In 2014, we dreamt up a healthcare facility, built for and around our Chippewa Valley patients, that specializes in high quality care of every need from the neck up. We sought to deliver this care conveniently under one roof, with concierge level service and a comfortable atmosphere. A place where we could welcome each patient as one of our family and where they would be treated individually and with trust, honesty and respect.
After years of shaping this vision, we are proud to present to you, DeFatta ENT & Allergy, DeFatta Hearing Aid Experts, and River Prairie Pharmacy. Together, we are DeFatta Health–your first stop for exceptional medical and surgical care for a diverse range of conditions affecting the ears, nose, throat, head and neck region—from simple to severe, for newborns to geriatrics. This means our physicians can treat your unrelenting sinus pressure or pain, your child’s swimmer’s ear, or your father’s sleep apnea. We are also surgeons who perform extremely delicate procedures or operations to rejuvenate tired looking eyes, restore hearing, open blocked airways, remove neck and throat cancers, and rebuild these essential structures to restore your quality of life.
We offer the widest range of treatment options administered by an advanced degreed team of physicians, surgeons, mid-level providers, audiologists and hearing instrument specialists. Take comfort in the fact that we routinely use this expertise to care for you in a non-intimidating and comfortable environment. Just ask any of our patients. And because we hold our staff to the same high-quality standards to which we hold ourselves, we will always strive to give you superior service. So, the next time you need a checkup from the neck up, please give us a call, and let our family take care of your family.
Dr. Robert J. DeFatta attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA where he received a Bachelor of Science in 1995. He then began medical school at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, LA and received both his Doctor of Medicine and his Ph.D. in cancer gene therapy in 2002. From 2002-2003, Dr. DeFatta completed his general surgery internship, followed by residency training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery from 2003-2007 at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX. During his head and neck surgical training, Dr. DeFatta developed a love of plastic surgery and reconstruction of the face, head and neck while working with Dr. Yadro Ducic, a world-renowned reconstructive surgeon.
Striving for expert training in this area, Dr. Robert pursued a fellowship through the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery with Dr. Edwin Williams at Williams Plastic Surgery Specialists in Latham, NY from 2007-2008. During this year of training, he also began serving on the faculty at Albany Medical Center Otolaryngology residency program, where his work was dedicated to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose, eyes, face and neck. Throughout his training and career, he has published extensively in peer-reviewed medical journals on both otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery topics, has authored chapters in otolaryngology textbooks and serves on the editorial boards of multiple specialty medical journals. He has been invited to lecture locally, nationally and internationally, and continues his dedication to teaching by serving as volunteer faculty for the University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Residency program.
His experience include: treatment with Botox and facial fillers, rhinoplasty and face lifts, aesthetic concealing of incisions after facial skin cancer resection, repairing complex facial fractures and microvascular reconstruction of large head, mouth and neck wounds after cancer resection. Double board certification in the science and art of balancing beautiful structure and optimal function—exclusively within the face, head and neck—is what qualifies Dr. Robert DeFatta as the Face Expert.
Dr. Rima A. DeFatta is a board certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon. She earned her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA and completed her residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. She received her fellowship training in care of the professional voice with Dr. Robert Sataloff at the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research in Philadelphia, PA. She specializes in medical and surgical management of voice, swallowing and airway disorders.
Board Certification
Professional Societies
Medical Journal Editorial Boards
Selected Publications
Books
I started my healthcare journey by receiving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Winona State University in 2009. After practicing nursing in a variety of roles including Emergency Department, Medical Intensive Care, endoscopy, and Pre/Intra/Postop care, I decided to further my education. I finished my Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville University in 2017 and became Board certified through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Prior to joining DeFatta Health, I worked as a Nurse Practitioner Hospitalist. Working with patients and families across the lifespan as a team to best optimize their health is my passion. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my husband and sons, baking, camping, being outdoors, and on the water.
Dr. Huebler is a clinical audiologist with over 25 years of experience practicing in the state of Wisconsin, most of which have been spent here in the Chippewa Valley. She received her master’s degree in audiology from Western Michigan University in 1995, and later received her Doctor of Audiology degree through AT Still University in 2009. She is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving honorably as a reservist from 1987-1999. Dr. Huebler enjoys working with patients of all ages and looks forward to serving fellow veterans as they address their hearing loss through VA Community Care.
“In switching employers after 25 years, it was important to me to find a practice that values its patients and its community,” Dr. Huebler said. “When Robert and Rima agreed to honor service warranties for hearing aid patients from my previous practice at their own expense, I knew it would be the right place for me.”
Dr. Huebler is happily married and the proud parent of three adult children. When she is not at work, Dr. Huebler can usually be found volunteering or performing with the Eau Claire Children’s Theater, where she also serves on the theater board of directors.
Patrick grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. He went on to complete his Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago.
Patrick spent the past 10 years of his Physician Assistant career practicing within the specialty of Ear, Nose and Throat in both Washington and Colorado. He was first drawn to ENT due to the diversity of issues with which patients present. Patrick loves being able to help improve patients’ health and quality of life through medical, procedural, and surgical treatments. Patrick is a member of the Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Patrick and his wife have four children. They enjoy spending time outdoors, connecting with extended family in the Midwest, reading, swimming and playing soccer!
An otolaryngologist is a physician trained in the medical and surgical management of ear, nose and throat diseases and disorders.
Commonly referred to as ENTs, they identify and treat diseases of the ears, nose, sinuses, larynx, mouth, throat and structures of the face and neck. Otolaryngologists complete up to 15 years of college and post-graduate training, including medical school. Many also complete a one- or two-year fellowship to gain more extensive training.
All otolaryngologist must be certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.
There are seven areas of expertise in the field of otolaryngology:
Below is a handy self-screener that can help you determine if you should see an ENT.
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may be experiencing an ear, nose or throat disorder.
Call DeFatta Health at (715) 828-2368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Laryngology is the study of the larynx, or the human voice box. It is a growing and exciting area of medicine that marries the fields of medicine, surgery and performing voice.
Surgeons in this specialty area have completed the following steps to become a laryngologist:
Laryngologists can focus their work on one or all of the following areas:
Laryngologists work with other specialists to provide comprehensive care of these problems.
Having a voice or swallowing concern? Call DeFatta ENT & Allergy at (715) 828-2368 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our expert laryngologist, Dr. Rima DeFatta.
Have you ever wondered what exactly an audiologist does, besides check your hearing? If you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about this professional who will be intimately involved in helping you come up with a solution that allows you to communicate more effectively.
An audiologist is a professional who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Most have earned an Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology) while others have received a master’s degree from an accredited university, where they received extensive training in the prevention, identification, assessment and treatment of hearing and balance disorders.
They have to complete an externship, pass a national competency examination and obtain professional certification and licensure in the state(s) where they practice.
Audiologists work with patients of all ages, treating infants, children and adults for a variety of hearing and balance problems. They work in diverse settings like hospitals, schools, clinics, universities, private practices, VA hospitals, hearing aid dispensaries and otolaryngology (ENT) offices. Audiologists are responsible for services such as:
All in all, audiologists are the most qualified individuals to help you manage your hearing loss or balance disorder, and they provide an unparalleled breadth of care.
Call DeFatta Hearing Aid Experts at (715) 930-1940 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
A hearing instrument specialist, is a professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids. In addition to specialized education and training, they must pass Wisconsin’s written and practical exam to become licensed by the state to work with patients.
Hearing instrument specialists may have advanced training and education in a specific condition such as tinnitus. This specialty requires the hearing instrument specialist to pass an international exam, given by the International Hearing Society, in order to become certified to treat patients with tinnitus. Also, hearing instrument specialists may choose to become board-certified, which requires them to pass a national exam given by the National Hearing Instrument Society.
Hearing instrument specialists work primarily with adult patients and specialize in hearing loss, acoustics of the ear and hearing instruments. They work in diverse settings like hospitals, schools, clinics, universities and private practices; most can be found in an office that provides hearing aid services to those with sensorineural hearing loss, also known as nerve deafness.
Hearing instrument specialists are trained to interpret hearing assessments and use that information to select the best hearing aid possible for their patients. After trying on and testing out a number of options, the hearing aid model is selected, and the hearing instrument specialist can get to work fitting and programing the device to match the individual’s exact degree of hearing loss.
Call DeFatta Hearing Aid Experts at (715) 930-1940 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
With many different types of aesthetic surgeons in practice today, it is important to make an informed decision when considering an elective or reconstructive procedure. Surgeons who are experts specifically in the areas of the face and neck are called facial plastic surgeons. They are board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). For more than 30 years, the ABFPRS has been actively dedicated to improving the quality of facial plastic surgery available to the public by measuring the qualifications of candidate surgeons against certain rigorous standards. Click here to learn more about facial plastic surgeons.
Dr. Robert J. DeFatta is dual board certified, both by the ABFPRS and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. His extensive training, credentials and experience reflect his commitment to meeting the highest standards of clinical care for his patients. He has dedicated his entire 15-year career to the treatment of disorders and cosmetic concerns of the face, head and neck.
Ready to start your transformation? Call Robert J. DeFatta, MD Facial Plastic Surgery at (715) 930-1944 to schedule your consultation.
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