Joanne Rolls
Rating: 5.0 of 5
( out of 138 reviews )

Joanne Rolls, MEHP, MPAS, PA-C

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Sugar House Health Center

1280 E. Stringham Avenue
Salt Lake City , UT 84106
801-581-2000
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  • Joanne Rolls, MPAS, MEHP, PA-C, is a Certified Physician Assistant and a Professor (Clinical) at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Education and Sciences (PAES). She is a Family Medicine PA who serves University of Utah students and patients as a PA Educator and Family Medicine PA.

    Ms. Rolls has been with the University of Utah PA program since 2012. She is the Vice-Char of Education for the PAES Division and Director of Didactic Education for the PA Program. She is highly involved with teaching first-year PA students, primarily history taking and physical exam skills. She is an active faculty advisor and also precepts second-year PA students during their Family Medicine clinical rotations. She has authored book chapters in the 2016 edition of Procedures for the Primary Care Provider (Edmunds), and the 2021 Advanced Pharmacology for Prescribers (Springer Publishing). She has published in the Journal of Physician Assistant Education, Academic Medicine, BMC Medical Education, and JAAPA, and is a peer-reviewer for the Journal of Nurse Practitioners, Transgender Health, BMC Medical Education, MedEd Portal, JPAE, and LGBT Health. She has a background in emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, education, and wilderness medicine. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and the University of Utah Academy of Health Science Educators. She lectures regionally and nationally on wilderness medicine topics as well as LGBTQ+ healthcare issues. At a national level, Ms. Rolls serves the Physician Assistant Education Association as a facilitator for faculty skills development and as the Chair of the Cultural Humility in Assessment Exam Development Board.

    As a didactic educator, Ms. Rolls has a special interest in teaching reproductive and sexual health, quality improvement principles, laboratory medicine, excellent history taking, and physical exam skills. Her academic interests include promoting adult learning principles in graduate medical education and addressing diversity in healthcare and healthcare education. To advance her skills, she completed a Master's of Education for Health Professionals at Johns Hopkins University, in 2019.

    Ms. Rolls grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and was a competitive rower at Boston University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts. She spent many years in Colorado working in pre-hospital care and volunteering with a mountain search and rescue team prior to moving to Salt Lake City to pursue her PA training at the University of Utah PA program.

    She is currently not taking new patients

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 5.0 out of 5
    5.0 /5
    ( out of 138 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    December 19, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    I have been a patient of Joanne's for years. She listens to understand, asks questions, creates a dialogue so my care is a mutual effort - I feel heard. She is kind and thoughtful in her care. Most of all I trust her and have confidence in the care she provides.

    December 12, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Extremely caring and competent provider - I highly recommend PA Rolls as a primary care provider

    November 08, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    See comment above Joanne Rolls is the best PCP I've ever had. And I've lived in 5 states!

    October 18, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Rolls is a very caring and loving person. I really love her.

    October 16, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Ms. Rolls was very pleasant and did a through exam and discussion of the next steps to take address many of my medical issues. I highly recommend her for primary care provider.

    September 11, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Joanne is a wonderful person. I always enjoy meeting with her.

    August 15, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Joanne Rolls is the best PA/Dr I've ever had

    August 08, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Joanne is very approachable, attentive, and caring. The appointment was everything I was hoping for

    August 04, 2025
    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    As mentioned on the previous question, Joanne Rolls is THE BEST care provider I've ever had. She is extremely attentive, a great listeners, asks questions to ensure she understands, provides options, and includes me in care decisions. I feel heard and care for,. She is an exceptional human being.

  • Joanne Rolls, MPAS, MEHP, PA-C, is a Certified Physician Assistant and a Professor (Clinical) at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Education and Sciences (PAES). She is a Family Medicine PA who serves University of Utah students and patients as a PA Educator and Family Medicine PA.

    Ms. Rolls has been with the University of Utah PA program since 2012. She is the Vice-Char of Education for the PAES Division and Director of Didactic Education for the PA Program. She is highly involved with teaching first-year PA students, primarily history taking and physical exam skills. She is an active faculty advisor and also precepts second-year PA students during their Family Medicine clinical rotations. She has authored book chapters in the 2016 edition of Procedures for the Primary Care Provider (Edmunds), and the 2021 Advanced Pharmacology for Prescribers (Springer Publishing). She has published in the Journal of Physician Assistant Education, Academic Medicine, BMC Medical Education, and JAAPA, and is a peer-reviewer for the Journal of Nurse Practitioners, Transgender Health, BMC Medical Education, MedEd Portal, JPAE, and LGBT Health. She has a background in emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, education, and wilderness medicine. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine and the University of Utah Academy of Health Science Educators. She lectures regionally and nationally on wilderness medicine topics as well as LGBTQ+ healthcare issues. At a national level, Ms. Rolls serves the Physician Assistant Education Association as a facilitator for faculty skills development and as the Chair of the Cultural Humility in Assessment Exam Development Board.

    As a didactic educator, Ms. Rolls has a special interest in teaching reproductive and sexual health, quality improvement principles, laboratory medicine, excellent history taking, and physical exam skills. Her academic interests include promoting adult learning principles in graduate medical education and addressing diversity in healthcare and healthcare education. To advance her skills, she completed a Master's of Education for Health Professionals at Johns Hopkins University, in 2019.

    Ms. Rolls grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and was a competitive rower at Boston University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts. She spent many years in Colorado working in pre-hospital care and volunteering with a mountain search and rescue team prior to moving to Salt Lake City to pursue her PA training at the University of Utah PA program.

    She is currently not taking new patients

    Education history

    Graduate Training Master of Education for the Health Professional - Johns Hopkins University MEHP
    Graduate Training Master's of Physician Assistant Studies - University of Utah M.P.A.S.
    Undergraduate English Literature/History - Boston University B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Jones QB, Batchelder HR, Little NR, Fish LJ, Wu Q, Rolls J, Luo H (2025). Identifying best practices for the delivery of sexual and gender minority content: a mixed-methods approach. J Sex Med. (Read full publication)
    2. Rolls J, Jones Q, Okolie L, Yole-Lobe M (2025). Using Reflection and a Systems-Based Approach to Foster Gender Inclusion. J Physician Assist Educ, 36(3), e312-e315.
    3. Rolls J, Showstark M, Najmabadi S, Loder R, Barry C, Honda T (2025). Gender Minority Physician Assistant/Associate Applicants and Likelihood of Matriculation: A Retrospective Analysis. J Physician Assist Educ, 36(2), 113-119.
    4. Rolls J, Showstark M, Najmabadi S, Loder R, Barry C, Honda T (2024). Gender Minority Physician Assistant/Associate Applicants and Likelihood of Matriculation: A Retrospective Analysis. J Physician Assist Educ, 36(2), 113-119. (Read full publication)
    5. Rolls J, Jones Q, Okolie L, Yole-Lobe M (2025). Using Reflection and a Systems-Based Approach to Foster Gender Inclusion. J Physician Assist Educ, 36(3), e312-e315. (Read full publication)
    6. Najmabadi S, Valentin V, Rolls J, Showstark M, Elrod L, Barry C, Broughton A, Bessette M, Honda T (2024). Non-native English-speaking applicants and the likelihood of physician assistant program matriculation. Med Educ Online, 29(1), 2312713. (Read full publication)
    7. Jones Q, Blew K, Brown T, Rolls J (2024). Masculinizing Hormone Therapy and Associated Clinical Care . Physician Assist Clin, 9(3), 389-401.
    8. Rolls J, Brown T, Blew K, Jones Q (2024). Feminizing Hormone Therapy and Associated Clinical Care . Physician Assist Clin, 9(3), 375-387.
    9. Jones Q, Batchelder H, Sanchez M, Rolls J (2024). An Analysis of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Curricula Inclusion: A National Study of Physician Assistant Programs. J Physician Assist Educ. (Read full publication)
    10. Najmabadi S, Valentin V, Rolls J, Showstark M, Broughton A, Bessette M, Honda T (2024). Non-native English-speaking applicants and the likelihood of physician assistant program matriculation. Med Educ Online, 29(1).
    11. Broughton A, Landry A, Showstark M, Barry CL, Najmabadi S, Rolls J, Honda T (2024). Military Veteran Matriculation in US Physician Associate/Assistant Programs. J Physician Assist Educ. (Read full publication)
    12. Baker J, Rolls J (2023). An update on expanding HIV preexposure prophylaxis. JAAPA, 36(2), 17-24. (Read full publication)
    13. Showstark M, Bessette M, Barry CL, Najmabadi S, Rolls J, Hamilton C, Valentin VL, Quella A, Honda T (2022). PA applicant U.S. citizenship status and likelihood of program matriculation. BMC Med Educ, 22(1), 887. (Read full publication)
    14. Rolls J, Showstark M, Jones Q, Bruessow D, Kluznik J (2022). Promising Practices in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Curriculum Inclusion. J Physician Assist Educ, 33(4), 346-351. (Read full publication)
    15. Rolls J, Smith T, Keahey D, Lessard D (2021). Outcomes of HRSA-funded expansion of PA training grants 2011-2016. JAAPA, 34(12), 1. (Read full publication)
    16. Rolls J, Lessard D, Smith T, Keahey D (2021). Outcomes of HRSA-Funded Expansion of Physician Assistant Training Grants 2011-2016. J Physician Assist Educ, 32(3), 143-149. (Read full publication)
    17. Handy R, Spackman J, Moloney-Johns A, Loder R, Curran S, Valentin V, Rolls J, Schaefer C (2021). Administering a Physician Assistant Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Physician Assist Educ, 32(2), 119-122. (Read full publication)
    18. Rolls J, Davis J, Backman R, Wood T, Honda T (2020). Curricular Approaches to Transgender Health in Physician Assistant Education. Acad Med, 95(10), 1563-1569. (Read full publication)
    19. Rolls J (2019). Be Human. Be Kind. Acad Med, 94(6), 770. (Read full publication)
    20. Rolls J, Keahey D (2016). Durability of Expanded Physician Assistant Training Positions Following the End of Health Resources and Services Administration Expansion of Physician Assistant Training Funding. J Physician Assist Educ, 27(3), 101-4. (Read full publication)

    Review

    1. Baker J, Rolls J (2020). Update on HIV prevention and preexposure prophylaxis. [Review]. JAAPA, 33(6), 12-17. (Read full publication)

    Book Chapter

    1. Diane M Bruessow and Joanne Rolls (2021). Pharmacotherapy Related to Transgender Care. In Luu, B. Kayingo, G. Hass, V. (Eds.), Advanced Pharmacology for Prescribers (pp. 453-471). Danvers, MA: Springer Publishing Company.
    2. Marilyn Edmunds et al (2016). Chapter 4: HEENT Procedures. In Edmunds et al (Ed.), Procedures for the Primary Care Provider (Third). Elsevier.
    3. Marilyn Edmunds et al (2016). Chapter 7: Gastrointestional Procedures. In Edmunds et al (Ed.), Procedures for the Primary Care Provider (Third). Elsevier.
    4. Jordan K, Macri T et al (2016). Gender-Specific Considerations. In PSIA-AASI Freestyle Technical Manual. American Snowsports Education Association, Inc.

    Abstract

    1. Greenberg, J Palacio, J Robinson, A Medrano, V Spencer, M Rolls, J (2025). Cancer Screening in Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder [Abstract]. 38(8), e2.
    2. Gerner A, Jan S, Shah M, Snelson C, Greenberg J, Rolls J (2023). Assessing the frequency of fall risk screening in older adults on chronic opioids in primary care. [Abstract]. JAAPA, 36(12), 1. (Read full publication)
    3. Rolls J, Naimabadi S, Barry C, Showstark M, Hamilton C, Quella A, Honda T (2023). Gender minority PA applicants and matriculation likelihood. [Abstract]. JAAPA, 36(12), 1. (Read full publication)

    Other

    1. Hobson-Rohrer W, Rolls J, Wilson R (2022). Hobson-Rohrer W, Rolls J, Wilson R. How to Master Education in the Health Professions. Accelerate Learning Community. Feb 7, 2022.
    2. Joanne Rolls (Summer 2014). Inter-professional Student-Run Clinic Improves Access for Uninsured. Illuminations - The Magazine of The School of Medicine Alumni Association.

    Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

    1. Jones, Q Rolls, J (2024). Analyzing LGBTQ+ Inclusion in PA Education [Podcast]. JPAE. Available: https://jpaepodcast.podbean.com/e/analyzing-lgbtq-inclusion-in-pa-education/.
    2. Rolls J (2019). Be Human. Be Kind. [Podcast]. Academic Medicine Podcast Series. Available: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/academic-medicine-podcast/id1112697692?mt=2.
    3. Cobb, Nadia, et al (03/01/2018). Clinical Prevention & Population Health Curriculum Framework: Social Determinants of Health Case Studies [Web]. Washington, DC: Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. Available: https://www.teachpopulationhealth.org/geriatricsdohcases.html.
    4. Rolls, Joanne Gunning, Karen (02/26/18). How an Excellent Clinician Becomes an Excellent Teacher [Web]. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Health, Accelerate. Available: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/accelerate/blog/2018/02/karen-gunning-joanne-rolls-share-how-an-excellent-clinician-becomes-an-excellent-teacher.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=constant-contact&utm_campaign=Changemakers&utm_content=1B-gunningrolls.
    5. Joanne Rolls, MPAS, PA-C (01/16/18). "Bad News:" Any information which adversely and seriously affects and individual's view of his or her future. [Web]. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Family Medicine Division. Available: https://fammedvitalsigns.com/2018/01/16/bad-news-any-information-which-adversely-and-seriously-affects-an-individuals-view-of-his-or-her-future/.