Our Staff
ENT Specialists of Abilene is made up of a team of professionals dedicated to providing the best quality healthcare in a responsive and caring environment. Our otolaryngologists are all Board Certified with decades of experience in the profession. They work in concert with nurses and office staff who try to understand your health issues quickly and apply the right treatment to get you back to your optimal health.
Jeffrey M. Braaten, D.O., F.A.C.S.
A graduate of Murray State University, Murray, Ky., Dr. Braaten went on to complete his medical degree at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in the top of his class. Dr. Braaten completed his residency training in Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Upon graduation he became the Chief of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery at Irwin Army Medical Center. In 1994 Dr. Braaten formed ENT Specialists of Abilene with his partner Dr. Gary Goodnight and was later joined by Dr. Taylor Tidmore.
Dr. Braaten is Board Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery and is Subspecialty Certified in Allergy by the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy. He also serves as the Medical Director Texas Midwest Surgery Center.
Dr. Braaten's specialty interests include the medical and surgical treatment of allergy and sinus disorders, adult and pediatric otolaryngology, and facial cosmetic surgery.
In addition to his clinical appointments, Dr. Braaten maintains memberships in several professional societies to include:
- American College of Surgeons
- American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
- American Academy of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- American Academy of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery
- Texas Medical Association
Dr. Braaten has also been honored by being named:
- Texas' Best Doctors- 2006,2007,2008
- America's Top Physicians- 2003,2005
Dr. Braaten and his wife Susan have 5 daughters; Kyley, Lucy, Logan, Connor, and Chloe. They are active members of First Baptist Church of Abilene. A life long athlete, Dr. Braaten has completed numerous triathlons including the Ironman 3 times.
Gary D. Goodnight, D.O., R. Ph., FAOCOHNS
Dr. Goodnight is a graduate of the School of Pharmacy, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma. After practicing Pharmacy for 5 years in Shawnee, Oklahoma, he went back to medical school at Oklahoma State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Graduating in the top of his class, Dr. Goodnight was accepted for post-graduate residency training in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery in Detroit, Michigan. Upon residency graduation, he practiced in Palm Beach County, Florida before joining his former medical school classmate, Dr. Jeff Braaten, in 1996.
Dr. Goodnight is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He currently is on staff at Hendrick Medical Center, Texas Midwest Surgery Center and Abilene Regional Medical Center. At Hendrick Medical Center, Dr. Goodnight is involved with several medical staff committees.
Dr. Goodnight's specialty interests include thyroid/parathyroid surgery, adult and pediatric general otolaryngology, facial skin cancer surgery, the medical and surgical management of allergy/sinus disorders and snoring/sleep disorders. He regularly attends national continuing medical education courses and lectures on these areas of interest.
Dr. Goodnight maintains memberships in several professional societies to include:
- American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
- American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine
- Texas Osteopathic Medical Association
- American Osteopathic Association
- Texas Medical Association
- Aircraft Owner's and Pilot Association
Taylor R. Tidmore, M.D.
Dr. Tidmore graduated from Abilene Christian University in 1999 with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. He then completed his medical degree in 2003 from the University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine in Dallas. There he was selected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Tidmore then went to the Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. He finished this training in the summer of 2008. At that time he joined Dr. Braaten and Dr. Goodnight at ENT Specialists of Abilene.
Dr. Tidmore is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. He also maintains memberships in the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.
Dr. Tidmore's interest include the medical and surgical management of sinus and allergy disorders, head and neck cancer, the surgical management of thyroid disorders, and pediatric otolaryngology.
Dr. Tidmore is married to Heather Tidmore, a native of Abilene. Together they have three young children; Anna, Mason, and William. They are active members of the Southern Hills Church of Christ. Dr. Tidmore is also on the Board of Directors for the Hendrick Medical Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Abilene.
Paula Parkhill, FNP-BC
A graduate of Angelo State University, School of Nursing (BSN), in San Angelo, Texas, Paula Parkhill went on to complete her Master's of Science in Nursing with Specialty as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Abilene Intercollegiate School of Nursing in Abilene, Texas. Upon graduation, she began her clinical practice with Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists of Abilene in collaboration with Dr. Jeff Braaten, Dr. Gary Goodnight and most recently Dr. Taylor Tidmore.
Paula Parkhill is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and holds a valid Texas State License as Registered Nurse. She is certified as both a CPR Instructor and in Neonatal Resuscitation.
Paula Parkhill's specialty interests include adult and pediatric general otolaryngology, the medical management of allergy/sinus disorders, snoring/sleep disorders in collaborative effort with the doctors of ENT Specialists. She also enjoys being a mentor/preceptor for the masters prepared and family nurse practitioner students of Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing, in Abilene, Texas.
Paula Parkhill is married to Codie Parkhill, a native of Abilene. Together they have two sons, Hudson and Jaxson. She also enjoys teaching fitness classes at Gold's Gym Abilene.