Providers
Specialties
- Ear, Nose & Throat
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- Emergency Medicine
- Foot and Ankle
- General & Trauma Surgery
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- Orthopedics
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- Palliative Care
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Urology
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- Women's Health
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Paul Johnson, MD, FACS
Board certified Otolaryngology
A life-long Hoosier, Dr. Johnson was born and raised on a farm outside of Fort Wayne, Ind. His formative years were spent living a prototypical Hoosier lifestyle that mixed farming with basketball.
After graduating from Carroll High School in 1990 he enrolled at Hanover College. He majored in Business Administration and minored in Chemistry. While at Hanover, he served as president of his fraternity and was a four year letter winner and captain of the basketball team, scoring 1,185 points in his career. He graduated Cum Laude in 1994.
Dr. Johnson moved on from Hanover to the Indiana University School of Medicine and graduated with honors in 1998. While at IU, he was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society.
Following medical school, he entered and completed his otolaryngology training at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. He served as a Chief Resident in otolaryngology from 2002 to 2003.
Dr. Johnson joined ENT Associates in July 2003, fulfilling a dream of returning to Indiana. His practice includes all areas of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. He prides himself in listening to his patients and not rushing them through their visits.
“I really try to listen to what the patients have to say and try to come to a decision together about their treatment plan. Sometimes surgery is inevitable, but I hope to make patients feel as if all other options have been exhausted,” Dr. Johnson says. “No surgery is ever a little thing to go through and I think it makes people feel more comfortable with their decision when they know that all other alternatives have been explored, discussed and tried first if possible.”
Dr. Johnson currently serves as the managing partner for ENT Associates. He is also the current Chief of Surgery at IU Health Bloomington Hospital and President of the medical staff, and a board member at the Southern Indiana Surgery Center.
In his free time, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife Heather and sons Reid and Rhett. His hobbies include playing basketball, jogging, playing guitar, and video games (yes doctors do play video games). He is an avid Indiana Hoosier basketball fan and a diehard Chicago Cubs fan.
Lawrence (Larry) McBride, MD, FACS
Board certified Otolaryngology, Sleep Medicine
Dr. McBride was born and raised in Evansville/Newburgh, Ind. He attended Castle High School in Newburgh. Subsequently, he enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington where he majored in Chemistry and Psychology, graduating in 1989. He participated in the Marching Hundred and was active in Recreational Sports Management at IU. Near the end of his collegiate career, he spent one year in chemistry research with General Electric Plastics.
Dr. McBride attended the Indiana University School of Medicine, spending his first two years at the South Bend Center for Medical Education on the campus of Notre Dame University, where he was named the Center’s overall best student. After the last two years of medical school in Indianapolis, Dr. McBride was accepted to the Indiana University Medical Center’s five-year residency program in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He spent the next two years in General surgery at the IU Medical Center in Indianapolis. His last three years were completed in the Department of Otolaryngology, finishing his residency program in 1998. He published two major journal articles during his residency and spent a year as Chief Resident.
Dr. McBride and his family came to Bloomington in 1998. He has been appointed an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, and continues to actively teach both medical students in Bloomington and Otolaryngology residents in Indianapolis. Dr. McBride received his Board Certification in Otolaryngology in 1998 and became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 2000.
Dr. McBride has privileges at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where he has served as Chief of Surgery and sits on the board of BORMA (Bloomington Hospital Operating Room Management Association). He also has privileges locally at both the Southern Indiana Surgery Center. In Indianapolis, Dr. McBride has privileges with IU Health, including Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, IU Health Methodist Hospital and IU Health University Hospital. He also has privileges at Wishard Hospital and the Richard L. Roudebush Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.
Dr. McBride is currently pursuing board certification in the field of Sleep Medicine, and has recently been named co-medical director of the Sleep Lab at IU Health Bloomington Hospital. He also has strong interests in pediatric otolaryngology, thyroid and parathyroid disease (particularly utilizing minimal access surgery), head and neck cancer, chronic ear disease, and nasal and sinus disorders including allergy.
Dr. McBride has a wonderful family with wife Jennifer of 15 years and three children: Connor, Quinn and Keira. He is very busy with family activities when not working. He also enjoys travel, golf, brewing beer, home improvement projects and trying to stay in shape.
William R. Pugh, MD, FACS
Board certified Otolaryngology
Dr. Pugh joined ENT Associates of Southern Indiana in 1971. He specializes in otolaryngology as well as associated head and neck surgery.
He graduated from Indiana University in 1959 and the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1963. His internship led him to Andrews Air Force base and then to active duty as a Captain with the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1967, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He completed his residency at the Washington Hospital Medical Center in Washington D.C. and set up his medical practice in Bloomington in 1971.
In addition to practicing full time, Dr. Pugh was past President and Chairman of the Board of the Southern Indiana Surgery Center and held this position for 15 years. He has also been Chief of Surgery at IU Health Bloomington Hospital five separate times and holds the designation Fellow, American College of Surgeons. Dr. Pugh continues as a Diplomat of Otolaryngology of the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
When asked about his many years of practice, he said: “I love medicine for the challenges that it continues to bring and the solutions we can find to treat patients correctly. Thyroid surgery and associated diseases have held particular interest for me in addition to routine ailments.”
Dr. Pugh married Barbi in 1960 and had three children, Bob, Mark and Shawn. They are also the proud grandparents of six grandsons: William, Matthew, Andrew, Luke, William and Robert. One of Dr. Pugh’s favorite hobbies is flying his Cessna 310, including an exciting trip following the Alaskan Highway through Canada and into Alaska. He holds his multi-engine rating, which allowed him to fly as a corporate pilot for Cook, Inc. for several years and also serves on the local airport board of directors.
J.R. Sarpa, MD, FACS
Board certified Otolaryngology
Dr. Sarpa was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Ind. As a young boy, his family resided at Lake James in Northern Indiana where he spent his days on the water fishing and chasing turtles and frogs. He attended Homestead High School as an avid football player and sprinter in track, and lettered four years in Varsity football.
Attending undergraduate school at Indiana University, Dr. Sarpa earned degrees in both Biology and Chemistry, and was Vice-President of his Fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi.
Dr. Sarpa moved to Toledo, Ohio to attend medical school at Medical College of Ohio from 1981 to 1985. He was a student representative for the Ohio State Medical Society. As a senior medical student, Dr. Sarpa served as President of the Student Section of the Ohio State Medical Society.
Following his long interest in ear, nose and throat disorders, Dr. Sarpa completed residency training at Henry Ford Hospital from 1985 to 1990 in Detroit, Michigan. He published multiple research papers during residency and was appointed chief resident from 1984 to 1985.
Dr. Sarpa joined ENT Associates in Bloomington in July 1990. He immediately became active with IU Health Bloomington Hospital and has twice served as Chief of Surgery. His practice interests include all areas of ear, nose and throat care, especially nasal and sinus disorders and the treatment of thyroid disease and sleep apnea.
“I enjoy ENT because I’m able to see and take care of both adults and children. I pride myself on being honest and straightforward with patients when describing their illness,” he says. “I strive to listen to my patients and plan a reasonable treatment course, whether it is with medicines or surgery. My priority is to please my patients and make them better.”
Dr. Sarpa is currently Chairman of the Board at Southern Indiana Surgery Center.
Dr. Sarpa spends his free time with his wife Mary and their three children, involved mostly in his children’s activities. He enjoys an occasional golf game and spending time with his family at Lake Lemon.
Joanna Watkins, MD
Board certified Otolaryngology
Dr. Joanna Watkins is board certified in otolaryngology – the specialty pertaining to ears, nose and throat. She earned her medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee and completed an otolaryngology residency at University of Wisconsin.
Advanced Practice Providers
Kelly Munn, AuD
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Alexa Niehaus, PA-C
Alexa earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Indiana University and completed her masters of medical science and physician assistant studies program at Midwestern University College of HealthSciences. She is a member of the American Academyof Physicians Assistants.
Brian Warner, PA-C
Brian is originally from Fort Wayne, Ind. Baseball and football were very important to him and he actively participated as a Snider Panther. Brian also always had an interest in the medical field and took many classes to prepare for a career after athletics.
For as long as he can remember, Brian has been an avid IU fan and therefore, like so many Hoosiers, decided to further his scholastic career by attending Indiana University in Bloomington. He graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Science and Biology. Following graduation, Brian took a year off to gain valuable experience working as an Emergency Room Technician in Fort Wayne.
He eventually moved to Miami, Fla. where he earned a Master of Clinical Medical Science degree and Physician Assistant training through Barry University in Miami Shores. Brian’s time spent in southern Florida has definitely heightened his experience in the healthcare field and has helped him understand many different cultural traditions and expectations.
Brian joined ENT Associates of Southern Indiana in 2005. Presently, he devotes most of his time in a clinical otolaryngology practice as well as assisting in head and neck surgeries. Some of his responsibilities include obtaining complete medical histories, conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting labs/tests, counseling on preventative health care, performing in-office procedures, and assisting in various head and neck surgeries. In addition, Brian also manages our Allergy Clinic and provides skin testing and immunotherapy for numerous patients. This position is very stimulating and challenging, and allows him to utilize my educational and clinical experience, where a good work ethic, dedication and patient compassion adds to the satisfaction and efficiency of our health care facility.
In his free time, Brian enjoys golfing, snowboarding/wakeboarding, mountain biking, reading, camping and traveling. He has been blessed with two young children, Neely and Luke, who keep him busy and focused on making each and every day worthwhile. Brian is thankful for all the wonderful people in his life and want to continue sharing in the warmth and acceptance the people of this city have shown to him throughout the years.
