Welcome to Gem State ENT

Dr. Russ Mayes is a native of Idaho having been born and raised in Pocatello. He received his undergraduate degree at Utah State University and completed medical school at Midwestern University-AZCOM. He completed his surgical internship and residency in Otolaryngology – Facial Plastic Surgery in Detroit, Michigan through Michigan State University. Since finishing his residency in 2008, he has been living in Twin Falls and serving the Magic Valley. 

He loves being a member of this community and is passionate about providing the best care and service for his patients. His practice includes all aspects of the ear, nose, and throat specialty, and cares for patients of all ages. This includes the medical and surgical management of the following, but not limited to: pediatric ear infection and tonsil disorders, nose and breathing abnormalities, sinus diseases and infections, allergies, thyroid and parathyroid disorders, sleep apnea, head and neck tumors/cancer, skin cancer, voice and swallowing disorders, and ear problems (hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, etc). 

Dr. Mayes and his wife, Tia, have 4 sons; his family is the light of his life. His favorite hobby is traveling with them and enjoying what our state, nation, and world has to offer. He enjoys cycling, cooking, skiing, hunting, scuba diving, golf and fishing. He spent two years in Norway providing missionary service to the people there. He is fluent in Norwegian and is attempting to become more proficient in Spanish.

Dr. Kylan Peterson was raised in Twin Falls and returned to practice in the Magic Valley in 2013. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist, and head and neck surgeon specializing in the medical and surgical treatment of adult and pediatric ear, nose, and throat disorders. He sees patients of all ages for diseases of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT). His practice includes hearing and balance disorders, sinus diseases, cancer, thyroid and parathyroid diseases, ear infections, tonsil problems, hoarseness, voice disturbances, sleep apnea treatment, and allergies. Dr. Peterson has a special interest in medical and surgical treatment of ear-related diseases.

He completed his residency at Michigan State University and attended medical school at A.T. Still University in Missouri. He is a fellow of the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery and a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery and the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Peterson is accepting new patients and is also fluent in Spanish after living in Chile for two years. He enjoys hiking, reading a good book, traveling, and spending time with his family when he is not taking care of patients.

Blaise Larson grew up in Burley, Idaho. He attended college at Idaho State University, where he met his wife and started a family. After graduating with his bachelor’s in nursing in 2010, his family moved to Twin Falls.

After working as a nurse for 5 years in the operating room, Blaise was accepted into the Nurse Practitioner Master’s program at Indiana State University. In 2015, he graduated and received his accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Immediately after graduation, he started working with Doctors Russ Mayes and Kylan Peterson in the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialty.

Blaise enjoys working in the ENT specialty and values his relationships with each of his patients. He strives to provide the best care to the people in the Magic Valley and surrounding areas.

He enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids, traveling, and any outdoor activities.

Robert Butler, FNP-C is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with 4 years of specialized ENT experience. He received his master’s degree in nursing from Walden University in 2019. Since
his graduation Robert has worked exclusively in the management of ear, nose, and throat disorders. Robert is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care to
everyone he treats. When not working, Robert enjoys spending time with his wife and children in the beautiful outdoors of southern Idaho.

Bob Jensen received his doctor of audiology degree from the University of Utah and has been serving the Twin Falls community since 2016. He is highly experienced in assessment of dizziness and balance disorders, tinnitus, and all types of hearing loss for all ages. He is an expert in fitting hearing aids and keeping up to date with hearing aid technology. As a musician, he is keenly aware of the roll hearing plays in our daily lives. It is his passion to help patients find solutions to their hearing loss and tinnitus needs. Bob takes a patient first approach and is dedicated to assisting his patients in any way he can.

While originally from Utah, Bob is happy to call Idaho his home and loves spending time with his wife and three daughters in whatever activities they are involved in.

Skylar Muniz has been practicing as a Doctor of Audiology in Twin Falls, Idaho since 2020. She enjoys working with patients of all ages and their families. Her professional areas of interest include tinnitus management, vestibular (dizziness) diagnostics and rehabilitation, medical audiology, cochlear and vestibular implants, and individualized hearing aid services. She is passionate about empowering patients and supporting them on their paths to healthy communication, ease of listening, and optimized balance. 

Skylar earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Iowa and her Doctorate of Audiology at the University of Memphis. She completed her doctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She has research experience in multiple areas including hearing aid outcome measures, listening effort, and speech perception testing for Spanish speakers. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys exploring Idaho and the Pacific Northwest through hiking, snowboarding, biking, and camping with her husband and dogs.