Marisa Burdolski is about as approachable as a medical professional comes. From the way she incorporates warmth into her physical space to the way she creates emotional space for anything her patients might need, there is a genuine, deep care to the way she runs DEW Aesthetics and Wellness.
“I wanted to create this really safe, inclusive space for women to feel themselves– to feel better, to look better, to be better, to be healthier, to have a primary care provider that they trust and also love,” Burdolski said.
That is exactly what DEW has become. Burdolski is a nurse practitioner who opened her doors in downtown Shawnee after picking up a plethora of medical experience along the way.
“I was already trained to be a primary care provider, already trained to do hormones, already trained to do aesthetics. I was like, "Why can't I offer every single thing that somebody might need in the wellness space in one building?” she said.
After graduating from Kansas State University, Burdolski started her career in pediatrics at Children’s Mercy, developed a passion for aesthetics on the side and incorporated hormone therapy into her skillset to help women live a fuller life, no matter their stage of life.
“I'm shouting from the rooftops to anybody that will listen about how wonderful hormones are for women, not only for the way we feel, but because there are so many protective health benefits from hormones,“ she said.
The variety of services she and her incredible team of nurse practitioners offer stems from Burdolski’s acceptance of both traditional medical practices and the functional space. Keeping the patient at the center of all treatment allows her to make the best decisions for their health.
“The wellness space allows for more out of the box thinking, and I think that's what we need right now in healthcare. We should stop shoving patients into a box,” Burdolski said. “My job is to keep you healthy. Whether that is preventing disease or treating disease, my job is to make your quality of life better. It's quality over quantity.”
On an emotional level, Burdolski meets her patients where they are. Each appointment is booked for a minimum of 30 minutes, and the concept of “rushing” is nonexistent. Unpacking the full extent of her patient’s needs–physical, emotional and mental–is important to Burdolski and her team.
“I am invested in your concerns,” she emphasized. “If you have a concern about your body, about your health, about something–I have a concern about that. I don't know your body. Everything you say to me is truth. Period. I will take you at your word and try to investigate further.”
As cut throat as the aesthetics industry can be, the environment at DEW is different. If there is a need Burdolski cannot meet, she is not afraid to recommend other clinics that do. Her patient-first mindset is woven into every aspect of her business, which keeps women and men coming back, time and time again.
“We do a really poor job in the health care system of covering patients when we're not the right fit for those patients. We need to get back to that patient-centered focus in healthcare,” she said. “A lot of my patients have my personal cell phone number. If you are going to the ER, if you are going to urgent care, I want you to text me and let me know because I want to know what's going on.”
The highs and the lows–Burdolski is here for them all. Even in her own life, she understands the toll life can take on a person’s mental health. However, she continues to show up for her patients, by incorporating that compassion into her work. Now, DEW has developed a reputation as a safe haven that sees the whole person and their needs.
“My jam is patient choice,” she said. “You want to do aesthetics procedures? Do them. You want to get Botox and filler? Do it. You want to get a facial once a month? Do it. You want to have hormones? Do it. Anything you can do as a person to improve your self-esteem, mood and mental health, you do that!”
"The wellness space allows for more out of the box thinking. That's what we need in healthcare and stop shoving patients into a box."
"I am invested in your concerns. If you have a concern about your body, about your health, about something–I have a concern about that."