration with Life Story, owned by Laura Dostilio, and supported by a network of local women-owned businesses who amplified outreach and contributed raffle prizes. Partners included Achieve Independence, Just Be Yoga & Wellness, At Sangha Yoga, and other community-based businesses committed to women’s health and empowerment.
More than 50 local women and healthcare providers attended, creating an engaged audience focused on improving women’s health in our region. Following the screening, Dr. Holmes and her two LPNs, both certified menopause coaches, led a live panel discussion and open Q&A addressing hormone therapy, cardiovascular risk, bone health, cognitive changes, and treatment safety. Primary care providers in attendance have since become trusted referral sources, strengthening collaborative care networks and increasing access to menopause-informed care for women throughout the community.
This initiative directly reflects Dr. Holmes’ “Change the Statistic” mission. Nationally, only 5% to 10% of eligible women receive hormone therapy despite strong evidence supporting its role in symptom relief, cardiovascular protection, bone preservation, and long-term health outcomes. By bringing The M Factor to Milford, Milford Med Spa advanced education, reduced stigma, strengthened interdisciplinary relationships, and positioned menopause care as essential preventative medicine.
Hosting The M Factor was more than an event; it was healthcare leadership in action. Through advocacy, collaboration, and evidence-based dialogue, Milford Med Spa continues working to close gaps in women’s healthcare and elevate the standard of hormone-informed care in Connecticut.
To learn more about evidence-based hormone care at Milford Med Spa, including support from our Spanish-speaking APRN, visit our Menopause and Perimenopause Care page.
Manifest Beauty, Public Health & Women’s Wellness Education
For three consecutive years, Dr. Courtney Holmes has served as both a featured speaker and major sponsor of Manifest Beauty, an annual women-centered event founded by Sonja Denyse that brings together entrepreneurs, wellness leaders, and community members for education and empowerment. Over the years, Dr. Holmes’ talks have evolved alongside her mission. She has spoken on building a purpose-driven healthcare business and entrepreneurship, on redefining beauty from the inside out, and most recently on evidence-based hormone health and menopause education. Through these presentations, she translates complex medical science into accessible knowledge, equipping women with practical tools to advocate for their health, longevity, and well-being. As a major sponsor, Milford Med Spa has also provided financial support to ensure the continued growth and accessibility of this community event. This sustained involvement reflects our belief that public education is essential to closing gaps in women’s healthcare and advancing informed, preventative medicine in Connecticut.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Network of Executive Women
In September 2026, Dr. Courtney Holmes, DNP, APRN was welcomed and pinned as a member of Milford’s Network of Executive Women (NEW), joining a community of local women leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs committed to connecting, empowering, and supporting one another.
Membership offers more than traditional business networking. Through regular luncheons, educational speakers, community events, and opportunities to simply spend time with other women in leadership, NEW creates space to learn, exchange ideas, build meaningful professional relationships, and recharge among peers.
One part of NEW’s mission that particularly resonates with Milford Med Spa is its longstanding scholarship program supporting women who are returning to education after their schooling was interrupted or delayed. Helping women pursue education, retraining, and new career opportunities reflects our own belief that women should be empowered to reinvent themselves at every stage of life.
For Dr. Holmes, joining NEW is both an opportunity to learn from other accomplished women in the Milford community and another way to give back through mentorship, collaboration, and support for women building their own next chapter.
Connecticut Health, Athletic, and Mental Performance (CHAMP) Center at Southern Connecticut State University
Milford Med Spa collaborates with the CHAMP Center at Southern Connecticut State University to expand access to advanced body composition and bone density testing, including DEXA scans. Through this partnership, we improve access to DEXA screening outside the traditional health insurance model, removing barriers to preventative care. DEXA provides essential data on bone density, visceral fat, lean muscle mass, and metabolic health, critical for patients navigating perimenopause, menopause, osteoporosis prevention, weight management, and hormone optimization. By combining objective data with evidence-based hormone care, we help patients take a proactive approach to long-term skeletal, cardiovascular, and metabolic health.
The Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce works to enhance opportunities, empower businesses, and influence economic growth throughout Milford, Connecticut. Milford Med Spa is an active member of the Chamber’s Health & Wellness Council, a collaborative initiative uniting medical providers, HR leaders, health professionals, and industry partners to strengthen workplace wellness and community health.
In addition to council participation, Dr. Courtney Holmes, APRN sponsored the first three years of the Regional Bridal Expo, supporting local small businesses and women entrepreneurs while expanding community visibility for preventative health and aesthetic care. This sustained involvement reflects Milford Med Spa’s commitment not only to healthcare leadership, but to the vitality and economic growth of our local business community.
American Nurses Association & Connecticut Nurses Association
Milford Med Spa maintains professional membership with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and its state affiliate, the Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA). These organizations advance nursing practice, healthcare policy, and professional standards at both national and state levels. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice–led organization, our membership reflects a commitment not only to clinical excellence and ethical leadership, but to shaping evidence-based healthcare delivery within our Connecticut community and beyond.
Connecticut Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society
CT APRN Society is the professional organization representing APRNs across the state. Through this membership, we stay engaged in legislative advocacy, scope-of-practice developments, and evidence-based clinical standards that support safe, autonomous, and high-quality advanced practice nursing in Connecticut.
American Academy of Facial Esthetics
Milford Med Spa maintains membership and advanced training affiliation with the AAFE, a leading educational organization dedicated to safe, evidence-based injectable and facial aesthetic techniques. Through AAFE, we pursue ongoing clinical education to refine advanced injection skills, facial anatomy expertise, and patient safety standards, ensuring natural, precise, and medically sound aesthetic outcomes.
The Menopause Society
The Menopause Society is a nonprofit organization with the mission of empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources they need to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond.
American Medical Spa Association
AmSpa is a national organization dedicated to advancing excellence, safety, and compliance within the medical aesthetics industry. Through AmSpa, we stay informed on evolving regulations, best practices, and industry standards to ensure our patients receive safe, ethical, and evidence-based aesthetic care.
Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber (CTGLC)
The CTGLC is committed to promoting and supporting our members and providing an inclusive business environment for Connecticut’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies. To do so, we connect LGBTQ+ businesses, entrepreneurs, and allies with opportunities to network, engage, and collaborate.
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments. To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research.
Community Partnerships & Philanthropy
Milford Med Spa was proud to sponsor New Haven Pride as a $1,000 supporter in 2023 and a $1,250 sponsor in 2024, contributing to one of Connecticut’s most visible celebrations of LGBTQ+ community, advocacy, and inclusion.
While New Haven Pride recently announced its closure due to financial challenges, we remain grateful for the impact the organization had in fostering visibility, connection, and belonging across the region. Our sponsorship reflected our commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ equity, affirming healthcare access, and safe community spaces for all.
We honor the work that was done and remain dedicated to advancing inclusive care and community engagement moving forward.
Milford Pride
Milford Med Spa proudly sponsored the 2024 Milford Pride Ball with a $1,000 contribution in support of local LGBTQ+ visibility, celebration, and community advocacy. The Pride Ball serves as an important annual event uplifting inclusion, equality, and connection within Milford and the surrounding region. Our sponsorship reflects an ongoing commitment to creating safe, affirming healthcare spaces and supporting initiatives that promote dignity, access, and representation for LGBTQ+ individuals in our community.
Academy of Our Lady of Mercy (Lauralton Hall)
Dr. Courtney Holmes is a proud alumna of Lauralton Hall, where her education was shaped by the Sisters of Mercy and their enduring commitment to service, leadership, intellectual rigor, and social responsibility. The Mercy tradition’s emphasis on compassion, justice, and educating women to lead with purpose continues to influence the mission of Milford Med Spa. The foundation of critical thinking, ethical leadership, and community service cultivated at Lauralton Hall remains central to how we practice — blending science, advocacy, and care in service of women and our broader community.
Jonathan Law High School
Milford Med Spa participated in Jonathan Law High School’s Senior Internship Program, which allows graduating seniors to complete real-world internships in their chosen field during the final weeks of high school. Dr. Courtney Holmes mentored a senior pursuing nursing and future APRN studies, providing exposure to advanced practice nursing, clinical workflow, and team-based healthcare. This experience reflects our commitment to supporting future nurse practitioners and strengthening the next generation of healthcare professionals in our community.
Walk Milford Challenge
Founded in 2014, the Walk Milford Challenge raises awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, with over 150 routes spanning all of Milford.
The Reach Fund
The Reach Fund works directly with Connecticut abortion providers to help those who cannot afford it, and fiercely advocates abortion access for everybody.
Planned Parenthood
With 15 locations in Connecticut, Planned Parenthood provides affordable, comprehensive, and high quality reproductive health care.
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund
The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, and public policy efforts.
Transanta
Transanta is a project that connects trans youth that are without housing or in foster care with anonymous gift givers to show they are supported by people around the world.
The Cure Starts Now CT
The Cure Starts Now fights for the elimination of cancer as a whole. They believe that in order to truly cure cancer you have to focus on those cancers that are immune to treatment and affetc children.
Get In Touch Foundation
The Get In Touch Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on providing accessible and free information about breast health, as well as making it easy and routine.
The Tommy Fund
The Tommy Fund is all about supporting the emotional and medical needs of children with cancer and their families through fundraising and awareness raising activities all over Connecticut.
Boys and Girls CLub of Milford
The Boys and Girls Club of Milford workes to ensure children of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, and religion reach their potential as caring, productive, and responsible adults.
Keeping Milford Warm
Located in Milford, CT, Keeping Milford Warm is dedicated to serving families and individuals in need in the community. By raising funds to purchase heat, we’re able to help our community stay warm and safe all year long.
Milford United Way
The United Way works with local communities to address critical needs and create a community where every person is healthy, safe, and economically secure.
Ride for Hope
Ride for Hope is an event hosted by the Milford Prevention Council that focuses on spreading overdose awareness.
Devon Rotary Club
The Devon Rotary Club of Connecticut is a volunteer organization of business and professional women and men who want to make a positive difference in the community. They donate over $25,000 annually to local charities and organizations.
Fun Girls Night Out
Fun Girls Night Out works with many local businesses to make a fun, informative, and interactive even for women throughout New York, Boston, Long Island, and Connecticut.
Precious Blood Parish
Precious Blood Parish is a Roman Catholic community of faith in Milford, Connecticut rooted in the Word of God and the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
Milford Duck Race
The Milford United Way Duck Race is an annual fundraiser that raises funds for the United Way to give disaster relief, emergency funds, diapers, and school supplies to those in need.
Joseph A. Foran High School
Milford Med Spa has supported Joseph A. Foran High School through sponsorship of athletic program schedule cards. Both of Dr. Courtney Holmes’ children attended Foran, and she has also participated in adult continuing education courses there, reflecting an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and local education.
Bridgeport Pride
In 2025, Milford Med Spa made a financial contribution in support of a Bridgeport Pride fundraising event, helping advance local efforts that promote LGBTQ+ visibility, advocacy, and community connection. Supporting Pride initiatives reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusive, affirming healthcare and to strengthening spaces where individuals of all identities feel seen, respected, and empowered.
Milford Performing Arts Center Dance
Milford Med Spa has supported fundraising efforts for the Milford Performing Arts Center Dance program, helping sustain opportunities for young dancers to train and perform. Dance was foundational in Dr. Courtney Holmes’ own appreciation of the arts and in developing a lifelong commitment to caring for her body — values that continue to influence our holistic approach to health and wellness. The MPAC provides a nurturing environment for all of their students, boys and girls. They offer many classes including Gymnastics, Musical Theatre, Modeling Hop Hip, Lyrical Pointe, Ballet Vocal, and Jazz Tap.
Why This Matters
Healthcare transformation happens when clinicians stay engaged beyond their own practice. By supporting organizations that prioritize education, equity, and research, Milford Med Spa ensures our patients receive care rooted in current science, inclusion, and community connection.
Invite Dr. Courtney Holmes, APRN to Speak
Dr. Courtney Holmes, APRN, DNP is an experienced educator, clinician, mentor, and speaker with more than two decades of experience as a nurse practitioner.
Her academic teaching experience includes adjunct faculty and lecturer roles at Yale University and Quinnipiac University, teaching students across undergraduate and graduate nursing education. At Quinnipiac, she taught hands-on Health Assessment laboratory courses for BSN students and Health Assessment lecture and laboratory instruction for advanced practice DNP students. She has led small-group discussion sections and large-format classroom lectures and has also served as a guest lecturer in dermatology for Family Nurse Practitioner students at Southern Connecticut State University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Holmes has also served as a clinical preceptor and mentor to RN and APRN students, helping developing clinicians translate classroom learning into confident, patient-centered practice.
Beyond the classroom, she has presented as both a keynote and breakout-session speaker at professional conferences and participates in professional, educational, and community programs throughout Connecticut.
Speaking Topics
Dr. Holmes combines clinical expertise, more than 20 years of advanced practice experience, and an engaging, accessible teaching style across topics including:
Menopause, perimenopause & hormone therapy
Women’s health, sexual health & healthy aging
Dermatology, aesthetics & regenerative medicine
Nursing and advanced practice clinical education
Healthcare entrepreneurship & independent practice
Building a career in medical aesthetics
Dr. Holmes is available for keynotes, conference presentations, breakout sessions, panels, professional education, university programs, community events, podcasts, media interviews, and other speaking engagements.
Speaking fees vary based on the event, format, preparation requirements, audience, and travel. Select community, educational, and nonprofit opportunities may be considered on a reduced-fee or complimentary basis.
Speaking Inquiries
To invite Dr. Courtney Holmes to speak or participate in an upcoming program, please contact:
Alison Barstein
Operations Lead
Milford Med Spa & Wellness
Alison@holistichealingpartners.com, 203-701-6161
Interested in Aesthetics? Shadow Us.
For nurses and nursing students curious about medical aesthetics, med spa practice, or healthcare entrepreneurship, Milford Med Spa & Wellness offers a Nurse Shadow Program designed to provide a behind-the-scenes look at this growing area of healthcare.
Participants have the opportunity to observe the day-to-day environment of a medical spa, learn more about aesthetic and wellness services, explore the roles of RNs and APRNs in the field, and gain insight into the realities of building and operating an independent healthcare practice.
Whether you are considering a future in aesthetics, wondering what med spa nursing actually looks like, or interested in the entrepreneurial side of advanced practice, our shadow experience offers an opportunity to learn directly from clinicians working in the field.
Interested in shadowing at Milford Med Spa? Contact our team to learn more about current Nurse Shadow Program opportunities. text/call 203-701-6161