Dr. Alexis M. Hill, Au.D. Clinical Audiologist
“As audiologists, we have the privilege and responsibility to bridge the gap of a communication disorder that can be so isolating across the lifespan. Serving families in Knoxville is a joy!”
~ Dr. Alexis Hill
Dr. Hill completed her Doctorate in Audiology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2019. During graduate studies she found a particular interest in cochlear implant evaluation and mapping and spent her fourth-year externship at Nashville ENT Audiology developing those skills. Dr. Hill is now equipped to perform cochlear implant evaluations and mapping services for Advanced Bionics and Cochlear Americas devices in the Clinton and Knoxville locations. Dr. Hill is a Florida native who obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Florida State University. Dr. Hill’s interests when she is not at work include coffee, natural wine, and traveling! – Alexis M. Hill, Au.D. Clinical Audiologist Bridgewater Balance and Hearing
Dr. Alison Mitchell, Au.D.
"Having come from a family that has several members with communication disorders (autism, hearing loss), it is my experience and opinion that a care provider can either make or break a situation for a patient and their family. Communication is not a one dimensional, one person moment in time. It is multifaceted and involves everyone around you — your family, your friends, your community! Being on “the other side of the table” is a responsibility and opportunity I do not take lightly. Every patient who affords me the privilege of providing them care is a blessing. I look forward to meeting and serving you so that your experience is the best it can be!”"
~ Alison Mitchell
Dr. Mitchell is an East Tennessee native who has over a decade of audiology experience in a variety of settings. While she enjoys working with all ages and has served ages newborn to 105, she has had a primary focus on pediatrics in her career. She earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Audiology and a Minor in Psychology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She then obtained her Masters of Science and Doctoral Degrees in Audiology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Her experience includes hearing aids, cochlear and bone anchored implants, sedated and unsedated auditory brainstem response testing, newborn hearing screening, diagnostic and behavioral evaluations, auditory processing disorder evaluations, and specialized tinnitus evaluation and treatment. She truly appreciates the professional, personalized, and warm atmosphere Bridgewater Balance and Hearing provides patients and their families.
Dr. Mitchell and her husband, Jacob, reside in northeast Knox county and have five sons (Yes! FIVE boys!). She enjoys cooking, exercise, music, and family time.
Dr. Brandy Breeden
Dr. Brandy was born and raised in south Louisiana and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Louisiana State University in 2008 (Go Tigers!). She went on to earn her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2012 (Go Vols!). She is passionate about working with amplification devices and finds that the most rewarding part of her career is finding a solution to bring sound back to her patients so they can participate more fully in their own lives!
Dr. Brandy is very excited to be part of the Bridgewater team and looks forward to serving the families of Anderson County! She lives in Clinton with her husband and their two children. In their down time, you can find them camping, boating, and spending as much time as possible in the beautiful East Tennessee outdoors!
Dr. Blaire Barnhart, Au.D.
Dr. Barnhart was born and raised in “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” Latrobe, Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology with a minor in Psychology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. The mountains then called her to East Tennessee where she completed her Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in Audiology at the University of Tennessee. She completed her fourth-year externship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and has a very special place in her heart for all the kiddos, but she is so happy to now serve those of all ages at Bridgewater Balance and Hearing! She is passionate about amplification devices including hearing aids and bone conduction as well as audiologic and vestibular diagnostic testing of infants, children, and adults! When she is not at the office, you can find her boating, hiking, or traveling with friends, family, and her dog, Nora!
Dr. Amy Becker, Au.D.
Dr. Becker is a Sevier County Native, born and raised in the Great Smoky Mountains. She is a recent graduate of the great University of Tennessee with her Doctorate degree in Audiology. She found Audiology later in life, due to her daughter's inability to communicate at a young age. She went back to school to facilitate her communication needs, however; the process of helping her allowed her to find her calling. She enjoys meeting and helping any individual find communication solutions. The current pandemic has been a struggle for everyone. The lesson it has taught her is that communication with friends and family makes life better. When someone has hearing loss, it could possibly make them feel isolated and less connected with their environment. Dr. Becker's goal as an Audiologist is to help keep everyone connected, to live their best life. The Bridgewater Team is an amazing group that helps diagnose and provide treatment for individuals with hearing loss. She is so glad to be a part of the family. She currently resides with her husband, Jon, in Sevierville with their three kids, Seth, Emma, and Sutton.
Dr. Dennell Benson, Au.D, CCC-A
Dr. Benson was born and raised in a small town in rural Montana, where she was taught to treat everyone like family. She completed her Doctorate in Audiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder and expanded her skills while fulfilling her audiology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Dr. Benson has a passion for bringing people back together through the gift of communication, by providing prescriptive treatment options for hearing loss including cochlear implants and verified hearing aids. After contributing to research during her audiology residency, Dr. Benson is also an expert in vestibular diagnostic evaluations.
When she is not hard at work, Dr. Benson enjoys hiking, traveling, live music, and spending time with her dog, Fisher.
Gail Mcteer
Gail is our new Insurance Coordinator Specialist for all locations and she will also doubling as the Patient Care Coordinator at the new Halls location. Gail has a wealth of knowledge, having worked in the hearing healthcare industry for 15+ years. If you have insurance needs, she is a valuable resource! Gail’s most crowning achievements are her three beautiful daughters and two granddaughters. She loves to work outdoors in her yard and read murder mysteries. Welcome Gail, we are SO excited to have you on our team!
Savannah Hermosillo
I was born and raised in Knoxville, TN, and am proud to be an East Tennessee native. I currently reside in West Knoxville with my family and three chihuahuas: Lil Man, Stormee, and Tybee. My hobbies include yoga, disc golf, walking my dogs, and spending time with family and friends. In 2016, I received two Associates of Applied Science Degrees in Business and Health Care Office Administration from Pellissippi State Community College. I have been working as an office administrator in the hearing healthcare industry for three years, and thoroughly enjoy my career. I can’t wait to see what the future may bring!
Kaitlin Cooper, Patient Care Coordinator
Kaitlin was born and raised right here in East Tennessee and serves as our front office patient care coordinator in our West Knoxville location! Kaitlin has been blessed to work in hearing healthcare for nearly a decade and truly enjoys the part she gets to play in delivering a better quality of life for all our patients! In her free time, Kaitlin enjoys spending time with her Husband, Tyler, and their two children, Madelyn and Camden. Kaitlin truly enjoys helping all patients and feels incredibly honored to be a part of such an amazing team at Bridgewater!
Heide Ramesdofer-Silver, Patient Care Coordinator
I was born and raised in West Creek New Jersey. My husband and I moved here after he received a job with the Sevierville Fire Department. In New Jersey, I worked in a Dental Office as a dental assistant and as their Office Manager, after moving here I knew right away I wanted to get back into the health care field in some way. I always considered my patients to be my friends and family, and I have found an amazing office that makes it possible to do that. In my spare time my husband and I love to travel back to New Jersey with our two pup Shadow and Leo to see our parents and friends who still reside there. We are in love with our new state we call home and can not wait to see what our future has in store for us!
Frances Fontenot
Fran joined our team as the Bookkeeper in November 2021. She resides in South Clinton. Fran was born and raised in Southwest Louisiana. She has a B.S. in Accounting and a B.S in Criminal Justice, and a MBA with a concentration in Accounting. All from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. Fran is a Notary Public for the State of Tennessee. She moved to Tennessee in 2019. She and her husband moved to Tennessee to live near their daughter and her family. Fran’s hobbies include reading novels, hunting, watching movies, learning and teaching about essential oils, playing games, riding motorcycles, and visiting with friends and family.
Lauren Harris, M.S.
Lauren Harris was born and raised in Knoxville, TN and is currently completing her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Lauren was born profoundly deaf and utilizes bilateral cochlear implants. She has a passion for serving the deaf and hard of hearing populations regardless of their age. Her hearing service dog, Elroy, is always by her side joining her with serving our patients. Lauren has loved completing her fourth year residency with Bridgewater Balance and Hearing because she is able to serve all ages and provide excellent patient centered care with a team that sees the importance of serving the deaf and hard of hearing population!
Elroy
Elroy was born in California and raised in Florida and is a hearing service dog to one of our fourth year residents, Lauren. I help my mom, Lauren, by alerting her to sounds that she might have trouble hearing like sirens, her name, smoke detectors, and much more! Most importantly, I love working at Bridgewater Balance and Hearing because of all of the wonderful staff and patients! I definitely get paid in treats and pets!
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