Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence: Florida E.N.T. & Allergy Marks Half a Century of Service to Tampa Bay
January 11, 2026, marks a significant milestone for Florida E.N.T. & Allergy as we celebrate 50 years of delivering exceptional ear, nose, and throat care to the Tampa Bay community.
What began as a single practice in 1976 has grown into Tampa Bay’s largest ENT practice, with 12 locations serving families across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Our journey from Tampa Bay E.N.T., Tampa Ear, Nose and Throat Associates, and Pasadena Ear, Nose and Throat to becoming the unified Florida E.N.T. & Allergy reflects our commitment to expanding access to quality care while maintaining the personal touch that has defined us from the beginning.
A Legacy Built on Core Values
Our 50-year journey has been guided by core values that inform everything we do.
- Teamwork: “We before me”
- Effort: “Batteries included”
- Accountability: “Show me”
- Integrity: “Do the right thing even when no one is watching”
- Excellence: “Be the example”
- Fun: “Laughter is the best medicine”
These principles have shaped not just how we treat patients, but how we’ve grown as a practice and contributed to our community.
As Dr. Heather Hall, one of our audiologists with 13 years at the practice, reflects: “When I joined the company, we had 2 ½ offices. I have had the pleasure of watching the practice grow exponentially. From local solo practitioners joining the group to the merging of existing groups under one umbrella. It has truly been exciting to be a part of such a successful practice.”
Leadership Rooted in Trust
Our CEO, Sophia Escobar, Au.D, COPM, embodies the deep commitment that has sustained our practice through five decades. “After 14 years at FENTA, my pride goes beyond my career—it’s personal,” says Dr. Escobar. “I’ve trusted our physicians and audiologists with the care of my children and multiple generations of my family because they lead with compassion and genuine concern for their patients. Being part of FENTA’s growth from two offices to 12 locations and 25 physicians has been an honor. It’s more than a workplace—it’s a true work home.”
Growth Through Partnership
Our expansion tells the story of Tampa Bay’s own growth. Key milestones include opening our Mid Tampa location in 2005, expanding to Brandon in 2007, and steadily adding locations in Riverview, Plant City, Westchase, Lutz, North Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Pasadena, Carillon, South Tampa, Largo, and Countryside. Each new location brought us closer to the families who needed us.
Along the way, exceptional physicians joined our team. From Dr. Agnello in 1979 to our newest providers, Drs. Chow and Poynter in 2025, each physician has contributed unique expertise while embracing our patient-centered philosophy. In 2018, we opened the Florida Center for Voice & Swallowing, further specializing our services to meet complex patient needs.
More Than Medicine: Community Impact
Our commitment to Tampa Bay extends beyond the exam room. We proudly support organizations that make a real difference in people’s lives: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Metropolitan Ministries, the Hillsborough and Pinellas Education Foundation Back to School Drives, Glazer Children’s Museum, Heart Gallery of Tampa, Clothes to Kids, and Homes for Our Troops.
Dr. Hall’s words capture what makes our practice special: “Other jobs like to say that they are ‘family’, but I sincerely believe that we really are Family. We have cried together, comforted each other in times of need, stayed strong together during the pandemic, celebrated each other’s life moments, and shared joy together.”
This family atmosphere extends to our patients. Dr. Hall has personally trusted our physicians to care for her own family, from treating her daughter’s broken nose to managing her children’s allergies and ear infections. “They are always there for us,” she says.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate 50 years, we’re focused on the future. Our 12 locations throughout Tampa Bay offer comprehensive ENT and allergy services with the convenience of same-day appointments. We’ve invested in cutting-edge technology, from in-office CT scans to balloon sinuplasty, ensuring our patients receive the most advanced care available.
What hasn’t changed is our core focus: making people feel better by delivering the best ear, nose, and throat care. Whether you’re dealing with pediatric allergies, need hearing aids fitted, require sinus surgery, or have concerns about voice and swallowing issues, our board-certified physicians and doctors of audiology bring extensive education, clinical training, and specialized expertise to every appointment.
Dr. Hall sums up what this milestone means to those of us who work here: “There is no other practice like FENTA. I cannot see myself feeling as much a part of the success of any other practice as I do here.”
As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we remain committed to the same principles that have guided us since 1976: excellence in clinical care, compassion for our patients, and deep roots in the Tampa Bay community we’re honored to serve.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Whether you’re a longtime patient or seeking ENT and allergy care for the first time, we’re here for you and your entire family. With 12 convenient locations across the Tampa Bay area and same-day appointments available, expert care is always within reach.
Schedule your appointment with some of Tampa Bay’s most experienced ENT and allergy specialists.