South Peninsula Hospital brings ear, nose and throat clinic to Homer, Kenai
Published 5:00 am Thursday, August 6, 2026
South Peninsula Hospital has announced the grand opening of South Peninsula Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Clinic — the hospital’s brand new practice that offers comprehensive ENT care in both Homer and Kenai.
Dr. James Zirul, Dr. Fredrick Freeman, and Teresa Thompson are joining the hospital full time to bring collaborative and local ENT care to the entire Kenai Peninsula. Freeman will be practicing primarily in the Homer clinic, Zirul in the Kenai clinic, and Thompson will see patients at both locations.
The team specializes in both adult and pediatric patient-centered care, treating a variety of conditions such as ear infections, hearing loss, sinus disease, nasal congestion, allergies, dizziness, tonsil disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, swallowing disorders, thyroid care, and voice conditions.
The clinic also offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, including head and neck surgery, ear surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, tonsillectomy, and nasal septum repair.
Zirul has provided medical and surgical ENT care in the Kenai Peninsula since 1988, when he founded Peninsula Ear, Nose & Throat.
“He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1978 and his medical degree from Kansas City University of Health Sciences in 1983,” according to a South Peninsula Hospital release. “Dr. Zirul completed his specialty training in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, and maxillofacial plastic surgery at Flint Osteopathic Hospital in Michigan.”
In 1989, Zirul also became on of the first ENTs in Alaska to perform endoscopic sinus surgery.
Freeman is a board-certified ENT by American Board of Otolaryngology in head and neck surgery with over 30 years of experience, and earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Duke University Medical Center and completed an internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
“He recently moved from Wyoming where he was an ENT specialist for nine years,” SPH stated. “Prior to that he practiced at Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida.”
Thompson is a board-certified family nurse practitioner, and earned her doctor of nursing practice from the University of Wyoming. She moved with her family to the Kenai Peninsula after 24 years in Wyoming to continue working alongside Freeman.
She has worked in healthcare since 2008 and has been a doctor of nursing practice since 2016. She is also a certified otorhinolaryngology nurse and surgical first assistant.
Freeman has started seeing patients in Homer at 4201 Bartlett St. Appointments can be made in Homer by calling 907-235-0310.
The Kenai clinic will open on Aug. 10 at 220 Spur Dr. Appointments can be made in advance by calling 907-283-5400.
