Our Team

Our Doctors

As co-founders and managing partners of Florida Gulf Coast Ear, Nose and Throat, LLC, Dr. Hill and Dr. Reidy are committed to excellence! Their goal is to provide patients with high quality service utilizing the most advanced therapeutic and surgical treatments. Drs. Reidy and Hill achieve this goal by developing a close personal relationship with their patients, and through continued training in the most up-to-date technologies available in their field.

Leela Lavasani, MD, FACS

Dr. Lavasani offers a comprehensive program of specialized ear, nose and throat care that reflects our commitment to delivering individualized and optimal treatment to patients of all ages. She has the experience and skill to provide comprehensive diagnosis and management of diseases that affect the ears, nose and paranasal sinuses, voice, throat, thyroid and neck.

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

• American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
• State of Florida

Education

• Macalester College– Bachelor of Arts– Biology

Postgraduate Training

• Chicago Medical School- Masters of Science- Applied Physiology
• George Washington University School of Medicine– Doctor of Medicine
• Thomas Jefferson University– Residency – Otolaryngology

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
• American College of Surgeons
• American Medical Women’s Association
• Alpha Omega Alpha of Otolaryngology
• Collier County Medical Society

Benjamin Lehmkuhl, DO

Florida Gulf Coast ENT is happy to welcome our newest physician to the team, Dr. Ben Lehmkuhl. A native from Iowa, Dr. Lehmkuhl graduated medical school from Des Moines University, and then completed his otolaryngology, head and neck surgery residency at the University of Kentucky. During his training, Dr. Lehmkuhl became fond of taking care of the entire family’s ear, nose, and throat complaints and dedicated himself to learning to provide care for patients of all age ranges from newborns to geriatrics.  He enjoys taking care of patients with hearing loss, balance disorders, ear infections, sore throats, sinus disease, nasal obstruction, allergies, neck masses, thyroid nodules, voice complaints, sleep disturbances and swallowing difficulties, as well as pediatrics. 

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

• American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Eligible
• State of Florida

Education

• Clarke University, Debuque, IA – Bachelor of Science in Biology

Post Graduate Training

• Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA -Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Residency
• University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY – Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Residency

Professional Memberships:

• American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
• Kentucky Society of Otolaryngology
• American Osteopathic Association Member
• Lee County Medical Society Member

Liuba Soldatova, MD

Dr Soldatova received a B.S. in Nutrition Sciences/Biochemistry at the University of California, Davis. She attended medical school at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her residency training in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to in-depth training in all aspects of otolaryngology, she completed a fellowship in laryngology and sleep surgery to gain expertise in cutting-edge medical and surgical treatments of the voice, airway, swallowing and breathing disorders. She provides a full spectrum of comprehensive otolaryngology care to patients of all ages including diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, sinonasal conditions and thyroid/parathyroid disorders. She has experience managing voice and upper airway disorders in patients who speak and sing professionally, who wish to undergo gender-affirming voice modifications, have swallowing and breathing difficulties, airway narrowing or sleep apnea. She is trained to perform Inspire surgery for sleep apnea. She works closely with other specialists with expertise in gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, neurology, rheumatology, allergy and speech, language pathology to consider all aspects of the patient’s condition and deliver multi-disciplinary approach to ensure best possible outcome.

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

• American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Eligible
• State of Florida

Education

• University of California, David B.S. in Nutrition Science, Biochemistry Emphasis

Post Graduate Training

• The Ohio State University College of Medicine– Doctor of Medicine
• Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania– Residency – Otolaryngology
• The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center – Fellowship- Laryngology

Professional Memberships:

• Collier County Medical Society
• American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
(Member, 10/2017 – present, Voting Member for the Complementary/Integrative Medicine & History and Archives Committees)
• The Triologic Society (Member, 10/2018 – present)
• American College of Surgeons (Member, 4/2018 – present)
• American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (Member, 6/2017 – present)
• Local Societies:
  • Florida Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Member, 6/17/22 – present)
  • Pennsylvania Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Member, 01/2017 – present)
  • Pennsylvania Medical Society (Member, 01/2017 – present)

Special skills in management of the following conditions:

• Voice Disorders
  • Vocal fold paralysis
  • Vocal fold nodules and polyps
  • Vocal fold cysts and granulomas
  • Early laryngeal cancer and precancerous lesions of the larynx
  • Reinke’s Edema
  • Laryngeal papillomatosis
  • Laryngeal Dystonia/Spasmodic Dysphonia
  • Neurologic conditions affecting voice
  • Voice Gender Dysphoria
• Airway Disorders:
  • Tracheal diseases
  • Airway obstruction
  • Sleep apnea syndrome
  • Chronic cough
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Tracheal stenosis
  • Subglottic stenosis
• Swallowing Disorders
  • Zenker’s Diverticulum
  • Cricopharyngeal Hypertrophy
  • Cervical esophageal narrowing
  • Inability to burp or belch (R-CPD)
  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux

Expertise in the following procedures and interventions:

Suelay Plasencia, DNP, APRN, NP-C

Suelay Plasencia is a board-certified doctorate prepared Family Nurse Practitioner. She is born and raised in Florida and has extensive nursing experience in critical care and oncology. She started her career as a nurse at Moffitt Cancer Center and continued her oncology career at Lee Memorial Hospital.  She has transitioned her education into a nurse practitioner with training at Moffitt Cancer Center and several outpatient family practices. Sue is passionate about providing affordable and convenient care for all patients. She has the dedication and skill to provide detailed care for diseases affecting the ear, nose, paranasal sinuses, throat, thyroid, and neck.

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners- Family Nurse Practitioner
• State of Florida

Education

• South University Tampa- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Palm Beach Atlantic University- Doctorate in Nursing Practice

Professional Memberships

• Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• Oncology Nursing Society
• Nurse Practitioner Council of Collier County
• Nurse Practitioner Council of Lee County

Audiology Team

SHANAI HILL, AU.D., CCC-A

Dr. Shanai Hill has been with Florida Gulf Coast ENT and Hearing Center since its inception in 2005. She helped to create the Audiology Department alongside her husband, Dr. Samuel Hill and his partner, Dr. Patrick Reidy. She currently provides hearing and hearing aid services including hearing aid evaluation, demonstrations, repairs, and sales at our Estero location. Dr. Hill believes that the hearing rehabilitation process should be much more than a retail transaction. She is dedicated to working closely with her patients as they embark on their journey to better hearing. She provides continuous education, counseling, validation and technological support for her patients and their families in order to improve their communication abilities and their overall quality of life.

Prior to her time with FCGHC, she practiced Pediatric Audiology at All Children’s Specialty Care Center/Johns Hopkins in Ft. Myers and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. During that time, she diagnosed and treated pediatric hearing loss including participating in the Craniofacial/Cleft Palate Team and the Cochlear Implant Team. She also spent 2 years in the Michigan Public Schools System as an Educational Audiologist providing hearing therapy and hearing aid/ FM unit support for hearing impaired students.

Dr. Hill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from Michigan State University, a Master of Science degree in Audiology from Wayne State University, and a Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, having fun with her husband and teenage boys, and serving at her church.

CYNTHIA DROBLAZGLEWICZ, AU.D., CCC-A, FAAA

Education

• B.S. in Communication Disorders, Colorado State University
• M.A. In Audiology, Michigan State University
• MHA – Master of Health Administration, Suffolk University
• Au.D. from A.T. Still University

Work Experience

• CFY – Clinical Fellowship Year, University of Florida, Shands Teaching Hospital
• Audiologist, University of Florida, Shands Teaching Hospital
• Audiologist & Clinical Coordinator for the Infant Hearing Screening Program
• Audiometric Assessments – Outpatient ENT clinic, Craniofacial Clinic, Inpatient units NICU, CICU, BMTU, SICU, MICU, Newborn Nursery

Clinical Audiologist at:

• Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• New England Medical Center
• ENT Specialists Inc.
• ENT of Western Massachusetts
• Florida Gulf Coast ENT

Responsibilities Have Included:

• Diagnostic audiometric testing for children and adult patients
• Adult and Pediatric Auditory Brainstem Response testing
• Electronystagmography
• C-Vemp
• Hearing Aid Selection
• Hearing Aid Programming
• Hearing Aid Repair
• Cochlear Implant and Baha Programming
• Audiology Manager in an outpatient ENT clinic

Nicole Diehl, Au.D., CCC-A, FAAA

Dr. Diehl began her higher education by receiving a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Ohio University in 2011. She later when on to obtain a Doctorate of Audiology at East Tennessee State University. During this time, she was trained at the Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Medical Center in evaluations of hearing, balance, tinnitus, and fitting of hearing aids and other assistive devices.

Following her graduation from East Tennessee State University, she worked in private practice as well as at an ear, nose, and throat specialist. She worked in Dalton, Massachusetts as a diagnostic and dispensing audiologist at a private practice ENT for both adult and pediatric populations before relocating to Florida. Dr. Diehl is committed to improving her patients’ quality of life using state-of-the-art hearing technology.