Natalie A. Sanders
( out of 117 reviews )

Natalie A. Sanders, DO, FACP

Languages spoken: Spanish, English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Madsen Health Center

Geriatric Care Clinic
555 Foothill Blvd
Salt Lake City , UT 84112
801-581-2628
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  • Dr. Sanders is an Associate Professor with the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Utah. She has primary and consultative patient care responsibilities, performs clinical research, and educates students and residents of all levels across several health care disciplines. Dr. Sanders completed her undergraduate medical education at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, CA. She subsequently graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency program from the University of Utah and was selected as a Chief Medical Resident. After practicing for three years as a General Internist with this same institution, Dr. Sanders formalized her training in a Geriatrics Fellowship.

    Upon completing her fellowship, Dr. Sanders worked as the geriatrician team member of the University of Utah Faint and Fall Clinic. The first clinic of its kind, this multidisciplinary clinic focused on providing expedited, standardized, evidence-based evaluation and treatment to patients with these conditions. Three years after its opening, Dr. Sanders became the Medical Director of the clinic and expanded assessments to include formal frailty evaluations. In 2017, Dr. Sanders narrowed her practice to focus on caring for geriatric patients. Her current clinical practice is at the University of Utah Geriatrics Clinic where she follows a panel of geriatric primary care patients and continues to provide consultative care with a specific focus on faint, fall, and frailty syndromes. She has served as a physician team member of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). HELP is an international evidence-based delirium prevention program, of which the University of Utah is a Center of Excellence. This program plays a key role in assisting the University of Utah to become nationally credited as an Age Friendly Health System. Dr. Sanders is recognized as an expert in faint, fall, and frailty syndromes as well as delirium prevention at her institution. Dr. Sanders actively participates in leadership development activities. In July 2023, she will begin serving as the Medical Director for the University of Utah Madsen Geriatrics Clinic.

    In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Sanders supervises medical students, residents, and geriatric fellows. She serves as the Program Director for the ACGME approved Geriatric Fellowship. She also co-leads the combined Medicine-Geriatrics integrated residency/fellowship program. In these roles, she mentors future geriatricians and works diligently to ensure the program is providing outstanding training in geriatrics.

    Dr. Sanders’ scholarly focus complements her clinical expertise. Highlights from her research include addressing the role decreased baroreceptor function has in precipitating falls, the use of testosterone and exercise to prevent future falls and fractures, and how the information gained from a frailty assessment may predict patient outcomes and prognosis. She is currently involved in an effort to disseminate Patients Priority Care, an educational framework that gives health care providers the tools to identify what matters most to patients. This work aligns nicely with the University of Utah Health's accreditation as an Age Friendly Health System. Dr. Sanders’ commitment to providing an exceptional patient experience and her clinical acumen enables her to effectively collaborate across departments within the University of Utah and the community at large to ensure ongoing improvement in the care of older adults.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Geriatric Medicine)

    Patient Rating

    5.0 /5
    ( out of 117 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.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Attentive, smart, engaging.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    So glad to find such a caring and competent physician.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    I just did tell you how much I like her. She is knowledgeable, kind, understanding, non judgmental, intelligent and very good. She is darling besides all that. So glad and happy I found her.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Dr Sanders took a genuine interest in me with my health and emotional wellbeing.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    I look forward to being a patient in your practice.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Dr sanders is wonderful and is very concerned about my husband she listens, watches, observes and talks with him in a very caring way, so happy she is our doctor.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Sanders took the time to listen and diagnose the problems.

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Excellent

    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Listened well, gave thoughtful advice, and took time to discuss my concerns.

  • Dr. Sanders is an Associate Professor with the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Utah. She has primary and consultative patient care responsibilities, performs clinical research, and educates students and residents of all levels across several health care disciplines. Dr. Sanders completed her undergraduate medical education at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, CA. She subsequently graduated from the Internal Medicine Residency program from the University of Utah and was selected as a Chief Medical Resident. After practicing for three years as a General Internist with this same institution, Dr. Sanders formalized her training in a Geriatrics Fellowship.

    Upon completing her fellowship, Dr. Sanders worked as the geriatrician team member of the University of Utah Faint and Fall Clinic. The first clinic of its kind, this multidisciplinary clinic focused on providing expedited, standardized, evidence-based evaluation and treatment to patients with these conditions. Three years after its opening, Dr. Sanders became the Medical Director of the clinic and expanded assessments to include formal frailty evaluations. In 2017, Dr. Sanders narrowed her practice to focus on caring for geriatric patients. Her current clinical practice is at the University of Utah Geriatrics Clinic where she follows a panel of geriatric primary care patients and continues to provide consultative care with a specific focus on faint, fall, and frailty syndromes. She has served as a physician team member of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP). HELP is an international evidence-based delirium prevention program, of which the University of Utah is a Center of Excellence. This program plays a key role in assisting the University of Utah to become nationally credited as an Age Friendly Health System. Dr. Sanders is recognized as an expert in faint, fall, and frailty syndromes as well as delirium prevention at her institution. Dr. Sanders actively participates in leadership development activities. In July 2023, she will begin serving as the Medical Director for the University of Utah Madsen Geriatrics Clinic.

    In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Sanders supervises medical students, residents, and geriatric fellows. She serves as the Program Director for the ACGME approved Geriatric Fellowship. She also co-leads the combined Medicine-Geriatrics integrated residency/fellowship program. In these roles, she mentors future geriatricians and works diligently to ensure the program is providing outstanding training in geriatrics.

    Dr. Sanders’ scholarly focus complements her clinical expertise. Highlights from her research include addressing the role decreased baroreceptor function has in precipitating falls, the use of testosterone and exercise to prevent future falls and fractures, and how the information gained from a frailty assessment may predict patient outcomes and prognosis. She is currently involved in an effort to disseminate Patients Priority Care, an educational framework that gives health care providers the tools to identify what matters most to patients. This work aligns nicely with the University of Utah Health's accreditation as an Age Friendly Health System. Dr. Sanders’ commitment to providing an exceptional patient experience and her clinical acumen enables her to effectively collaborate across departments within the University of Utah and the community at large to ensure ongoing improvement in the care of older adults.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Associate Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions Geriatrics
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Geriatric Medicine)

    Education history

    Undergraduate Biological Sciences - University of Nevada B.S.
    Professional Medical Osteopathic Medicine - Western University of Health Sciences D.O.
    Internship Internal Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine Intern
    Residency Internal Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Fellowship Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Division - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Davizon-Castillo, P., McMahon, B., Aguila, S., Bark, D., Ashworth, K., Allawzi, A., Campbell, R.A., Montenont, E., Nemkov, T., D'Alessandro, A., Clendenen, N., Shih, L., Sanders, N.A., Higa, K., Cox, A., Padilla-Romo, Z., Hernandez, G., Wartchow, E., Trahan, G.D., Nozik-Grayck, E., Jones, K., Pietras, E.M., DeGregori, J., Rondina, M.T., Di Paola, J. (2019). TNF-¿-driven inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction define the platelet hyperreactivity of aging. Blood, 134(9), 727-740. (Read full publication)
    2. Sanders N, Jetter T, Brignole M, Hamdan (2012). Standardized Care Pathway versus Conventional Approach in the Management of Patients Presenting with Faint at the University of Utah. Pacing and clinical electrophysiology, 2012,
    3. Sanders N, Ganguly J, Jetter T, Daccarrett M, Wasmund S, Brignole M, Hamdan (2012). Atrial Fibrillation: A risk factor for non-accidental falls. Pacing and clinical electrophysiology, 2012(35), 973-979.
    4. Sanders NA, Supiano MA, Lewis EF, Liu J, CLaggett B, Pfeffer MA, Desai AS, Sweitzer NK, Solomon SD, Fang J (2018). The frailty syndrome and outcomes in the TOPCAT trial; doi: 10.1002/ejhf.1308. European journal of heart failure,
    5. Lund E, Sanders NA, Brignole M, Hamdan M (2013). Cost Analysis of the Faint and Fall Clinic: A New Model in Health-care Delivery. The Journal of innovations in cardiac rhythm management, 4, 1258-1263.

    Case Report

    1. Sanders N, Jetter (2011). Syncope Masquerading as a Fall with Seizure Activity. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 111(9), 551.

    Abstract

    1. Ganguly J, Jetter T, Sanders N (2011). Atrial Fibrillation Independently Increases the Risk for Non-Accidental Falls in the Elderly. 8(5), Supplement.

    Other

    1. Sanders N (2011). Fainting and Falling: Are you at Risk?.
    2. Manley N, Schleifer W, Sanders (2016). Geriatrics Evaluation and Management Tools. Syncope Chapter.

    Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

    1. Sanders (2017). AGS CoCare: Ortho Co-management Curriculum, ¿Secondary Fracture Prevention,¿ American Geriatrics Society, New York, NY 2017 (peer reviewed contribution).
    2. Sanders N, Singpiel (2016). Listener Question: Can Over-the-Counter Medications Increase the Chances of Falls in Elders?.
    3. Sanders N, Singpiel (2016). Falling is Not a Just a Part of Getting Older, It Is a Health Crisis.

  • News & Podcasts

    Podcasts