Independence by Design: Insights from AuDACITY 2026

As the Official Banking Partner of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, we went to AuDACITY 2026 to listen to, learn from, and empower audiologists at every stage of their careers. We sponsored the Student Business Plan Competition, walked the floor, and sat down with independent audiologists to learn what they are building, what challenges they are facing, and what they need from a financial partner.

Every conversation reinforced the same truth. Independent audiologists are both healthcare professionals and business owners. They diagnose and treat patients, manage budgets, and optimize operations day in and day out. They deserve a banking partner that understands this duality and that strengthens their independence rather than complicating it.

The Challenges We Heard at AuDACITY

The conversations we had with independent practitioners at AuDACITY were incredibly insightful. Audiologists spoke candidly, and these common themes emerged: 

Expansion feels out of reach. For many independent audiology practitioners, the immediate priority is strengthening what they already have: growing revenue and trimming expenses at their current location. Focusing on a strong financial foundation is a sound strategy. That is how you build a lasting practice, and in today’s economy, a sense of hesitation around expansion is understandable. Expansion and acquisitions need to follow the business owner’s timeline, and we are here to help build out that timeline with independent practitioners across the country. 

Insurance reimbursements do not match the cost of patient care. A common challenge we heard from audiologists was that private insurers and Medicare do not treat audiologists the way they treat other healthcare providers. The Hearing Review reports that reimbursement rates for audiology services often fall below the actual cost of delivering care. Independent practitioners shared that to offset this shortfall, they must charge patients more for non-covered services or hold off on updating diagnostic equipment or staff compensation. These audiologists also flagged that this leaves their patients with fewer, more costly options*. Independent audiologists are navigating this system with resourcefulness, and they deserve financial partnership built around that reality.

Audiology is, by the numbers, a women-led field. As of 2024, the audiology workforce is 86.8% women and 13.2% men. Women are shaping, staffing, and increasingly owning the audiology industry.

For independent practitioners, the job description extends well beyond patient care. In addition to treating patients, audiologists are setting budgets, managing payroll, negotiating with vendors, and deciding when to invest in new equipment. Every clinical day is also a business day, and these leaders are navigating both sides of the role with skill and confidence. Despite this, the entrepreneurial side of their work often goes unseen. Women in audiology are frequently viewed solely as clinicians, when they are also founders, employers, and strategic entrepreneurs.

Across conversations at AuDACITY, we consistently heard that audiologists are looking for financial partners that respect their expertise, understand their industry, and offer strategic guidance rather than assumptions about their capabilities. They are also looking for partners who recognize the challenges they face and can help map out a realistic, strategic financial path that fits their goals and their vision of success. 

How Stearns Bank Shows Up as a Women-Led Bank

As a women-owned-and-led financial institution, this conversation is personal to us. 70% of Stearns Bank employees are women, as are more than two-thirds of our officers and senior leaders, compared to the national average of 31% for senior leadership. We also know what it takes to build, grow, and one day, hand off a business, because we are doing it ourselves.

 

That perspective carries into our commitments. In 2025, we partnered with the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC), a national network dedicated to helping women start, grow, and sustain businesses, to provide capital and support to women-owned organizations across the country. That partnership also opens doors for the audiologists we serve. We encourage independent audiologists to connect with Women’s Business Centers in their area for hands-on support with business planning, financial projections, and the other business needs that come with practice ownership. For an audiologist building or growing a practice, that local support can be as valuable as the financing itself. 

Our commitment to audiologists reaches well beyond this partnership. As the Official Banking Partner of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, our team brings deep industry knowledge and a genuine passion for continuous learning, so we can keep pace as audiology evolves. Our deposit and loan products are designed to support independence, with customizable solutions and ethical methods to scale a practice. 

And regardless of gender, we see audiologists for who they are: healthcare professionals and business owners.

Ready to take the next step? Download 7 Decisions Every Audiologist Will Face for practical guidance on the choices that shape the future of your career or audiology practice.