Meet Our Staff
ENT Specialists of Arizona believes that patients are a practice's greatest asset. At our office you will find a team of skilled professionals to serve you. Our team will take the confusion out of your diagnosis and explain your treatment options in their entirety. Through membership in several professional societies, our physician remains well versed with the most current treatment options. Our practice provides modern medical facilities along with state-of-the-art technology and the personal attention you deserve.
Insurance
Our office accepts payments from most insurance companies. We do request that you bring your insurance card, valid drivers license or picture ID, and a billing address so that we are able to collect important medical information. We accept most credit cards for easy payment.
Referrals
In some cases your insurance plan will require a Referral Authorization to allow you to see our physician. It is important to follow the referral process. If the referral is not followed, you may be responsible for some or all of the additional costs. We appreciate and value referrals from our patients and friends.
David Mendelson, D.O., F.A.O.C.O.
Dr. David B. Mendelson is the founder and president of ENT Specialists of Arizona, P.C. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University and attended Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine for his medical degree. Dr. Mendelson completed his residency in Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Oro-Facial Plastic Surgery at Richmond Heights General Hospital in Ohio. He was a partner in an ENT/Facial Plastics practice in Cincinnati for eleven years before relocating to Arizona to establish ENT Specialists of Arizona, PC in October of 2002. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and the American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology Societies.
Dr. Mendelson is currently a member of the board of Trustees at Phoenix St. Luke's Hospital, as well as recently holding the positions of Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff at Tempe St. Luke's Hospital. He is on the staffs of Tempe St. Luke's Hospital, Mountain Vista Medical Center, Physician Surgery Center of Tempe, Banner Desert Surgery Center and Banner Desert Hospital. He is currently licensed in Arizona, Ohio, California and Michigan.
Dr. Mendelson's hobbies include snow skiing, hiking and water sports. Dr. Mendelson has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ear, nose and throat diagnosis along with a vast knowledge of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Mendelson particularly enjoys the challenge of resolving nasal sinus problems. He gets great satisfaction in seeing his patients reach optimum health. He currently holds licensure in Arizona, Ohio, California and Michigan.
Suzanne Rauch, M.S., PA-C
Suzanne is an Arizona native and has been working in our office since April of 2012. She has been in the medical field for several years. Beginning as a medical assistant, she worked performing insurance physicals and wellness programs for 16 years. This enabled her to raise a family while continuing her education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Science in biology. She received her Masters of Physician Assistant studies in 2011 from A.T. Still University in Mesa AZ.
Leila Miller PA-C
Leila grew up in all parts of the world as her father served in the United States Air Force. This experience instilled in her a love of people from all different cultures. She started her medical career when at the age of 17 she was trained to be a surgical assistant at her father’s Oral Surgery practice in Kentucky. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor’s degree through Brigham Young University and was on the Dean’s list for several semesters for maintaining a 4.0 average. She then finished her Master’s in Physician Assistant through Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Il. Leila has been an Otolaryngology Physician Assistant or the past six years and has two years of Dermatology experience. She maintains her certification through annual CME courses and shares what she has learned by mentoring several physician assistant students. The highlight of her year was participating in a medical mission trip to the Maasai Mara region of Kenya where she and 14 other participants provided medical care to over 1000 patients!
Audiologists and Hearing Aid Specialists
Jill Juvan-Smith, Au.D., M.S., CCC-A graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts, and from the University of Wyoming with a Master of Science in Audiology. Dr. Juvan-Smith served 6 years as a Captain in the United States Air Force, where she was on staff at the Air Force ENT clinics and provided specialized hearing aids and related services to active/retired military patients. She joined ENT Specialists in 2007 and brings 16 years of audiology experience to the practice.
H. Andrew Couch, Au.D., CCC-A graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts and from the University of Arizona with a Doctorate of Audiology. Dr. Couch completed his externship at the University of Colorado hospital.
Our friendly Office Staff
What is a Doctor of Osteopathy?
If you're like most people, you've been going to a physician ever since you were born and perhaps were not aware whether you were seeing a D.O. (osteopathic physician) or an M.D. (allopathic physician). You may not even be aware that there are two types of complete physicians in the United States.
The fact is that both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery.
The main difference between the two types of physicians is that D.O.s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an integrated whole. Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care, and they receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system-your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass.
For more information, please go to www.osteopathic.org.
What is a Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant, or PA, is a licensed and highly skilled health care professional, trained to provide patient evaluation, education, and health care services. A PA works with a physician to provide medical care and guidance needed by a patient.
What does PA-C stand for?
Physician assistant-certified. It means that the person who holds the title has met the defined course of study and has undergone testing by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The NCCPA is an independent organization, and the commissioners represent a number of different medical professions. To maintain that “C” after “PA”, a physician assistant must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and take the recertification exam every six years.
What is an Audiologist?
Audiologists hold masters or doctoral degrees from accredited universities with special training in the prevention, identification, assessment and non-medical treatment of hearing disorders. Audiologists dispense and fit hearing aids, administer tests of balance to evaluate dizziness, and provide hearing rehabilitation training.