Over the past six years, Dr. Kristina Donnay and her family have built Maricopa Wellness Center into a destination for patients seeking customized, research-driven medical care. 

During that time, Donnay has also emerged as an international leader in her field. That reputation goes beyond the credentials behind her name, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Family Nurse Practitioner. It stems from how she built her practice and the approach she brings to her work each day. 

“Being an industry leader is not something I aspired to,” Donnay said. “It has just progressed that way. There were a lot of unregulated things going on, and I chose to get involved as the best way to help guide the industry. The biggest ripple effect of that is trying to help other providers.” 

Her involvement in 2025 included speaking at 27 conferences. She also contributed material to several textbooks and filmed educational content for the publications. 

“That’s a lot of work,” Donnay said. “But it’s also another avenue to help people.” 

Louann Schmidt, a snowbird who spends half the year in Maricopa, has been a client since shortly after Maricopa Wellness Center opened. She first visited for a facial but has since benefited from many of the treatments Maricopa Wellness offers. 

“Kristina is really interested in her patients and wants to know what is best for you,” Schmidt said. “She is very knowledgeable in a number of areas and stays on top of the latest technologies. The supplements she sells are all third-party tested, and even when I’m gone during the summer months, she’s always available to answer questions.” 

Hitting the road 

Donnay began attending large, national conferences and smaller, technology-specific events to expand her own knowledge. While she still benefits from networking with other industry professionals, she is now among those sharing lessons learned. 

In the Canary Islands, she presented to more than 1,000 attendees on research and development that led Maricopa Wellness Center to become one of the first in the nation to offer a non-invasive, performance-enhancing treatment for men. Her presentation focused on the safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction associated with the treatment. 

At the Society for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners annual conference, Donnay delivered a keynote address on owning and operating a successful aesthetic and wellness practice. One of the key areas of focus was marketing best practices. 

“I don’t hyperfocus on social media, which a lot of businesses do,” she said. “We have a billboard. We did old-school flyers. I presented some of those techniques and discussed doing things that are not traditional in our practices. I just really enjoy helping people. Most of the attendees are employees or owners of practices similar to ours. It’s about helping them grow.” 

As for what she brings back from her industry travels, Donnay said the list is long. 

“Being a sole provider in a practice can put you in a vortex, where you get caught in your own train of thought,” she said. “I get to see others, the way they are doing things and their perspectives. I also get to see where they might be failing.” 

“There are products I’ve watched where I’m not sure the research is there to back up the claims,” she added. “I see how they work at other practices and that has saved me several times when performance hasn’t matched expectations.” 

Chris Donnay, Kristina’s husband and office manager, described how the conference involvement evolved. He said it began with the two of them attending events, “sitting, listening and gathering information to help our practice.” 

“We were talking to others, and they saw how she thinks differently than so many other providers,” he said. “They gave her a shot, and she hasn’t looked back. It’s really kind of mind-blowing because that was never on our radar.” 

A number of the 2025 events involved Donnay speaking on behalf of inMode, a global leader in laser technology. Maricopa Wellness Center uses eight lasers for body contouring, laser hair removal and other services.  

“It’s really revolutionary,” Chris said. “Kristina is the only nurse on the speaking circuit for inMode.” 

Making a choice 

While Donnay shares technical knowledge in her conference presentations and learns from peers while attending, she said her closing remarks often carry the most important message. Those comments stem from a deeply personal experience eight years ago. 

“I almost didn’t make it through my son’s delivery,” Donnay said. “My husband was told he might be going home without his wife and son.” 

Before that experience, Donnay said she was dissatisfied with her work. Her background included roles as an emergency room nurse and a forensic nurse, where her duties included collecting evidence from victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

“I didn’t feel like I was helping people. I wanted to own my own business, but I was afraid to fail,” she said. “What happened with me and my son changed my perspective. If it did not work out, I would get to try again tomorrow.” 

A self-described research-and-development enthusiast, Donnay said she also learned the brain’s chemical response to fear and excitement is the same. 

“The great thing is that you get to choose,” she said. “The smallest change can make the biggest impact. I started choosing excitement every time I was afraid. 

“I end most of my talks with that,” Donnay added. “I urge every audience member to choose excitement. It’s amazing how that energy changes everything. It’s something they can start today. I try to give small steps, including choosing excitement over fear, that they can use right away.” 

Looking ahead 

Maricopa Wellness Center is a family operation. Kristina’s parents, longtime entrepreneurs, are partners in the business. Kristina and Chris have also created family time around conference travel, taking their two children to Montreal, Park City, Utah, and on several trips to California. 

The extended family includes the couple’s six employees. Chris said one goal for 2026 is to “get another provider in the office to help alleviate Kristina’s schedule.” 

Both Kristina and Chris said rapid advances in technology continue to shape the industry. Kristina said she witnessed the shift early, as the field moved away from injectables and toward rejuvenating, technology-based treatments. 

“People were looking for more preventative, quality-of-life treatments outside of traditional health care,” she said. 

Schmidt, who celebrated her 70th birthday last month, said the team approach stands out. 

“Kristina and her staff all work so well together,” Schmidt said. “They really want me to look and feel my best. I feel like I’m 45 or 50, and I have the energy to match.” 

Kristina said more money is being spent on wellness than at any point in history and expects that trend to continue, with Maricopa Wellness Center positioned to support both its patients and the industry.