Catherine Wade
Catherine Wade brings over two decades of nursing experience and a steady hand to the ever-evolving world of aesthetic medicine. A Durham, North Carolina native, she earned degrees in Psychology and Chemistry from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1997, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2000. She began her nursing career in pediatric hematology/oncology at Duke University Medical Center, caring for children undergoing bone marrow and stem cell transplants. That work was both deeply meaningful and often heartbreaking, and it shaped her approach to patient care for life. Spending months with families taught her how to truly listen, ask about their lives, and offer presence through both hope and grief. That same grounding, a genuine care for who people are and what they are going through, remains at the heart of her aesthetic practice today.
In 2012, Catherine transitioned into the world of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, quickly earning a reputation for her skilled eye, calm approach, and unwavering honesty. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Duke in 2014 and became a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) in 2018. Since then, she has continued to refine her craft through advanced trainings, clinical teaching, and hands-on experience in plastic surgery, laser procedures, and injectables.
Catherine sees aesthetics as a set of tools to help you feel more confident in your appearance, whether that means softening signs of aging, enhancing a feature you feel self-conscious about, or refining your overall look. Her focus is on honest, thoughtful collaboration to create results that feel right for you. In a field where trends can blur the line between art and medicine, she stays grounded in clinical integrity, patient safety, and respect for individual goals. After years of witnessing how fragile and beautiful life can be, she finds joy in helping people feel like the best version of themselves, especially during life’s ups and downs.
Outside the treatment room, Catherine is a proud mom of two daughters, one at the University of South Carolina pursuing a nursing degree, and the other who circled the globe during a gap year before attending UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a passionate traveler herself and will happily trade skincare tips for recommendations on experiences and adventures from abroad. Whether discussing neurotoxins or navigating foreign train stations, Catherine brings equal parts knowledge, curiosity, and humor to everything she does.
If you'd like to meet with Catherine, she sees patients at our Skin Care & Laser Center in Chapel Hill and at our Cary office location. Simply submit an appointment request or call Central Dermatology Center at 919-493-3194 to schedule an appointment.