Corine Munnings Bet on Herself to Build Illume MD

At 42, Corine Munnings walked away from the security of a 15-year medical career to start over. She spent those years as a board-certified anesthesiologist with a fellowship in regional anesthesia and acute pain, a steady salary, and full benefits. What she did not have was ownership, autonomy, or a way to build something of her own. So, she bet on herself instead.

Corine Munnings is the founder of Illume MD Aesthetic Art & Wellness, a physician-led aesthetic and wellness practice in Coral Springs, Florida. She blends her background in obstetrics, anesthesiology, and aesthetics into a whole-person approach to confidence, vitality, and healthy aging. A member of the Entreprenista League, she opened the practice after deciding in 2022 that she wanted something she could shape and direct. Here's how she built it.

The leap at 42

Corine began her medical career in obstetrics and gynecology, then moved into anesthesiology after her second year of residency. She practiced for more than 15 years. The work was demanding and respected, yet it offered little autonomy and almost no path to ownership.

In 2022, she made the decision she had spent years talking herself out of. She started a fellowship in aesthetic medicine, stepped into an entirely new career, and followed it with a jump into entrepreneurship. “For years I adamantly shied away from any notion of leaving a traditional medical job,” she says. “I spent a significant amount of time convincing myself I could actually do this.”

Building a practice patients trust

Illume MD specializes in aesthetic medicine, wellness optimization, hormone health, hair restoration, and regenerative therapies. Corine built her practice to marry the science of medicine with the experience of aesthetics, never compromising one for the other. What she is proudest of is not a number. It's trust.

“Patients have mentioned recently that they have sought other consultations, but they decided to move forward with Illume because I was honest and realistic about goals and treatment options,” she says. She has attracted and kept her patients on the strength of her standards.

What she wishes she had known

The honest answer? It's the workload. “The life of a business owner, at least in the start-up phase, is relentless and requires more time and sacrifice than medical school,” she says. Her advice to founders earlier in the journey is practical: "hire an assistant as soon as the budget allows, so you can focus on growth and delegate the rest."

A new location and a first venture abroad

In January, Illume MD moved into a larger, more beautiful space. Next, Corine is taking the practice international, joining forces with X10 Medical in the Bahamas for what she promises is the first of many ventures beyond Florida.

You can connect with Corine on LinkedIn and learn more about her practice at illumemds.com.

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If Corine's approach to reinvention and patient-first care resonates, the Entreprenista League is a community of women founders who value connection, shared experience, and practical business insight as they grow. Learn more about the Entreprenista League right here.