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Heather Jane "HJ" McHugh is a double board-certified APRN who is committed to providing clients safe, accessible, and high quality care from consultation through treatment, post-care, and results. ​ An eastern Connecticut-native, HJ received her B.S. & M.S. in Nursing from University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT). At the start of her career, she served the critically ill and trained nurses and paramedic students at a local tertiary hospital. Upon completion of her Masters program as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, HJ served 2 years as a Hospitalist at a local community hospital and received the Mid-level Provider of the Year Award in 2016. She began her aesthetic journey in 2018, and in 2020, she became double board-certified by the American Academy of Procedural Medicine in Aesthetics. She continues to train with the aesthetic field's leading providers. “ I’m in a relentless pursuit to bring revolutionary treatment options with evidence-based findings to you” HJ's interest in aesthetic medicine began while treating vein disease, and continued her aesthetic education journey by enrolling in any and all classes that were offered. She has attended numerous classes, trainings and sessions across the country led by highly respected medical providers who have pioneered in their aesthetic specialties over the last four years. After taking an introductory course on platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments, she was delighted to learn of all the aesthetic opportunities and orthopedic benefits PRP offers. While she believes (and agrees) that medication and traditionally invasive procedures absolutely serve a purpose, she has always felt that exploring interventions and treatments that have the potential to yield desired outcomes with decreased risks is the ideal starting point when addressing patient concerns. As she set out to further her education on treatments using PRP, she realized there was no one better equipped to train her than world-renowned MD Dr. Charles Runels, the man who invented the Priapus Shot® (amongst multiple other well-known regenerative aesthetic procedures), and Dr. Jeffrey Piccirillo, the orthopedic PRP guru who developed protocols that have and continue to treat thousands of orthopedic patients in over 200 practices nationwide. She successfully completed training in the most respected regenerative medicine procedures offered today side-by-side with two of the most influential medical doctors who have blazed new trails in shaping the future for non-invasive treatment options. She remains dedicated to helping patients on their personal journey to achieve and maintain their aesthetic well-being holistically. She delivers patient care with individualized focus, always with compassion and integrity. She found that her approach drove patients to return to her practice reporting increased confidence and energy after treatment. With these improvements, patients found other aspects in their lives improved for the better. It became clear to her that patient-centered and education-based approach were improving patient’s compliance with preventative care, procedure results and overall self-esteem, solidifying her position in aesthetic medicine. Today, she serves as a member of the American Nurse Association, American Nurse Association of Connecticut, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Critical Care Nurses, American Academy of Procedural Medicine,American Cosmetic Cellular Medicine Association and Cellular Medicine Association. ​ When not providing patients with exceptional holistic care with the newest advancements in medical technology, HJ enjoys going to baseball games, off-roading, snowboarding and spending time visiting her family in South Carolina and Illinois.