Many people have asked how I ever got into the unusual field of working with ears and hearing. I grew up in Inglewood, CA (future home of the football stadium for the Rams and the Chargers!). To keep my sister and me out of trouble, my father, Dr. C. Ronald McBride, a family practice physician, “invited” us after school in the afternoons to walk to his office to work. We started working organizing the “dead file” room. As our skills progressed, we were allowed to work the switchboard (there actually was one) and finally to work with patients. I watched as my father treated his patients with kindness and compassion. I learned how to handle the stress of working in a busy medical office. I watched how he worked long hours to give the patients the care that they needed, no matter how tired he was or no matter how much time it took. Needless to say, his patients were devoted to him.
When I got to college on full scholarship, I followed along in my father’s footsteps, naturally. That is until I met a cute guy and decided that what I really wanted was to raise a family. I switched from pre-med to audiology, a relatively new field that would allow me to work part-time if I needed to. I managed to get my Master of Communicative Disorders degree before leaving the academic world. I worked part-time as an audiologist until child number two was born. I then retired from the field and ended up raising a family of five children, just what I wanted to do.
Fast-forward 20 years: one child in college and one about to enter. Lots of money going out the door. I decided to help out financially by going back to work. That was 1996. The year I got back into audiology was the year of the introduction of digital hearing aids. Lucky me! I loved computers and could put that knowledge into working in an ever-changing field. I have seen it all from the first digitization of hearing aids to the first extended-wear (Lyric) hearing aids to the beginning of wireless technology, to cellphone-compatible hearing aids, to NeuroTechnology™ that stimulates the brain in new ways. It has been a fantastic journey.
We started Mission Audiology in 2007 with myself and one secretary. We have been fortunate to be able to grow our business with the help of Audigy (an audiology business management company) into two offices with 20 employees. Audiology is one of those amazing fields where you get to truly change people’s lives. We love what we do.
I enjoyed traveling as a guest speaker for Lyric hearing aids. We trained people in England, France, Switzerland, and Brazil. Giving back through hearing missions with the Starkey Hear Now Foundation has also been a highlight of my career. The smiles of the people we helped in Mexico and China will never be forgotten.
When I am not in the office, I may be playing with my 26 grandchildren, skiing with family or friends, or enjoying the seaside or the mountains. But don’t be surprised if you drive by our office late at night and still see the light on.
Professional Training & Experience
- Doctor of Audiology, University of Florida
- One of the top Lyric hearing aid providers in the United States
- Co-sponsor of Senior Aging Expo
- Provided thousands of hearing aids to needy people on mission trips to Mexico
- Guest lecturer on CNN
- Teaches audiology classes at California State Los Angeles University
- Promotes and presents hearing and prevention awareness to local and national organizations
- Co-author of The Hearing Transformation. Schedule a FREE South Bay Hearing Assessment and receive a free copy!
