Audiologists follow different career paths before opening clinic together

Their career paths began at different points. But, an inquisitive telephone call led to a decision that ultimately brought two future audiologists together to form a partnership, Hearing Associates of Dothan LLC, which opened its doors in February of this year.

In 2002, Robyn Wilkes was just wrapping up her graduate studies in Audiology at the University of South Alabama, when she received a telephone call from Jamie Shumaker. A multitude of questions were answered in that conversation. Shumaker, who had received her bachelor of science degree in communication disorders from Auburn University in 2001, was looking for a place to continue her studies. She was debating between two choices, South Alabama and the University of Tennessee. She enrolled at South Alabama for the two-year graduate program in audiology.

Wilkes, who had received both her bachelor of science degree in communication science and disorders and her master’s degree in audiology at USA, was headed to Nashville, Tenn., to begin work on her clinical fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical School.

Following her fellowship studies, Wilkes, a 1995 graduate of Northview High School, returned to Mobile to work in an ENT practice. In 2002, she returned to Dothan. At that point, she joined Dr. Scott Charlton and Dr. Michael McQueen as the audiologist in their ENT practice in Enterprise. It was during this time that she also got married. Other changes would be coming in the not-too-distant future.

Meanwhile, Shumaker was pursuing her master’s degree, which she finished in 2004.

Eventually, they both enrolled in a distance-learning program offered by Salus University of Pennsylvania to earn their clinical doctorates in audiology.

The starting point for their careers began in undergraduate school. Both were pursuing careers in speech disorders. Their paths were changed by profound encounters as undergraduate students.

“As part of my undergraduate studies, I had the chance to work with a child with profound hearing loss,” said Robyn Wilkes, Au.D. “Hearing aids were not helping this child. I was working with the child in speech therapy.”

The young patient received a cochlear implant.

“I worked with her after the surgery,” Dr. Wilkes continued. “The change was profound for her. She heard sounds she had not heard for 12 years. A lot of therapy was involved. She had drastic improvement. She reached the point where she could understand speech without looking at you. She did amazingly well. That lit a spark in me to do something to improve someone’s quality of life. It’s a great feeling knowing you’ve helped someone.”

Because of that encounter, Dr. Wilkes found her niche. Although she works with all age groups in her practice, she especially enjoys working with pediatric cases.

For Jamie Shumaker, Au.D., an experience on the other end of the age spectrum galvanized her love for working with geriatric cases.

“The summer before in went to Auburn I volunteered in the Speech Pathology Department,” Dr. Shumaker said. “I enjoyed that experience. That was going to be my major.”
But, some course work changed her career path.

“In speech pathology, I was required to take a couple of classes in audiology,” Dr. Shumaker said. “I really loved it. I found out I had an interest in it. That is why I applied for the graduate program at South Alabama.”

Next came her externship, which she completed at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Birmingham.

“It was during that experience that I found I enjoyed working with adults, especially in geriatrics,” she said. “I have a special place in my heart for geriatric patients.”

In 2004, Shumaker, a 1998 graduate of Wicksburg High School, returned to the Wiregrass to complete her fellowship at Dothan ENT. She then spent the next three and a half years working in a local family clinic.

Both gained a lot of hands-on experience working with ENT practices. That experience also led them to complete their clinical doctorates, which allows them to be licensed audiologists.
The two paths were about to connect into a partnership.

That first telephone conversation introduced them. Their career choices kept them in contact.

“Jamie and I just kept meeting,” Dr. Wilkes said. “I was ending graduate school when she was starting graduate school. It really was just one thing after another.”

They never attended school together. But career choices helped them forge a friendship. And, in 2008, a new partnership was about to be born.

“We went to the American Academy of Audiology conference last year,” Dr. Wilkes said. “That is where we first started talking about opening a private practice.”

Discussions continued between the two audiologists.

“We prayed about it and felt this was the thing to do,” Dr. Wilkes said.

Ah, but there was one detail yet to be faced.

“When we decided to go into practice together, I was about to go on maternity leave,” Dr. Wilkes said.

That left the majority of the footwork for getting the practice off the ground to Dr. Shumaker.

“I met with the attorney (about the partnership) on the day she went into labor (to give birth to her daughter, Sadie),” Dr. Shumaker said. Both laughed as she recounted the story.

The new practice also solved a dilemma for Wilkes.

“I commuted to work in Enterprise for five and a half years,” Dr. Wilkes said. “It was hard. I wanted to work closer to home, closer to my family. And, with a private practice, you can control your hours.”

Wilkes hasn’t completely cut her ties with Enterprise, however. She continues to assist Dr. Charlton two days a week.

For more information about Hearing Associates of Dothan LLC, 1891 Honeysuckle Road, and the services provided, call 702-HEAR (4327).