Advancing Expertise Through Education at ACHS
With more than two decades of experience in the global beauty and wellness industry, Shanna Bynes Bradford entered her academic journey at the American College of Healthcare Sciences with a well-established foundation as a practitioner, educator, and innovator. Already recognized internationally for her work in medical aesthetics and clinical skincare formulation, she sought a deeper, more structured exploration of the science behind her practice.
For Shanna, pursuing formal education was not about beginning a career; it was about refining and expanding an already distinguished body of work.
A Seasoned Professional’s Pursuit of Deeper Knowledge
Prior to enrolling, Shanna had built an extensive career spanning clinical practice, global education, and product innovation. As a Licensed Medical Aesthetician and international educator, she worked with leading global brands and contributed to advanced training programs across multiple continents.
Her decision to attend ACHS was intentional. She wanted to deepen her scientific understanding, strengthen her clinical framework, and further validate the methodologies she had developed through decades of hands-on experience. So she enrolled in the Diploma in Aromatherapy, Master Aromatherapist program at ACHS.
“Education allowed me to take what I intuitively and professionally understood and explore it on a more granular, evidence-based level,” Shanna shares. “It sharpened the tools I had been using for years.”
Strengthening an Established Foundation
Through her studies, Shanna expanded her expertise in areas such as formulations, holistic health principles, and the science of active compounds found in essential oils. The academic experience provided a structured environment to analyze, refine, and elevate her existing knowledge.
Rather than serving as a starting point, her time at the college functioned as a critical layer of professional advancement—enhancing her ability to integrate clinical insight with research-informed practices.
This alignment between experience and education has become a defining element of her work, allowing her to approach formulation and treatment protocols with both practical mastery and academic rigor.
Global Impact and Continued Innovation
Today, Shanna is the CEO of Grow Out Oils and an internationally respected Medical Aesthetic Educator. Her career includes collaborations with globally recognized organizations such as L’Oréal, Image Skincare, Estée Lauder Companies, Shiseido, and La Roche-Posay, among others.
She has contributed to international education platforms, developed clinical training programs, and played a role in advancing professional standards within the aesthetics and wellness industries. Her work continues to bridge the gap between holistic practices and clinical science, delivering results that are both therapeutic and transformative.
A Model of Lifelong Learning
Shanna’s journey reflects the value of continued education at every stage of a professional career. Her experience demonstrates that even the most accomplished practitioners can benefit from stepping back into an academic environment—gaining new perspectives, validating existing knowledge, and uncovering deeper layers of understanding.
At ACHS, students come from a wide range of backgrounds, including seasoned professionals like Bradford who are committed to advancing their expertise.
Her story serves as a powerful example of how education can enhance, refine, and elevate a career that is already in motion, transforming experience into even greater impact. Shanna has published a white paper with Harold Journal on the Efficacy of Grow Out Oils Clinical Aromatherapy Antiviral Hydrosol Sprays, and also formulated a clinical-strength Detox Muscle Recovery Bath Salt for PunchByPunch Boxing, designed to support muscle recovery for active athletes and those involved in combat sports.
Looking ahead, Shanna is incredibly excited about what’s to come, including podcast interviews, article features, clinical case study publications, and the opportunity to conduct symposia and conferences that spotlight aromatherapy and plant-based active compounds in clinical and professional settings.
We wish Shanna all the best in her future endeavors and are proud to highlight her immense successes in aromatherapy and integrative health. Congratulations, Shanna!
