The Entrepreneur Experiment EE480: Dr Caitriona Ryan & Dr Niki Ralph: 40,000 Patients a Year at the Institute of Dermatologists
In this episode, Gary sits down with Dr Caitriona Ryan and Dr Niki Ralph, co-founders of the Institute of Dermatologists in Dublin, to unpack how they built a modern “centre of excellence” model in Irish private care - combining medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, skincare, and a growing surgical pathway under one roof.
They share the realities of scaling a high-trust healthcare business (systems, hiring, standards, and culture), how COVID sparked a major pivot into new services, and why Ireland needs to shift from reactive healthcare to preventative, longevity-led thinking. Plus: the story behind ID Formulas, their new data-driven approach to supplements (including wearables integration), and what they believe actually moves the needle for healthspan.
Show Notes
Why Caitriona and Niki built a centre of excellence model (and why it’s scalable)
A day in the life of two Consultant Dermatologists with five businesses and thousands of patients
The difference between medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology
How they protect standards at scale: meetings, feedback loops, SOPs, and hiring
The COVID moment that forced a pivot - and led to a new surgical model
Their longevity philosophy: healthspan over lifespan
The “longevity hype” they’re most sceptical of — and what they’d focus on instead
A simple, no-fuss skincare framework for founders (men + women)
Links & Resources
Institute of Dermatologists (IoD): https://instituteofdermatologists.ie
IoD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instituteofdermatologists/?hl=en
ID Formulas waitlist: https://www.idformulas.com/
Dr Caitriona Ryan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitrionaryandermatology?igsh=MW5jcGhleGFxMWRieg==
Dr Niki Ralph Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnikiralph?igsh=MWl2anNucWc5MDR0Yg==
Things mentioned in the episode
WHOOP: https://www.whoop.com
Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com
Book — Unreasonable Hospitality (Will Guidara)
Book — Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell)
Book — Good to Great (Jim Collins)
EltaMD UV Clear SPF from IoD site(mentioned as a daily sunscreen option): https://instituteofdermatologists.ie/collections/elta-md-skincare
Episode sponsors
Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostra26
Azure: https://bit.ly/azure26
Rory’s Travel Club: https://bit.ly/rorys26
Chartered Capital: https://bit.ly/49ZuFrk
Disclaimer
This episode is for general information and education only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your GP, pharmacist, or qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance, especially before starting new supplements or treatments.