Episode # 106 • 18 Aug 2026
Keeping Up with the Field in Private Practice ENT
How do private practice ENTs keep up with a rapidly evolving field and decide when a new technique or device is worth the investment? On this episode of BackTable Industry, host Anish Parikh interviews Dr. Christopher Gentile, a general ENT in private practice outside Atlanta, about the realities of continuing education, device adoption, and the economics of running a community practice. They talk through Dr. Gentile's broad case mix in general ENT, his approach to allergy and sleep, and how he stays current through conferences, proctored labs, podcasts, and peer-to-peer learning.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
00:46 - From Neuroscience to ENT
02:22 - The Scope of a General ENT Practice
04:50 - Running Allergy In-House
06:03 - Keeping Technique Current After Training
08:40 - Podcasts, Conferences, and State Society Meetings
10:43 - Inspire and Sleep Apnea Referral Pipeline
13:45 - Biologics and the Polyp Patient
15:14 - Realities of Device Adoption and Reimbursement
16:34 - Posterior Nasal Nerve Ablation and Payer Coverage
17:33 - Where ENT Is Headed: Sleep, GLP-1s, and Neurostimulators
19:15 - Underserved Sleep Apnea and Geographic Access
20:46 - Education Sources and Learning Intracapsular Tonsillectomy
22:22 - Adopting a New Technique
23:36 - Closing Remarks
Resources
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More about this episode
The conversation explores the friction of learning new techniques after residency, the risks of device adoption in a small practice, and what ENT really needs from industry partners. Dr. Gentile discusses how payer approval can make or break the use of new technology, why GLP-1s are changing the sleep apnea landscape, and the slow but steady process of adopting procedures like intracapsular tonsillectomy. The episode also highlights the importance of surgical training, mentorship, and building a network to support lifelong learning and better patient care.
The Materials available on BackTable are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the independent professional judgment of a qualified healthcare professional in diagnosing or treating patients. Any opinions, statements, or views expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, platform, or any affiliated organization.