Dr. Lauren Esposito took American Sign Language in high school, and she knew right away she wanted a career working in the Deaf and hearing-impairment community. She began college intending to become a teacher in a Deaf school, but her introductory audiology course cemented her true passion — hearing health care.

Dr. Esposito earned her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Radford University in Virginia, completed her 2014–2015 residency at the Veterans Affairs clinic in Knoxville, and graduated in 2015 with her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Tennessee. She began her audiology career right here at the Falls Plaza Hearing Center in 2015, when the practice was owned by Mike Valenza. She was his employee until she bought the practice in December 2020.

Dr. Esposito thinks it’s a joy to come to work every day because she gets to help the people in her community stay connected to their family members and loved ones, which is important now more than ever. She’s excited about the team she’s put together because they’re excellent at what they do and as patient-centered as she is.

Her dad was in the Army, so they moved around a lot growing up, but she has called southwest Virginia home for almost 10 years now. She and her husband, Nick, live in his hometown of Bristol, where they spend most of their weekends fixing up and renovating their old home, which was built in 1933 — she loves all things DIY! Their beautiful baby girl, Mia, was born in November 2020, and she is the light of their lives.

Lauren and her husband are expecting again! Newest baby Esposito will be arriving January 2023!