Clinic, Classroom, and Cutting-Edge Research: Meet Palo Alto Clinic Director, Dr. Lauren Pasquesi, Au.D.

Dr. Lauren Pasquesi, Au.D., has built her career at the intersection of patient care, research, and education. After the better part of a decade of patient care at UCSF Medical Center and a number of years teaching vestibular audiology, she moved into clinical research and product development at a hearing tech startup. Now she's bringing that full-circle perspective to Fortell Audiology Palo Alto. 

We caught up with Dr. Pasquesi to discuss her path through the Bay Area's hearing health and tech scene, what it's like moving between the clinic and the R&D lab, and what she's most excited to bring to patients at Fortell in Palo Alto. 

Q: You completed your AuD at Northwestern University near Chicago. How did you find your way to the Bay Area?

Dr. Pasquesi: The last year of an AuD program is an externship, which brought me out to the Bay, and I never left. I love it here. 

I completed my externship at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, which gave me a really broad range of experience. From there I spent the better part of a decade at UCSF, teaching at University of the Pacific (UOP), and more recently working at a hearing tech startup. The Bay Area is such a hub for health tech and innovation, and I find it genuinely exciting to be part of that ecosystem.

Q: How did Fortell first come onto your radar? 

Dr. Pasquesi: Fortell already had a bit of a buzz in the audiology world, so I had heard of it. My previous role in clinical research and product development also required me to stay on top of hearing technology companies—especially those using AI processing. So between my own day-to-day work and the general chatter around Fortell, the company was definitely on my radar. 

A friend of mine who was in the loop with Fortell mentioned they might be expanding to the Bay Area and suggested I look into it. So between the buzz around Fortell and the personal connection, it all came together. 

Q: Can you say more about your past experience in research and product development? How are you feeling about moving back into patient-focused work? 

Dr. Pasquesi: The product and research work was meaningful, but it didn’t come with the everyday patient contact or long-term continuity of care that I enjoy. I wanted more of that, so I’m excited to step back into patient-focused work at Fortell. 

In my most recent role, I took what we built in R&D [research and development] and brought it into the clinic. At Fortell, I’ll get to run it the other way: bringing what I see in the clinic back to the product team. Fortell has been clear that they want those lines of communication open. If we're seeing something in the clinic, they want that feeding back into the product. It's a position not many clinicians get to be in, and that’s part of what makes this role exciting to me.

“It's a position not many clinicians get to be in, and that’s part of what makes this role exciting to me.”

Q: You also spent several years teaching at University of the Pacific. How did that experience shape the way you practice today?

Dr. Pasquesi: There was a need for someone to teach vestibular audiology, which was the area I led at UCSF so it was a natural fit. Teaching also made me a stronger clinician. Having to distill complex concepts, explain the reasoning behind clinical decisions, and respond to thoughtful questions sharpened both my thinking and the way I approached patient care. 

My background as an educator now shows up in how I interact with patients. I think of a good visit the way I thought of a good lecture: nobody should leave with a question they didn't get to ask, or something they didn't fully understand.

“I think of a good visit the way I thought of a good lecture: nobody should leave with a question they didn't get to ask, or something they didn't fully understand.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to about opening the Fortell Palo Alto clinic? 

Dr. Pasquesi: Bringing this product to a population that's genuinely excited about it. The Bay Area is such a hub for health tech and innovation, so it feels like a natural home for a Fortell location.

I'm also looking forward to daily patient care again, and specifically helping people access a solution for the thing almost everyone comes in asking about: hearing better in noise. 

‍

Dr. Pasquesi, Au.D., is now seeing patients in Palo Alto. Click here to schedule an appointment. 

‍

‍