Private Practice Series
Shannon Kim, Doctor of Audiology student and President of SADA, in collaboration with Amit Gosalia, Au.D., FNAP, ABAC
Interviewees
Dr. Amit Gosalia
Dr. Jason
Leyendecker
Dr. Judy Huch
Click on the interview you wish to read!
Dr. Amit Gosalia
west valley hearing center
Dr. G, as his patients and students call him, started his career working for a hearing aid dispenser in Phoenix after spending 4 years at the University of Arizona. After realizing there had to be some form of didactic education and theory behind the hearing system, he jumped into Audiology. He received his M.S. from Arizona State University, and 4 years later, his Au.D. from AT Still University, where he subsequently taught the Amplification course on-site for the Au.D. students.
His leadership in Audiology began when he joined a licensure committee and quickly learned the struggles of our profession. He became the chair of the Arizona political action committee for audiology, and then ran, and was elected President of the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 2006.
He joined Audiology Clinic, Inc in Vancouver, WA in 2008, and then purchased it with his wife in 2012. Within 4 years, he had almost tripled their business. He sold the practice in 2017, and moved to Los Angeles, where he joined West Valley Hearing Center partnering to grow the practice. He recently authored Papa, Can You Hear Me Now? a book promoting awareness for hearing loss and audiology.
Dr. Gosalia was awarded distinguished fellow by the National Academies of Practice, board certified by the American Board of Audiology (ABA) and is a member of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and the California Academy of Audiology (CAA). He is the co-founder of the AudBoss Private Practice Group and Summits and was the Mentor for the Ambassador for the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) in California. He served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors for the ABA in 2012-2015 and has served as Chair of the AAA Marketing sub-committee and the Public Awareness Committee. He has received numerous awards, including the Audiology Foundation of America’s (AFA) Professional Leadership Award, the Jack Vernon Crystal Award by the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), the AT Still Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award along with other local awards for working with many non-profits in Vancouver WA and Los Angeles, CA. As a public speaker he often speaks at national and state organizations along with many CME presentations to physician groups and organizations. He is passionate leader for audiology and is always looking to help audiologists and students grow!
(Shannon) What led you into the field of Audiology?
(Dr. Gosalia) I grew up in a family with numerous physicians and healthcare professionals, I knew that I would find my way to medicine. I had my eyes on cardiology. However, after graduating and needing a break, I was introduced to a hearing aid dispenser in Phoenix. She wore a white lab coat and had, what I thought was, a stethoscope around her neck. Her description of what she did for a living was, and I quote, ‘I’m like a doctor but didn’t have to go to medical school’. I was intrigued! I shadowed her for 2 days, then joined her team for over a year working essentially as a dispenser. However, it was obvious to me that there was some didactic knowledge that was greatly missing and she didn’t have the resources nor the knowledge to teach me. It should be noted that there are many great dispensers out there and I have a lot of respect for them…just this one I worked for… I digress. I attended a seminar and spoke with an audiologist, who guided me to Arizona State University’s audiology program. That summer I took the ‘Intro to Audiology’ course. Day one, remember, I was doing this for over a year, I thought, this is going to be easy. Day two…I was completely lost! That’s when I knew I found something special and never looked back.
Dr. Amit Gosalia
west valley hearing center
(Shannon) What made you decide to go into private practice?
(Dr. Gosalia) From day one, I knew I needed freedom. I needed the freedom to be able to choose to do what I wanted to do, the way I wanted to do it, have financial freedom, be able to give back to my communities and to the profession. I also knew that I’m not perfect and needed the space to make mistakes and learn from them in my own way. I knew that I could only do this in private practice. And boy, did I make the right decision!
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Gosalia) After getting my masters degree in communication disorders from ASU, I joined a small clinic in Arizona. Made a hand-shake deal to transition the practice after 5 years, however that didn’t come to fruition due to numerous factors which I won’t go into. However, in hindsight, that was a blessing in disguise, because I now know I wasn’t ready to own my own business. I ended up moving to Vancouver, WA, joined a private practice there and eventually purchased that business in 2012. I grew that practice, tripled the business revenue and sold it in 2017. After selling, I moved to Los Angeles, where I am a partner of West Valley Hearing Center, a well-established clinic in Los Angeles, which Dr. Jane Rosner founded in 2001. We have seen significant growth over the past 5 years using best practices, building relationships in the community, and following patient-centric care, even during the pandemic!
Dr. Gosalia working with Face Forward LA, a nonprofit organization
that provides pro bono reconstructive surgery & emotional support for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and cruel acts of crime. He fits Chenda with a brand new hearing aid.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Gosalia) There were numerous! First was probably the confidence. I don’t think I believed the recommendations I was making to my patients. I see this with my students when they discuss hearing aids with our patients. My professional life, and arguably my mental health, became so much better after seeing some success with my recommendations and I began realizing that I actually knew what I was doing and my patients were succeeding. Another was trying to find my place in the clinic. I wasn’t the owner at that time, and there were patients who only wanted to see the other audiologist because of her role in the practice.. Again, when my patients started doing well with my recommendations, the word got out and patients started requesting me, which also helped my confidence. Third was the financial reward..or lack there of in the beginning. I always assumed I would just receive a big paycheck by just seeing patients all day long. Looking back I realize I wish someone would have counseled me on how working in a private practice worked! I made $39,000 my first year and that barely paid the bills. As I became more successful in my first 5 years of practicing, , I realized that having a greater commission proved my worth and improved my financial situation. The downside of my commission structure was that I was looking to sell every patient and patient care was pushed lower on the priority list. Just to add to this, I feel a bonus structure based on overall revenue is a better, and healthier, way to reward success versus commissions on hearing aid sales.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Gosalia) My father (Cardiologist) used to always tell me, ‘take care of your patients and the business will come.” Every patient that I see gets my full attention and I want them to have a fantastic experience in the office. I am very conversational with my patients meaning I don’t use technical jargon and they are part of the discussion. They may not all purchase something, but they will remember the moment. This attitude has allowed me to be very successful in patient care, which in turn, profitable. I don’t track my close-rate, or help-rate if that makes you feel more comfortable, anymore, however, I treat most of the patients who need the help.
Dr. Amit Gosalia
west valley hearing center
Dr. Gosalia with his book, "Papa, Can You Hear Me Now?" which focuses on the importance of better hearing and the struggle of untreated hearing loss
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Gosalia) Oh boy…I don’t think I ever have a ‘typical’ day, however, here’s a general day. Wake up around 4:30 am reflecting, planning my day & work out - which I highly recommend everyone do routinely. From 9-5, I see patients and mentor AuD students. Family time for as long as I can every evening. However, throughout the day when I can, I work on building relationships, marketing, planning, and communicating with audiologists. The thing in private practice is that there is no 9-5. Although I only see patients between 9 and 5, I have to be efficient with my time, which means, any free time between patients means I’m accomplishing something..including doing interviews!
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Gosalia) In our practice, we choose to do…whatever services we want, another benefit of private practice! What do I do? I focus mainly on adult hearing diagnostics, hearing aid fittings and services, tinnitus evaluations and treatments, cochlear implants, cognitive screenings, earplugs, in-ear monitors and cerumen management. Limitations? I don’t think we have any limitations in private practice. If we want to jump into vestibular, we can. APD? We can. Peds? We can. Intraoperative monitoring? We can. I just don’t have an interest in those areas. The only limitation is time!
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Gosalia) I think it's obvious…the freedom and the reward! I’m probably repeating, but I can choose to do what I love to do. Ever hear this quote, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”? Yeah, I don’t work. If I had to follow someone else's rules, I may not enjoy everything that I do. The reward? I’ve earned enough of an income to be able to live very comfortably in Los Angeles, travel whenever and wherever I want and I get to donate a lot of money to numerous non-profits that I support…these are things I could never do at the level I want, if I wasn’t in private practice. I also enjoy giving back to the profession where I can. This includes mentoring students along with sharing successes and/or teaching other practice owners via the AudBoss group or my own consulting. Freedom and reward!
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Gosalia) I'll be brief…Little to no impact. Let’s be very clear, anyone who fears OTC, or think audiology will die because of OTCs needs a break! OTCs have been around for years, they just haven’t been regulated. You can search and purchase hearing devices over the internet already…actually some are fairly decent. However, OTC aids will never replace the expertise and care we provide…it’s impossible. The role of audiologists and our support teams has been proven time and time again to be a necessary component for our patients’ successes. Without the professional component, OTC will NOT succeed nor will it replace us. Do I support OTCs? Absolutely not and anyone who does probably has an ulterior motive. We must do our part to restrict what OTC can do, including gain amounts and output limitations, stick big fat warning labels on them & do what we can to not let pediatrics have access to them. It’s our job as audiologists to make sure our patients’ hearing health is the number 1 priority.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Gosalia) Direct access for Medicare patients, the ability to not only bill but to get paid for our all of the services under our scope of practice, one national audiology organization representing all audiologists, and with all due respect to our SLP colleagues, but in 10 years we have detached ourselves from speech pathology. I know the last one may appear controversial, but it’s more about our independence. We do NOT need a combined organization that skews heavily towards speech pathology. If anything, audiologists should also be aligned with physical therapy for our vestibular specialty… audiology after all is the science of hearing and balance…not speech pathology. Again, I know, sounds isolationist or exclusive, but to grow, we first have to come together under one umbrella, then work on inter-professional relationships as equals.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Gosalia) Absolutely. I’ve made the mistake in the past of influencing students to go into private practice. If you want a 9-5 job, expecting to make a six-figure income by not hustling, expecting patients to just show up, and you don’t like networking…don’t go into private practice. Don’t waste your time. Don’t waste the time and resources a practice will invest in you. There are many otolaryngologists looking for help, hospitals, educational systems, and industry partners who need audiologists. Only the most passionate, motivated, and caring audiologists should be in private practice. We bend backwards for our patients because we care the most. If we didn’t care…we would cease to be in business. “Take care of your patients, and the business will come.”
Dr. Gosalia on Fox LA sharing about the consequences of hearing loss during Better Hearing Month
Dr. jason leyendecker
audiology concepts LLC
I am an audiologist in Minnesota owning 5 private practice locations with 20 employees. I graduated from AT Still University in 2010 through the residential program. I have served on several boards and I am currently president of the Minnesota Academy of Audiology and the Treasurer of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. I have two beautiful daughters and when not in the clinic you can find me spending time with them in the horse arena.
Dr. Leyendecker featured on ABC News and sharing about how hearing loss can impact one's communication skills
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Leyendecker) For me originally it was for two reasons. First and foremost, I wanted to have the most autonomy to make a difference. I knew the structure of private practice allowed for me to practice the way I saw necessary and gave me the control over my future. Second, it was listed as the highest earning opportunity as an audiologist.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Leyendecker) I purchased an existing clinic. I started as a 3rd year in this clinic then graduated and was hired. 7 years into my journey with the clinic I took ownership and have expanded from there.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Leyendecker) That is a good question. I think understanding my value was a huge challenge for me. I wanted the very best for my patients but didn’t understand that that has a value to it. Being confident in my discussion with patients on price was a challenge for me. On the flip side, I didn’t understand my value to the clinic either. I saw myself bringing in a significant amount of money to the clinic but not realizing all the costs of running a business. I felt like I should have been making more when really the clinic needed that revenue to survive.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Leyendecker) Our clinic has always been an early adopter of technology and services. Focusing on doing what is in the best interest of the patient requires us to be educated on what is new and different. Being an early adopter of tools and treatments allows for us to market these things before anyone else and that is helpful for gaining new patients.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Leyendecker) We focus on diagnostics and hearing aids but also are branching out to try to provide services in all aspects of audiology. We are known for our tinnitus clinic and this is something we enjoy doing for our community. My limitations really come down to finding hungry providers that want to take on parts of audiology that we don’t currently do. I’m happy to support and help develop new specialties for our clinic however I cannot be everything to everyone. I can support someone who is passionate for that specialty though.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Leyendecker) That is a tough question. I see patients about 15 hours a week. Monday I travel to clinics that are 2 and a half to 3 hours away. Meet with staff for one on ones and help support the team as much as I can. Being present is very important to the team. Tuesday I’ll be available for meetings with vendors and staff. Usually, I see patients in the afternoon. Wednesday, patients all day from 7:30am to 6 pm. Thursday is more one on one meetings with the team, full team meetings, and provider meetings. Friday is a light day usually and is dedicated to anything I needed to achieve that week that just didn’t get finished. Possibly, time to myself and family if I’m lucky.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Leyendecker) I love helping people. That includes the team I work with every day. I am motivated by the results that come from my patients succeeding with treatment and with my team hitting their independent and team goals. I love being able to support growth for my team members and seeing success.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Leyendecker) Anything that can break down barriers to care is a good thing. I’m not sure it will have a huge impact immediately on our clinic but I do think it will eventually get more people interested in hearing better. Look at Bose shutting down their hearing division. Clearly the provider care is important to the success of any hearing technology. We will be valued and sought after in the long run. So I think OTC is a good thing and will only provide more access to care.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Leyendecker) I see Audiology separating themselves from hearing instrument specialists and showing the value of the AuD. Maybe in a model similar to optometry where the audiologist may not be completing every single task within the clinic but overseeing the treatments of many. I see telehealth improving access to care to rural communities and creating more opportunities for growth. I see Audiology becoming more sought after as a clinical profession as the continued need for hearing health care arises.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Leyendecker) Always reach up for help. It is great to get information from your peers but it is even better from those who have been there and have experiences. Reaching up to people who are the best will drive you to be better. Private practice is awesome and there is no better place for me. I’ve heard many students say they want to work in a setting where they have opportunities to connect with other providers and work with a team like in a hospital setting or ENT but I think with today’s modern technology and private practice resources like ADA and other private groups there is plenty of people to bounce ideas off of. I think there is more support now for private practice than ever before. Don’t be afraid to jump in the water is warm!
Dr. elizabeth rogers
Southeast Kentucky Audiology
I graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington. I completed my residency at the House Ear Institute Children’s Auditory Research and Evaluation Center. I moved to Kentucky and was working in Lexington, before I took the job working at SKA, and purchased it in 2017, about 2 years after I started working there. Since purchasing the practice we have expanded into vestibular testing, have purchased a second practice, and are actively seeking to onboard an ear, nose, and throat specialist.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Rogers) It was honestly never my goal to own a private practice. When I was hired at SKA the previous owner told me she would be looking to sell the practice in about 3-5 years and if I wanted to purchase she would give me the first opportunity. At the time I did not have any interest. And then about 18 months later she was ready to sell and with the support of my husband we decided it was the right time.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Rogers) I purchased an existing practice that had been open for 15 years.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Rogers) Understanding insurance, billing, and contracts. Knowing how to properly bill, what is covered, how to explain it to patients, etc is vital because that is how you generate revenue. Unless you decide to be completed out of network, which is not a bad idea!
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Rogers) BRING IT ON! We are so excited for OTC devices. We see so many patients with thresholds at 20 and 25 dB HL complaining they cannot hear or understand speech and they are perfect candidates for OTC devices. Not only will we have these devices available for purchase in our practice, but we will provide services for helping patients program the devices if they don’t have a smart device, REM to verify the devices, and maintenance.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Rogers) We see infants to adults, so I could literally have an ABR, vestib eval, CI mapping, pediatric hearing eval, adult hearing eval, and hearing aid appointments all in one day. Not to mention cerumen management and our Veteran C&P evaluations. It definitely keeps things interesting!
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Rogers) ABR, vestibular including VEMPs and rotary chair, diagnostic hearing evaluations for peds and adults, hearing aids, ear wax removal, CIs, and 3D ear scanning. I guess I would say our biggest limitation is time. When we want to add something new the challenge is finding the time. And now we have a second office so we are down a provider in the Corbin office every day. We have combated this by hiring assistants for the providers that can allow them to see more patients and help with charting and follow-up tasks.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Rogers) Creating a work environment my employees want to work in, and creating a healthcare experience our patients won’t forget.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Rogers) To be honest, there are not a lot of other offices in my area, but we focus on the patient experience and physician referrals. We also added vestibular testing because there was a need in the area, and we are the only ones with a rotary chair outside of Louisville, KY which is about 2.5 hours away. I believe very strongly that there is no competition for audiologists because there is a shortage of us. We are very friendly with all of the other providers in the area and try to support them how we can (ie ear wax removal, vestibular, CIs, REM, and ear scanning). We refer to our colleagues and they refer to us.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Rogers) A respected healthcare profession where other healthcare providers realize our importance in patient care.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Rogers) You can do it! Focus on 1 or 2 things you want to start with, do them with excellence, and build from there. Do a billing and coding training MULTIPLE times. I did a billing and coding boot camp every year for 6 years and finally felt after the 6th time I really understood it all. And then it changes, so keep going! Take care of your employees, because they will take care of you! Reach out to those of us who have made it happen and establish connections. Private practice is challenging and exhausting, but is an amazing journey!
Dr. phallon doss
Doss Audiology & Hearing Center
Dr. Phallon Doss graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas Woman’s University, and received her Doctorate in Audiology from the University of North Texas. Dr. Doss owns two audiology clinics in the greater San Antonio TX area. She was named a San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40 award winner in 2019 and a Healthcare Hero in 2017. Dr. Doss has also been featured in numerous publications including “O” the Oprah Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Doss Audiology & Hearing Center has been twice named the Best Audiology Clinic in San Antonio by Senior Resource Guide. Dr. Doss was a 2021 finalist for the Oticon Focus on People award.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Doss) My practice thrives on physician referrals and our name in the community. Our reputation for reliable and accurate diagnostic testing sustains us, even if hearing aids sales may be slow.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Doss) As the owner, I wear a lot of hats. Typically, I spend the first hour or two of the day on administrative duties, then I see patients in the clinic.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Doss) I’ve always been drawn to private practice. I love building relationships with my patients and taking them on the journey to better hearing.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Doss) I opened my practice about 2 years out of grad school, completely from scratch. I did not purchase an existing practice or database.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Doss) There were certainly a lot of challenges to overcome. I was a young, female, person of color and it initially took some convincing for patients and businesses to trust me with their hearing healthcare.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Doss) I believe audiology will have to prove its value in a changing marketplace. I also think we need more education for the general public about audiologic services. OTC will be even more prevalent and perhaps available more commonly in private practice clinics.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Doss) Private practice is awesome. I would not trade it for anything. You must, however, have a strong clinical background, thick skin, and a passion for helping people improve their quality of life through restored hearing. If you lose that zeal, it will be a long hard road ahead.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Doss) Our clinic sees pediatric and adult patients for diagnostics and hearing aids. I also work with implantable devices. The only thing we don’t do is vestibular testing. I don’t really feel limited in my practice, but since we are not associated with a hospital or ENT, we have to refer out for medical treatment and balance testing.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Doss) It truly is nice to be your own boss. It does, however, come with a lot of hard work and elbow grease!
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Doss) There will always be low cost options available in any industry and people that gravitate towards those options. I believe OTC will attract first-time users, but the appeal will not translate to a repeat purchase. Audiologists must be prepared to demonstrate the added value of our experience, training, and education to our patients. Those seeking professionally-guided help will always prefer the care of a private practitioner.
Dr. whitney swander
Hearing HealthCare Centers
Dr. Whitney Swander attended the University of Northern Colorado with the hopes of helping people, but without knowing how she hoped to do that. Within a very short time, she learned about the roles of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and earned Bachelor’s degrees in both in 1998. Dr. Swander went on to earn a Master’s degree in 2000 and a Doctorate in Audiology in 2008. She began working at Hearing HealthCare Centers in May of 2000. She purchased the Boulder and Longmont locations in 2008, and the company has grown to seven Front Range locations since then. Over the 22 years that she has been helping people to hear better, she has become even more passionate about the role that hearing technology can play in restoring people’s ability to feel fully engaged in social situations, without having to worry about missing out.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Swander) Ha! I didn’t consciously make that decision. I kind of fell into it straight after grad school and stuck with it.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Swander) I worked for a dispenser for 8 years, learned a lot about the business aspect of dispensing practices then purchased the practice from him when he retired. After that I overhauled it to become a more well-rounded audiology private practice.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Swander) Because I was in a dispensing practice, I didn’t have a lot of audiologists in my life. Facebook and social media did not exist so I didn’t have a network of other professionals to reach out to for advice. My biggest challenges at that time came from not having people to ask when I had questions about how to care for a patient.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Swander) I’m less concerned with separating my practice from the practices of other audiologists and am more focused on separating ourselves from Big Box stores, dispensers and online sales. To do that, we focus on the professional care and best practices that we offer. Once a patient is in our doors, we spell out what we do that is different from so many other clinics.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Swander) Make coffee and sit at my computer to do some of the owner-type tasks for an hour or so then head to the office to see patients 3 days a week.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Swander) We provide hearing evaluations, tinnitus evaluations, cochlear implant evaluations, veteran evaluations, hearing aid fitting, verification and follow up, cerumen removal, hearing protection, and musician in-ear-monitors. The biggest limitations for private practice and audiology in general are needing a physician referral for evaluations and not being able to get reimbursement for cerumen removal and treatment codes.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Swander) I am finally at a stage where I have a little more flexibility in my schedule. It is also nice not to have to answer to anyone when I make decisions that affect my practice, such as buying whatever equipment I want without having to run it by a budget committee.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Swander) My hope is that making hearing devices more accessible will encourage people to seek help sooner. I believe OTC devices will be a good jumping off point for people to eventually seek more professional care and best practices.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Swander) I believe audiology will look much the same in 10 years as it does now. There have always been lower end amplifiers available as well as bundled care concierge practices. I believe in 10 years there will still be patients who choose OTC or DIY hearing aids and there will be patients who choose quality products fit by professionals with good quality care.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Swander) Do it. Private practice has a lot to offer. I believe that we offer higher standards because we have to. We may not have a hospital system or a physician network sending us patients so we have to earn every patient. We have more freedom and flexibility to take the necessary time with patients and we can offer the range of products and accessories that can work for each individual patient. Private practice often offers more autonomy to do what is right for each patient.
Dr. emily E. mcmahan
alaska hearing and tinnitus center
Dr. Emily E. McMahan is passionate about helping her patient’s hear the life they love through enhancing the quality of their lives through their ears. She specializes in Diagnostic Hearing & Hearing Management as well as Tinnitus and Tinnitus Management.
Dr. McMahan attended the University of Cincinnati where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She furthered her professional education by obtaining her Doctorate of Audiology from Salus University in Philadelphia. She completed her residency in Anchorage and has been applying her expertise to her patients in the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. McMahan holds Board Certification in Audiology through the American Board of Audiology. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. She is the President for Audiology Practice Standards Organization (APSO) which is a group dedicated to creating a national standard of care for the profession of Audiology. Staying current in hearing healthcare is a passion for Dr. McMahan and she is always striving towards providing her patient’s excellent care surrounding their individualized needs.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. McMahan) I purchased an existing practice 18 months out of school. However, sadly, I purchased a lot of nothing. It was a practice that was dead. The previous owner faked the data and I was lucky if there was 1 person on the schedule a week. So while I technically bought a practice, I really didn’t. I had to build it from the ground up. I have since opened a second, ground up location and now have two thriving practices. I just celebrated my 7th year anniversary!
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. McMahan) Sadly, it was other audiologists. They were jealous and or angry that I opened my practice and they tried to stop me from succeeding. However, through determination and showing my value to the community we overcame those obstacles and excelled. Audiologists need to support each other, not tear each other down.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. McMahan) My speciality areas are Tinnitus & Telehealth. I am the only provider who is fully dedicated to providing tinnitus diagnostics, management, and working collaboratively with other providers to serve my patient’s needs. I also offer telehealth to all of my patients! While many may not understand how telehealth can be used, it's a daily part of our lives in Alaska and a wonderful service to my patients who cannot always come into my office. We also embrace patients from other offices regardless of where their technology was purchased, which isn’t common in my community. I am here to help people hear and I will do my best to accomplish that, even creatively at times!
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. McMahan) A combination of new evals, re-checks, hearing aid consultations, check and cleans, reprogramming, CI mapping, telehealth visits, cerumen management, EMIs, hearing conservations/noise protection, work-ins for sudden hearing losses or ENT pre-ops, etc… I am in an independent private practice but we do a lot of collaborative audiology with ENTs and other healthcare providers. We are a busy office serving a wide variety of patient needs.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. McMahan) My practice offers both full service pediatric and geriatric services. We do not offer vestibular or APD testing at this time. My limitations are finding solid audiologists who want to work hard, practice at the top of their scope, be flexible, and stay in Alaska! Living here has its own challenges and not everyone is up for our harsh weather.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. McMahan) The freedom to practice to my fullest ability. The ability to do what is best for the patient without having to worry about being told no. I love my patients and making a difference in their life without the “red tape” that came from working for others. Our motto is “hear the life you love” and my own practice has allowed me that opportunity.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. McMahan) We need more people with hearing loss accepting amplification. We have excellent data that supports early intervention and appropriate amplification is a benefit to the patient. Audiologists can and should find their role in OTC. We can monitor their hearing. We can be present for troubleshooting. We can be their trusted opinion for upgrading to prescriptive hearing aids if/when they’ve “outgrown” the OTC or they need more hands-on assistance. Audiologists are far more than hearing aids whether OTC or prescriptive. Create your position in your community, know your worth, practice to the best of your ability!
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. McMahan) I would love audiology to have more autonomy. We would be more influential if we have a more cohesive governing body. We provide an important role to our patient’s lives and we should have more of a presence at the national level. I am an annual participant in national Lobby days like ADA just had to hopefully get MAASA enough support to pass! If Audiologists don’t join together to propel our profession forward we will be left behind.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. McMahan) Do it! I would encourage you to find an older audiologist to have as a mentor. That relationship is invaluable in your immediate and long term future. My original goal had been to practice under someone for 5 years before going into PP but at the 12 month mark it was time for a change. I began the acquisition process and finished it 18 months later. I have not looked back and you won’t either. Audiology is my passion. PP ownership was and is my dream. It is such a blessing to not only love what I do but enjoy coming to work every day!
Dr. judy huch
Oro Valley audiology
Owner of Oro Valley Audiology since 1998; Grace Hearing Center founded 2016; Dr. Huch also participates in Hearing Humanitarian clinics with Grace Hearing Center locally and Hearing The Call and Entheos Audiology Co-op around the globe each year, providing audiology services to those who can’t afford hearing healthcare or who do not have access. She has won numerous awards for her service in Southern Arizona and striving to be the leader she needed as a young professional.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Huch) Honestly it was the area I was exposed to the most in grad school; every opportunity that opened up for me was around PP, I never even saw myself in any other placement, except for the VA
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Huch) My second job out of my Masters I was provided the opportunity to start a satellite office and purchased it a couple of years later. I graduated with my Masters in 1993 and by 1998 I was purchasing my office! I started a second practice in 2001 from scratch.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Huch) I was not only a single provider, I was literally the only one in the office running it for 5 years. This was before HIPAA and honestly not as much paperwork which I am very grateful for. Becoming a Mom while running a practice on my own and opening a second office all at the same time (I did not plan it that way) was so challenging! I think women have a very unique perspective on becoming a parent while a practice owner. Society is built on the women being the primary child rearer, and although I have the greatest partner in the world, our second child didn't let him feed him, or comfort him, or anything! I had to leave work to breastfeed just so that kid wouldn’t starve. I see men and women show up differently when it comes to owning their own business and raising a family (I haven’t had exposure to Trans parents yet in this area).
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Huch) I worry about profitability all of the time! I have strived to show service over product for my entire career; we are expanding into APD, Tinnitus and cognitive health in our practice. We also place give back very high in our Company Values and highlight this in our community. We serve in a unique way with our sister nonprofit and International Partners.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Huch) I see only 1-4 patients a day and only Military (Comp/Pension exams, 3M Litigation and Active Duty); then the rest is managing the practices (for profit and nonprofit) HR is the worst side of being the boss! Finding companies to partner with in the areas I need it is challenging. I want ethical, KIND companies to work with. I am finding I have much higher standards than many…..
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Huch) We do everything but balance (we do Epley maneuvers) I find it is much easier to pivot in PP; but the limitation is always money, can we bring in as much as the equipment costs. I also am extremely frustrated that PP basically carries the HA manufacturers with what we pay for the units just so the manufacturers can then sell to big box or VA for less than ½ of us. The manufacturers can be partners, but they are NEVER our friends. I see so many in our profession putting manufacturers on a pedestal when in reality they are actively using their power for themselves NOT us.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Huch) That I get to call the shots. Being a Leader is VERY different than being a Boss. I love learning how to elevate others, whether they are our patients, colleagues or partners.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Huch) I think we will be busier cleaning these stinkers and then selling our services and products to those who really value better hearing.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Huch) I hope we get out of bed with the manufacturers, I hope we are showing are true value as healthcare providers along with other medical professionals and I hope we have finally found the message that the public knows who we are, what we do and why we are the best professionals for the auditory system.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Huch) Hands down it is the best place to work in Audiology! We do so much more than hearing aids. If students freak out about having to bring in money, then there is a hard lesson here; you have to show you bring in 100x more than what you are paid in salary and benefits. Do not overlook PP, we are where it’s at!!
Dr. Kristin Davis
Davis audiology
Dr. Kristin Davis has been in the audiology profession for over twenty-five years. Dr. Davis founded her private practice, Davis Audiology, fourteen years ago and currently has three locations in Upstate South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business from the University of South Carolina, her Master’s in Audiology from The University of Memphis, and her Doctorate in Audiology from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. She is past President of the SC Academy of Audiology and current President of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Davis) In 2007, after practicing in an ENT setting for several years I first thought I wanted to “retire” and be a stay at home mom. For anyone that knows me that is not in my DNA, I love my children fiercely but I also missed interaction with my patients and peers and feeling like I was contributing to making a difference. It has been so rewarding providing the type of hearing healthcare I envisioned for my patients and a positive work environment for my team. I am proud of what we have accomplished at Davis Audiology and the role model I have provided for my children.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Davis) I opened my private practice in 2008 after working approximately 12 years in a variety of clinical settings including non-profit, hospital, and ENT offices. I did not purchase an existing location but instead started from the ground up building the business. This was the right choice for me as I could develop my practice around the culture and ideals that were important to me.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Davis) I would say the biggest challenge was learning that I could not do it all myself and then finding a great team. It was at times a painful process but it has all been worth it. Every mistake I learned a great deal from and recognizing an individual's strengths and weaknesses is definitely an acquired skill for me. I am ever an optimist and tend to shy away from conflict; but to become an effective leader I had to learn to face conflict head-on. Not everyone is a good fit for a specific team and keeping them on when they aren’t does a disservice to the practice and the individual.
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Davis) We stay true to our culture which centers around our relationship with our patients and the community. It is not only about being profitable but treating others how you would want to be treated with care and understanding.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Davis) A typical day for me now is much different than it was three years ago. I no longer see patients and focus on my practice instead of working in it clinically. This has been a welcome transition as I now have time to work with my team to implement the many ideas I have had over the years for our patients and our practice. It has also allowed me the opportunity to engage in advancing audiology for the future which I am passionate about.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Davis) Davis Audiology currently provides diagnostic and rehabilitative hearing services throughout Upstate South Carolina. As a family-owned independent private practice, I feel the only limitations are those which are self-imposed. We all must make choices and prioritize our choices by what we determine is best at the time.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Davis) What I enjoy most about owning my own practice is the freedom it provides me-The freedom to make decisions for how hearing healthcare is delivered for our patients, the freedom to create a positive work environment for our team and the freedom it has offered me to impact others.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Davis) I see OTC as another vehicle to reach and help more patients with their hearing healthcare journey. My hope is OTC devices will increase the number of individuals seeking proactive treatment for their hearing and communication difficulties.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Davis) I see audiology taking its rightful place in the continuum of care for overall health and well being. There is much work to be done but the future of our profession is bright given thoughtful attention and engagement.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Davis) My best advice is be willing to take risks and trust your instincts. Stay true to your goals and learn from those willing to mentor you. Last but not least, get involved in your state and national organizations to advocate for your profession and make relationships that will broaden your professional experience and knowledge.
Dr. natalie phillips
Audiology Center of Northern Colorado
Dr. Natalie Phillips is Owner of Audiology Center of Northern Colorado in Fort Collins, Colorado. Dr. Phillips has served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Academy of Audiology and on various convention committees for the American Academy of Audiology as well as the Support Personnel Task Force. Dr. Phillips has experience developing early hearing detection programs in various hospitals throughout the state of Texas. Her work then took her to Southern California, where she collaborated with a neurotologist, taking over the practice of Dr. William House. She has participated in research within the field of audiology, including cochlear implants, tinnitus devices and a fully implantable hearing system. Dr. Phillips is particularly interested in tinnitus and has been providing tinnitus and sound sensitivity therapy options to patients for the past 23 years. In addition to seeing patients and being involved in research and on clinical advisory boards, she continues to pursue opportunities to participate in humanitarian audiology as well as believes in connecting with people both inside and outside of the hearing industry to be able to make a bigger impact in the world. She is host of a weekly live-streamed show, “All Things AuD”, discussing various topics within Audiology.
Outside of Audiology, Dr. Phillips is author of a book released in 2020 titled ACT Now: A Simple Guide to Take Action on Your Greatest Goals and Dreams and is also a best-selling contributing author of 1Habit of the World’s Greatest Leaders. She is co-Founder of ACT Now Consulting, helping creatives confidently take action on the ideas they have been dreaming of pursuing. She also served as a Global Ambassador for a global initiative and movement to provide the tools, technology, and resources to empower women as leaders and successful entrepreneurs. She is passionate about building deep relationships and authentic connections to help make a difference in the world together. She created and is Founder and CEO of Connect4Excellence, LLC, a company dedicated to guide individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses to connect to their own mission and culture, to connect to others at organized events, to connect to their own voice with a bigger audience on social media, and to connect to be able to give back and create social impact. Tune in to her current podcast, Connecting A Better World, found on your podcast app of choice.
(Shannon) What made you decide you wanted to go into private practice?
(Dr. Phillips) I have always wanted to be in private practice, but never was able to due to the nature of my husband being in collegiate and professional athletics. We moved every few years so it was difficult to settle into a practice knowing that I may not be there for my patients. When the opportunity presented itself recently, I knew it was the right choice. I was able to work in various settings which allowed me to diversify and take opportunities to be involved in all areas of Audiology from hearing aids, cochlear implants, implantable devices, research, clinical trials, tinnitus and sound sensitivity, as well as work with patients who have vestibular issues, auditory processing, and concussions and brain injuries.
(Shannon) Did you open your private practice straight out of school or did you purchase an existing one?
(Dr. Phillips) I just opened my own private practice from scratch after 25 years of practicing! I am so glad I was able to have the opportunities I had and plan to continue to be a medical Audiologist who has a private practice that is able to do many services as well as management and treatment of not only hearing loss, but tinnitus, sound sensitivity, vestibular, and brain injuries.
(Shannon) What are some challenges you overcame when you first started practicing?
(Dr. Phillips) One of the biggest challenges is health insurance, credentialing, and working with insurance companies. Although we worked on credentialing at least two months from when we opened our doors to patients, we still did not get a single payment from insurance until 7 months later! It is still frustrating on a weekly basis, but at least we are finally receiving payments!
(Shannon) How do you separate yourself from other audiologists to stay profitable?
(Dr. Phillips) We are a comprehensive practice doing many diagnostics and seeing patients that other practices are not seeing. We are seeing newborns and pediatrics, brain injury patients, cochlear implants and other implantable devices, and have a history of working with tinnitus and sound sensitivity patients. We also see Medicaid patients which a lot of practices have opted out.
(Shannon) What does a typical day look like for you?
(Dr. Phillips) I see patients during the day, but am able to space them out if needed and still handle the administrative duties surrounding owning a practice. I never feel stressed out regarding patient flow and I can take my time if needed. Patients have definitely noticed and have thanked me for spending time with them.
(Shannon) What services do you provide and what limitations do you feel you have in private practice
(Dr. Phillips) We provide ALL services you can think of when it comes to seeing patients as an Audiologist. When moving to private practice, the one thing we had to sacrifice was using certain equipment and deciding if it was worth the expense for the first time. Although we can see newborns and pediatrics, we have given up the ability to perform ASSRs for now. There is a Children’t Hospital within 30 miles of us, therefore, at least we have a referral for these patients. We have decided that if we continue to have the referrals, we may pick this up at a later date.
(Shannon) Where do you see audiology in 10 years?
(Dr. Phillips) If we can get out of our own way and follow what I have learned from one of my favorite books: The Four Agreements, in that we are impeccable with our word, we do not make assumptions, we do not take things personally, and we always do our best, I see great things for Audiology in being in a growth mindset of how we practice and how we take care of our patients. I will continue to be inspired by the dedicated research and innovative technology that we have at our fingertips to share with our patients and show them how we can continue to help them connect back to their lives.
(Shannon) Do you have any advice for students wanting to go into private practice?
(Dr. Phillips) DO it! Don’t be scared, be FEAR-Less! Find a GOOD mentor, surround yourself with the RIGHT people, and have people that will hold you accountable to our goals.
(Shannon) What do you enjoy most about having your own practice?
(Dr. Phillips) There are A LOT of things that make me happy when I get up in the morning. A few to mention: 1) I LOVE that I am able to spend time with patients how I want to. The flexibility of the schedule and the time I can allot to my patients is great. I was never dictated what needed to be done, but if I stayed and submitted myself to corporate healthcare, I know that I would not have that opportunity. Patients have mentioned how their experience with us makes them feel comfortable, valued, and that we are not trying to rush and we do a great, comprehensive job working with them. 2) The flexibility of my own schedule and making decision is another one. I have been hustling with multiple businesses outside of Audiology to make sure that I can take care of my family but the minute we stepped out on our own, it felt so good not to have to jump through hoops to balance my home and work life.
(Shannon) What are your thoughts about the impact OTC will have on private practice?
(Dr. Phillips) I feel that OTCs are going to happen whether we like it or not. As of now, I will not carry them in the office, but I do believe they have a place in the hearing loss journey for some.