2 Minutes With …Traci Kimball, Executive Chairwoman of WISH Skin Labs

Traci is the founder and general managing partner of Traci A. Kimball MD PC, operator of The WISH Clinic and general partner of WISH Expert Consulting. She is a general surgeon and board-certified wound specialist physician. 

Previously, Dr. Kimball was the medical director of wound management services under the InnovAge Greater Colorado PACE brand, from 2016-23. 

We spent two minutes with Traci to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she's admired.

Traci, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I'm originally from New Orleans, moved to El Paso when I was 10, went to college and medical school in Texas, and moved to Denver for surgical residency training.

How you first got interested in cannabis.  

My first exposure to cannabis was close to home, as I had a family member who smoked weed. I, of course, was becoming a medical doctor, so that was not something to indulge in until I moved to Colorado, where I was surrounded by holistic-minded colleagues. Then, I decided to get my MBA, and my marketing professor, who was connected to a business strategist in the industry, assigned me a deliverable to incorporate cannabis into my healing practice. Boy, have I been enlightened! The medicinal benefits of hemp bud oil are vast and synergistic for skin repair and wound healing.

One of your favorite projects you've ever worked on.

WISH Skin Labs—helping humanity heal one WISH at a time. 

The biggest challenge cannabis marketers face today, and how to approach it.

We cannot market using top-rated social media platforms due to the fear that we will say something unsafe—or sell a product that is harmful. Legislation at the federal level creates more challenges. We as a scientific and medical community need to do our homework and speak up about the safety and efficacy of these products.

One thing about how the cannabis industry is evolving that you're excited about.

The SAFE Harbor Act's move to delist cannabis from the DEA's Class 1 prohibited drug list. I am also excited about the renewal of the State Farm Act of 2018, keeping industrial hemp with <0.3 percent THC legal to produce. Our raw materials come from this cannabis genetic. We are a THC/dental 9, delta 8 and delta 10 free brand.

Someone else's work, in cannabis or beyond, that you admired lately.

I admire Epidolex and the mountain they climbed to commercialize CBD for a rare seizure disorder in children. This required the FDA to validate its safety and efficacy in humans.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

I listen to Sanjay Gupta's podcast about cannabis use in the aging population. My favorite author is Atul Gawande. His book The Checklist Manifesto is a must for any entrepreneur.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire. 

I love Elaine Adel Cummins. She is my favorite visual artist and a native New Orleanian who knows the bowels of our beloved city, learning her craft on the streets of the French Quarter. Her work is featured at Vue in the NOLA Four Seasons Hotel. My favorite up and coming singer-songwriter is Chloe Caroline. 

Your favorite fictional character. 

Yoda. He represents the superconscious, and that is where we find inspiration and insights. We all have the ability—some of us can access it easier than others. 

Someone worth following in social media. 

Raina O'Dell, an ostomate who shared her real life experiences about living with an ostomy.

Your main strength as a marketer/creative. 

Writing and creativity came to me as an only child sitting in my room alone doodling and documenting in my diaries. I was always the crafty one. I say creativity and thinking outside the box is the yoke of forward progress. I want my audience to say: "Wow that was something I never thought about."

Your biggest weakness. 

I am my biggest critic and can take things personally when an outcome is contrary to my expectations.

What you'd be doing if you weren't in the cannabis industry.

Still healing patients, but using other biologics and treatments.