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

Price Sonkarley, MD, FACS

Dr. Sonkarley is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corp. He completed his residency training at the University of Oklahoma. There he received specialized training in the latest sinus surgery techniques and has been trained in various aspects of facial plastic surgery. He is certified in Cosmetic Botox and fillers including Ultra, Ultra Plus, Volbella, and Voluma. His practice also includes pediatrics and general ear, nose, throat, and allergy.

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

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

Education

• University of Madison Wisconsin – Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience and Psychology

Postgraduate Training

• University of Madison School of Medicine and Public Health – Doctorate in Medicine

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
• VETERAN—USMC

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

Jose Crossier, APRN, FNP

Jose Crossier is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Jose started his career in nursing in 2008. He has practiced in Otorhinolaryngology with pediatric and adult patients treating ear, nose, throat, and allergy conditions since 2019. Jose uses a patient centered care approach utilizing evidence-based practice. He believes that proper patient education is the key to improving quality of life. Jose was born in Cuba and moved to Florida when he was 17 years old. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Jose is married and has two wonderful kids.

Board Certification and Medical Licensure

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• State of Florida

Education

• South University, Savannah, GA – Master of Science: Family Nurse Practitioner
• Mattia College, Miami, FL – Bachelor of Science: Nursing
• Dade Medical College Miami, FL – Associates Degree: Nursing
• Florida National University, Hialeah, FL – L.P.N

Professional Memberships

• Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses

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

 

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.