From Private Practice to the World's Largest Privately Held Hearing Aid Manufacturer - The Journey Unfolds

Before You Listen to This Episode

Hello there! I'm Blaise Delfino, host of the Hearing Matters Podcast! I want to thank you for donating your time and listening to this episode. If you've listened to previous episodes, you will notice this one is  a little different. You see, there's been a lot of changes in my life that I wanted to share with our listeners and my patients at Audiology Services. Before sharing new journey, I wanted to bring you back to where it all started. I am where I am today because of the experiences I had the tail end of high school and college (undergrad and grad).  

I am genetically predisposed to hearing healthcare. My parents are hearing healthcare providers and started a private audiology practice over 20 years ago. It's safe to say almost every dinner table discussion was centered around hearing healthcare. I knew about compression and digital processing at the age of 10. I know, not the most riveting conversation when you're a child. However, it is because of these conversations and my life experiences I have been able to help patients Hear Life's Story. 

Treating Patients at Audiology Services

I graduated with my Master's in Communication Sciences and Disorders. During my commencement speech I told my fellow colleagues that we have all put in our "10,000 hours" to deliver patient centered care. Following graduation, all of my classmates had secured positions in different clinical settings. When asked what my plans were following graduation and what setting I would be going in to, I responded, "Well, I won't be getting my CCC's. I'm going to work at Audiology Services and build Fader Plugs."

You see, it was at this time I was not sure I was making the right decision. Mentors, friends, and family members asked if this was what I really wanted. In my heart of hearts, I knew this was the right decision.

Five years later, Audiology Services is continuing to serve the Lehigh Valley with two locations in Nazareth and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. I thoroughly enjoyed my full-time position at Audiology Services. It was during this time I had the opportunity to interface with patients and work with them throughout their new hearing journey. Many of my patients trusted me with their hearing weeks after I graduated from graduate school. Living in the Lehigh Valley they have many treatment options. However, they chose and trusted Audiology Services.  That is a sacred trust and I always wanted to ensure they received 110% from us.

The Phone Call I Will Never Forget
 
It's 6:00 p.m. on a Sunday. My wife and I are both home with the flu. We're eating Chick-fil-A and all of a sudden, my phone starts ringing. It's a Minnesota area code. I think to myself, "Who could this be calling me from Minnesota? On a Sunday?!" I answer the phone. "Hello, this is Blaise." "Hi, Blaise. It's Brandon Sawalich with Starkey. I understand you want a little bit of a challenge and want to make a greater impact in the hearing healthcare industry." I have always admired Brandon's leadership style and his passion for hearing healthcare. It was during this call I said, "Brandon...we're going to help a lot of people." 

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