Ep. 268 Building a Skull Base Program in Private Practice with Dr. Kibwei McKinney

What if you could build a skull base practice outside academia, without sacrificing complexity, income, or fulfillment? On this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast, Dr. Kibwei McKinney from SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City joins guest host Dr. Dennis Tang to discuss building a rhinology and skull base surgery practice outside academia. --- Get the BackTable app https://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 01:30 - Introduction and Career04:55 - Private Practice vs. Academics10:38 - Defining Skull Based Surgery15:10 - Patient Pool and Logistics in Academics vs Private Practice19:03 - Marketing and Referral Sources24:58 - Case Management and the O.R. in Private Practice29:30 - Balanced Workload and Intentional Care32:10 - Billing and Coding38:55 - Lifestyle Benefits of Private Practice44:21 - Strategic Advice and Advantages or Disadvantages of Private Practice.47:38 - Common Misconceptions50:00 - Advice and Closing Thoughts --- More about this episode Dr. McKinney walks through his training journey, from dedicated research years to time in private-practice rhinology and a skull base fellowship, before ultimately starting his academic career in Oklahoma. He shares how shifting family priorities and the growing push for clinical productivity led him to step away from academia and into an employed private-practice model focused exclusively on rhinology and skull base surgery, without ER call. Along the way, he dives into what that transition really looks like, including the autonomy he’s gained, the role of marketing support, how he builds referrals through direct communication, and the operational differences of working without residents. He also touches on postoperative care structure, billing and coding, insurance challenges, and the impact on his overall lifestyle. Check out this episode to hear Dr. McKinney’s perspective on why skull base surgery in private practice can be not only technically feasible and financially viable, but also emotionally sustainable, creating space for truly patient-centered care and the ability to pursue the work with genuine passion. --- Resources Dr. Kibwei McKinney https://www.getcare.ssmhealth.com/find-a-doctor/doctor-details/kibwei-mckinney-md