Front Row Seat: Dr. Emily McLean, Founder of The Eastover Clinic
If you’re looking for a new dermatology practice that feels both elevated and intentional, you may want to make your way to The Eastover Clinic to see Dr. Emily McLean. The doors may have only opened last week, but Dr. McLean is no stranger to Charlotte, having worked in both private practice and within a large healthcare system here since 2019.
After years of caring for patients across the city, Dr. McLean was ready to build something of her own. With The Eastover Clinic, she’s taking a more personal approach to dermatology, giving patients more time to discuss their concerns while looking at the bigger picture of their skin health, including the role hormonal and lifestyle factors may play.
For this edition of Front Row Seat, I caught up with Dr. McLean to learn more about The Eastover Clinic and why you may want to turn to her for your next skincare emergency.
After a successful career in established practices, what inspired you to take the leap and launch The Eastover Clinic? Was there a defining moment when you realized you wanted to build a practice that reflected your own vision rather than someone else's?
Launching The Eastover Clinic felt less like one defining moment and more like a natural next step in my career. Before medical school, I worked in finance and business, and I’ve always been interested in the intersection of medicine, entrepreneurship, and the patient experience.
I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to practice both in private practice and within a large healthcare system. Those experiences taught me so much about being a physician and taking care of patients, but they also helped me figure out what I wanted my own practice to look and feel like.
The Eastover Clinic brings together a lot of the things I love: taking really good care of patients, building relationships with them over time, creating a great experience, and the creativity and fun of entrepreneurship. I’ve really enjoyed building something from the ground up, thinking through the little details that make a practice feel special, and knowing that TEC can continue to evolve over time as we learn what works best for our patients and our team.
Starting your own dermatology practice is no small undertaking. What has the journey of building The Eastover Clinic been like behind the scenes? What has this experience taught you about yourself beyond medicine?
Oh man! It's been fun, wild, and terrifying all at once. Behind the scenes there have been many late nights (I do my best thinking when everyone else is asleep!), strategy discussions with my husband and dear friends, and also a lot of CME (continuing medical education) as I work to thoughtfully incorporate high-quality menopause and GLP-1 care into my dermatology practice when it makes sense for the patient.
Beyond medicine, I have learned the importance of communicating clearly and delegating appropriately with my lean and mighty team.
The Eastover Clinic places a strong emphasis on unhurried, personalized care. Why was it so important for you to build your practice around that philosophy?
I believe that by slowing down and truly listening to patients, I can provide the very best medical care. Additionally, it makes for a richer and more joyful patient interaction when we aren't rushing or allowing insurance rules to dictate how much we can address in a visit.
Let's talk services. The Eastover Clinic offers both medical dermatology and cosmetic treatments. Can you tell us about a few of the services you're especially excited to offer your patients?
I’m especially excited about our TEC Signature Consultation. These extended visits are designed for women and men who have multiple concerns, complex skin or hair conditions, want a second opinion, or simply want more time to understand what’s happening with their skin.
The consults can run the gamut from hair loss and changing skin in our 40s to hormonal shifts, perimenopause, menopause, metabolic health, and healthy aging. My goal is for patients to leave with a clear, personalized plan, including how to thoughtfully combine prescription treatments with over-the-counter skincare, so they know what to use and why.
We also offer comprehensive medical dermatology and skin cancer screenings alongside cosmetic treatments. Right now that includes Dysport and subtle, natural-looking fillers, with more cosmetic services to come. Healthy skin comes first, and I love helping patients feel more confident and like their best selves.
What excites you most about serving the Charlotte community as an independent physician? How does the community itself play a role in the type of practice you're hoping to build with The Eastover Clinic?
What excites me most is having the freedom to build a practice around what patients want and need, and also around what the people providing that care need to do their best work in a sustainable, fulfilling way. As an independent physician, I can make decisions about everything from how much time I spend with patients to how we communicate and which services we offer, all with the goal of providing really thoughtful care.
Charlotte is such an important part of that. I have built wonderful relationships with patients, physicians, and other healthcare providers here over the years, and I want The Eastover Clinic to feel very connected to that community. I want it to be a place where patients feel comfortable, heard, and confident in their treatment plan.
You're opening your doors during a time when healthcare continues to evolve rapidly. What opportunities do you see for independent practices in today's healthcare landscape?
Independent practices have a real opportunity to be more nimble, personal, and responsive to patients. Healthcare is increasingly complicated, and I think people are craving transparency, accessibility, and a stronger relationship with their physicians.
Being independent also allows me to be very intentional about how we use technology and new ideas. I can adopt the things that genuinely make the patient experience better, while still keeping the physician-patient relationship at the center of the practice.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for The Eastover Clinic? What kind of lasting impact would you like it to have on both your patients and the Charlotte community?
I'm so glad you asked this question! The three pillars of The Eastover Clinic that guide my decision-making are:
Practice good medicine.
Provide an excellent patient experience.
Build and foster community.
I want TEC to become a hub for trusted dermatology care in Charlotte. I would love for us to be the go-to dermatology office for entire families. Getting to know couples, grandparents, parents, and children is truly one of the joys of practicing medicine.
I also want the clinic to foster meaningful collaboration with other physicians and healthcare providers in town, and to build community beyond healthcare. We have a beautiful space, and I'm excited to use it for events that bring people together. Anyone up for some waiting room Mahj?
Ultimately, I hope TEC becomes a place where excellent direct specialty medical care and a great patient experience go hand in hand, and where we can contribute something positive and lasting to the broader Charlotte community.
