Thigpen Hearing Center

Dr. Patti Thigpen, owner, has been involved in hearing healthcare since 1980 in the fields of speech and hearing sciences.  Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree locally from MTSU and then a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Patti then obtained her doctorate (Au.D.) from Salus University in Pennsylvania.  Her experience includes positions as director of audiology programs, consultant for school-based hearing impaired programs, newborn hearing screening director, and industrial consultant for noise management programs.  She has provided clinical supervision of audiology college students and was employed as a speech therapist for 7 years in the public school system.  She worked within medical ENT practices for 17 years developing their audiology departments for growth and services provided and continues to serve newborn through adult populations.  Dr. Thigpen began private practice in 2008 and has carefully added other audiologists to her staff to ensure quality patient care.  She currently is a member of the American Speech Hearing Language Association and the American Academy of Audiology.  

We are proud to have Dr. Sue Vavrock on staff at Thigpen Hearing Center. Originally from Alabama, Dr. Vavrock has been working in the field of Audiology since 1999. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Communication Disorders degree from Auburn University and her Doctorate (Au.D.) in 2008 from A.T. Still University. She joined our team having worked in medical ear, nose and throat practices for 15 years and has served as the director of an audiology program, a consultant for school-based hearing impaired programs and a newborn hearing screening program. A current member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and the American Academy of Audiology, Dr. Vavrock shares our vision of what quality patient care looks like. 

Dr. Meaghan Hanson joined Thigpen Hearing Center in 2017. Dr. Hanson comes to us from Macon, GA, home of the Allman Brothers, Otis Redding, and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi in 2013 and earned her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from Auburn University in 2017. She recently completed an internship at an ENT practice in Charleston, SC.

Dr. Hanson is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She enjoys rooting for her Ole Miss Rebels, participating in the annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon, reading, and traveling with friends and family. Dr. Hanson emulates our mission, providing compassionate, quality patient care to all she meets, and we think you will agree when you meet her!