Building a Skull Base Program in Private Practice

Dr. McKinney walks through his training journey, from dedicated research years to time in private-practice rhinology and a skull base fellowship, before ultimately starting his academic career in Oklahoma. He shares how shifting family priorities and the growing push for clinical productivity led him to step away from academia and into an employed private-practice model focused exclusively on rhinology and skull base surgery, without ER call. Along the way, he dives into what that transition really looks like, including the autonomy he’s gained, the role of marketing support, how he builds referrals through direct communication, and the operational differences of working without residents. He also touches on postoperative care structure, billing and coding, insurance challenges, and the impact on his overall lifestyle.

Check out this episode to hear Dr. McKinney’s perspective on why skull base surgery in private practice can be not only technically feasible and financially viable, but also emotionally sustainable, creating space for truly patient-centered care and the ability to pursue the work with genuine passion.