MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT: Brevard ENT Offers Full Service Hearing and Balance Medical Services

By Space Coast Daily // November 14, 2021

State-of-the-Art Diagnostics and Treatment

WATCH: Mary Kyle, M.A. CCC-A of Brevard Ear, Nose and Throat Center talks about the professional services provides provided at the prcatice. Brevard ENT Center is a practice comprised of four board-certified physicians and has been providing quality healthcare for children and adults in Brevard County for 35 years.

BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – Brevard Ear, Nose and Throat Center is the first Sinus Surgery Office in Brevard County to offer Trudi Guidance Balloon Sinuplasty and Sinus Procedures on-site at its Rockledge, Florida office.

The Trudi Guidance System gives a true 3-dimensional rendering of the patient’s anatomy and any sinus disease or inflammation and accurately tracks surgical instruments during sinus procedures.

Using the Trudi Guidance system allows its Board Certified Sinus Surgeons to thoroughly evaluate the sinuses and allows procedures to be performed more safely and efficiently.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Brevard Ear, Nose and Throat Center is a practice comprised of four board-certified physicians and has been providing quality healthcare for children and adults in Brevard County for 35 years.

Brevard ENT Center offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options and is conveniently located at 1099 Florida Avenue in central Brevard County. Brevard ENT is affiliated with Rockledge Regional Medical Center, Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Merritt Island Surgery Center and the Courtenay Same Day Surgery Center.

For more information, call (321) 632-6900 or log on to Brevardentcenter.com.

Featured Services

From sore throats and earaches to sinusitis or hearing loss, Brevard Ear Nose & Throat Center, PA is equipped to handle all otolaryngology needs. To help you understand your options, we’ve included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.

■ Allergy

■ Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery

■ BOTOX® Cosmetic Procedures

■ Ear/Otology

■ Head & Neck Surgery

■ Hearing & Balance

■ Nasal & Sinus Disorders

■ Skin Cancer Treatment

■ Snoring & Sleep Apnea

■ Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery

■ Tinnitus

■ Voice & Swallowing Disorders

Brevard ENT Physicians

Brevard Ear, Nose and Throat Center physicians include, left to right, Ronald A. Burk, M.D., Thomas S. Holt, M.D., Rachel M. Crain, M.D. and David M. Whitley, M.D.

Ronald A. Burk, MD: Dr. Burk was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Northern Indiana right outside of Chicago. He received a BS degree from Butler University in Indianapolis. He attended Indiana University School of Medicine, where he received his Medical Degree. Dr. Burk served his Internship at Tampa General, University of South Florida. He completed a year of General Surgery residency and went on to complete his residency and then three years of Otolaryngology. He was Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Burk served in the United States Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After discharge from the Army, Dr. Burk returned to Clearwater, Florida, where he practiced and held an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor in Otolaryngology at the University of South Florida School of Medicine, teaching medical students, interns and residents in the specialty of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Burk moved to Brevard County in 1980 where he joined Brevard Ear, Nose & Throat Center. He has served on the staff of Cape Canaveral Hospital and Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital. He served as Medical Staff Secretary and President and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Wuesthoff Health Systems since 1988.

Dr. Burk has expertise in Computer Guided Sinus Surgery, including Non Invasive Balloon Sinuplasty as well as treatment in Allergy. He specializes in Speech, Swallowing, Balance and Hearing disorders. He sub-specialized in Facial Cosmetic Surgery including Facelift, Eyelid, and Cosmetic Surgery on the Ear. He also has been a consultant in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Brevard County Children’s Medical Service Clinic, serving the needs of children for 31 years.

Dr. Burk and his wife Jean Ann enjoy spending time with four grandchildren. They enjoy water sports including water skiing and wakeboarding. They also enjoy snow skiing and traveling together.

Thomas S. Holt, MD: Dr. Holt was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana. After moving to Florida, Dr. Holt attended Florida State University for his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. He then attended the University of South Florida School of Medicine. He stayed in Tampa, Florida for his residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He was Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Holt joined Brevard Ear, Nose & Throat Center in 1996. He has extensive training and experience in all types of Head and Neck Surgery, including Cancer and Thyroid disorders. He has expertise in Computer Guided Sinus Surgery, including Non-Invasive Balloon Sinuplasty as well as treatment of Allergy. He specializes in Speech, Swallowing, Balance and Hearing disorders. He also has been a consultant in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Brevard County Children’s Medical Service Clinic serving the needs of children for 14 years.

Children’s Dr. Holt is a member of the East Coast Christian Center. He participates regularly in Medical/Evangelistic Missions to the Country of India. He enjoys traveling with his wife Melissa and his children. He also enjoys fishing, diving, snow skiing, and snow and ice climbing in the Pacific Northwest.

Rachel M. Crain, MD: Dr. Crain was born in Cleveland, TN and moved to Bradenton, FL in 1975. She was a Registered Nurse prior to attending Medical School. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of South Florida and then attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She completed her Otolaryngology Residency Training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and started a private otolaryngology practice in Oklahoma City. Dr Crain was board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in 2014.

Dr. Crain joined Brevard Ear, Nose & Throat Center in January 2015. She has expertise in three-dimensional computer navigated sinus surgery, salivary gland surgery, thyroid surgery, hearing and balance disorders, chronic sinusitis, allergy therapy, pediatric ENT disorders as well as many other procedures. She also is a consultant in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Brevard County Children’s Medical Service Clinic.

Children’s Dr. Crain enjoys hiking, growing orchids, whitewater rafting, boating, and wakeboarding with her husband Aaron. As part of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, she went to Haiti in 2005 and Bolivia in 2008. She attends Coastline Community Church.

David M. Whitley, MD: Dr. Whitley was born in Atlanta, Georgia and grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. He attended Birmingham Southern College and received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology.

He then attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. After medical school, Dr. Whitley moved to Tampa, Florida for his residency training in General Surgery at the University of South Florida. He completed three years of training in General Surgery followed by four years in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He was Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Whitley met his wife, Ginny, in Tampa and they married during his last year of residency. They moved to Brevard County in 1991, where he joined Brevard Ear, Nose & Throat Center. They now have four children and a golden retriever. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Dr. Whitley has had extensive training and experience in all types of Head and Neck Surgery, including Cancer and Thyroid disorders. He has expertise in Computer Guided Sinus Surgery, including Non-Invasive Balloon Sinuplasty as well as treatment in Allergy. He specializes in Speech, Swallowing, Balance and Hearing disorders.

Dr. Whitley and Ginny attend East Coast Christian Center and have a special interest in Marriage Enrichment Ministry. In his spare time, Dr. Whitley enjoys flying antique airplanes, sailing, and camping with his family. They have traveled most of the lower 48 states with a pop up camper. At age 15, he helped his father restore a 1942 open cockpit Waco biplane. He learned to fly in Waco and made his first solo flight in it. The old blue biplane is now based at Merritt Island and flies regularly.

Audiologists

Brevard Ear, Nose and Throat Center’s Mary Kyle, M.A. CCC-A; Stacey Gargan, Audiology Assistant; and Julia McDowell, Au.D., CCC-.

Mary Kyle, M.A. CCC-A: Mary Kyle was born and raised in Indiana. She went to Indiana University for both her undergraduate and master’s degree in audiology. She completed her externship at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis. She has worked for Brevard Ear, Nose, Throat and Hearing Aid Center for over 30 years. Mary specializes in hearing rehabilitation, hearing aids, wireless technology and tinnitus management. She enjoys staying up to date on the advances in hearing technology which helps her patients’ on their journey to better hearing health. When she is not working she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Julia McDowell, Au.D., CCC-A: Julia McDowell, a doctor of audiology, was born and raised in Brevard County. She graduated from Rockledge High School and went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Art degree from the University of Central Florida in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She attended East Tennessee State University for graduate school and graduated with a Doctorate in Audiology in May 2017. She completed her clinical externship at Children’s of Alabama. Dr. McDowell began working for Brevard Ear Nose and Throat in 2020 when she returned “home” to Brevard County. She specializes in diagnostic testing of hearing and balance with a specific clinical interest in pediatrics and the evaluation and management of tinnitus. When she is not at work she enjoys spending time chasing after her 4 children and camping with her family.

Stacey Gargan, Audiology Assistant: Stacey Gargan is the Audiology Assistant at Brevard Ear Nose and Throat Center. She is from Massachusetts and made the move to Brevard County, Florida with her family when she was 14 years old. She graduated from Satellite High School and went on to obtain her Bachelors of Science from the University of Central Florida in Interdisciplinary Studies. During her time at UCF she was a member of the Starlet Knight Twirlers and ColorGuard who supported the Knights during sporting events. She continued her passion for performing while working for the theme parks in Orlando, FL as well as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She made a career change and started working for Brevard Ear Nose and Throat Center in May of 2018. She specializes in diagnostics testing of hearing and balance. She enjoys helping patients feel calm, comfortable and encouraged during their testing. When not at work, Stacey enjoys playing with her English Bulldog puppy, Stella; traveling and cheering on her New England sports teams. Go Patriots!