Meet Our New NYC Audiologist: Dr. Janet Kim, Au.D.

Q: How did you first discover the field of audiology?

Dr. Kim: My path was actually a bit of a journey. I started out as a psychology major at James Madison University. I knew I wanted a career where I could directly help people, but I wasn't entirely sure psychology was the right fit. I ended up scanning the university's major list and stumbled upon Communication Sciences and Disorders. That program covers both speech pathology and audiology.

Initially, I thought about going into speech pathology, but I quickly realized it wasn’t a fit with my personal strengths which led me to explore audiology. After talking with professors and practicing audiologists, I fell in love with it. Hearing health and communication are so overlooked. People rarely think about it until they or a loved one are personally impacted. I liked that this was a field where the technology keeps improving, and I wanted to be part of that.

Q: What do you find most rewarding about your work?

Dr. Kim: For me, it’s all about the connection you build with patients and their families. In healthcare, people rarely visit you when they're happy. They come because they have a frustrating problem. So there’s something meaningful about earning a patient's trust and helping them find a solution for a tangible problem that’s impacting their day-to-day life.

Seeing a transition where a patient goes from being apprehensive about hearing aids to completely trusting you because their daily life has improved is amazing. Plus, everyone’s story is different. Even if patients have similar complaints, the way they approach life is unique, and I love being a part of their journey.

Q: How did you discover Fortell?

Dr. Kim: Fortell came on my radar after a recruiter reached out. I did my own research after that. Coincidentally, more and more of my patients had started asking me about Fortell too, which pushed me to look into it more seriously.

What sealed the deal was the product demonstration. Four or five traditional hearing aid manufacturers have dominated the market for decades, so people and audiologists can be skeptical of newcomers. When I tried the devices myself, I was sold. The reduction in background noise was noticeable right away.

Q: Let’s pivot to life outside the clinic. What do you love to do when you’re not helping patients?

Dr. Kim: I can pretty much do any activity and have fun as long as I’m with a good group of people. I love trying new cafes, going bowling, having picnics in the park, and checking out escape rooms or local spots like the ropes course in Brooklyn. I'm also a major movie buff and hit up the AMC at least once a month.

I also took up running a few years ago and competed in the New York City Marathon last fall with a friend, which was an incredible experience. I've taken a bit of a hiatus from race training this year to avoid burnout, but now that the weather is nice, the motivation is definitely coming back.

Dr. Janet Kim, Au.D., is now seeing patients at our Park Avenue clinic. Stop by to say hello, or click here to book a hearing evaluation with our team.

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