Adj A/Professor Elissa O'Keefe RN, NP is a health industry pioneer, a highly-experienced clinician and educator and was the first nurse practitioner in the ACT.
She has an honorary appointment as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra in the Faculty of Health and is an Affiliate of the Synergy Nursing and Midwifery Research Centre (ACT Health & University of Canberra).
Elissa is the lead author of the first ever chapter on cosmetic nursing for an undergraduate textbook, Nursing in
Australia.
Elissa was the inaugural Chair of the Australian College of Nursing Cosmetic Nursing Community of Interest.
Elissa was a contributor to the "bible on skin rejuvenation" for consumers, and more recently, wrote her own book Breakout: Science, Acne, and the Keys to Freedom.
She has been involved in the AHPRA Review of regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery which is revolutionising patient safety for surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Elissa is the lead author of the first ever Australian standards and scope of practice document for cosmetic nursing, has published in peer-reviewed journals both nationally and internationally and is often called on for comment in the industry.
Our award winning company was born when, during her career in cosmetic medicine practice, Elissa realised that there was a need for flexible, high quality, post-graduate continuing professional development for health professionals with regard to lasers and other light-based therapies that was evidence based and pitched at the high level required of this complex landscape.
Elissa lives in Canberra with her surveyor husband, an unpredictable black cat called Inka, and a pond full of goldfish.