ROME, N.Y. — The friendly nature of the people of Rome was a key factor in helping Dr. Keneth Hall decide to not only stay in the community but also to open a business there as well.

Hall came to Rome in 2019 to perform surgery at Rome Memorial Hospital, part of Rome Health. He had been working at New York University, where he was chair of the committee on obesity, director of bariatric quality improvement, and director of surgical simulations.

Living and working in Rome, however, taught him “there is life above Westchester [County],” he quips. Hall was happy to stay on when Rome Health asked him to do so. He remains medical director of the hernia, weight loss, and wound care centers at Rome Health.

Hall purchased the former practice building of area obstetrician and gynecologist Paul Temple in March 2020 for $190,000 with a plan to locate his practice office there. However, the more he got involved in his new community, the more Hall knew he wanted to do even more in Rome. Hall knew the building at 8080 Turin Road would be a great location for a service the area was lacking — a physician-owned and operated medical spa.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen dramatic expansion,” Hall notes. “With new businesses opening and even national franchises like Starbucks coming to town, he knew that not only was his location a good one, but also the time was right to bring a medical spa to Rome.

His vision was New York City style with a “layer of something different,” to make it a unique experience that was suited to Rome, Hall says. After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Escape Medical P.C. opened early this year and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting event on Aug. 31.

While there are other med spas in the region, Hall believes his is the only full-service spa owned and operated by a doctor. As a physician-owned spa, Escape Medical can offer more services including photofacials, intravenous therapy, and injectables. The spa is in the process of adding mini liposuction and body-contouring services.

The goal, Hall says, is to offer a full complement of services under one roof and for people to leave feeling better than when they came in. “It’s all about how they make you feel,” he adds.

Escape Medical currently has a team of five employees. “We’re in the process of hiring two or three more,” including an administrative assistant, nurse practitioner, and aesthetician.

The community’s response to the med spa has been positive, Hall says. While slow at first, he noted that more than 200 people attended the grand opening and that the client base is building.

“My goal is to get people from the outskirts of the community,” he said, pointing out New Hartford and even Syracuse as potential markets. He hopes to add transportation services in the near future for clients from further away. If enough people from an area book a service, “we’ll send a car,” he says.

The 5,000-square-foot building features a waiting area, six treatment rooms, a mini operating theater, conference room, IV therapy room, and consultation areas. Its exterior features a copper roof and other copper highlights to celebrate Rome’s history as the Copper City. The waiting room also features a large photograph honoring Dr. Paul Temple.