Sonja N. Van Hala
( out of 53 reviews )

Sonja N. Van Hala, MD, MPH, DipABLM, FAAFP

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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  • Sonja Van Hala, MD, MPH, FAAFP is a board-certified family medicine physician and board-certified lifestyle medicine physician who welcomes patients of all ages to her practice. She sees patients through virtual visits (telemedicine) only. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1998 and her family medicine residency training at the University of Utah in 2001. She completed a faculty development fellowship with a focus on teaching at the University of Utah in 2003 and earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Utah. Her professional interests include full spectrum family care for patients of all ages, in particular women's health, lifestyle medicine, and mental health. Her research interests are leadership skills, provider wellness, and quality improvement education in medical education. In her leisure time, Dr. Van Hala enjoys live music, whole food plant-based cooking, yoga, trail-running with her dog, skiing, gardening and hanging out with her husband and two children.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Family Medicine
    American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

    Patient Rating

    4.6 /5
    ( out of 53 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.

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Van Hala was listened to my concerns. She answered my questions and was kind and helpful.

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Van Hala is the most amazing, kind, compassionate and brilliant doctor I have ever worked with. I appreciate her care for my health through the years more than words can explain and I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone, in person or online. She is the best!

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    dexa scan not addressed. fatigue not discussed. I did except the flu shot

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Van Hala is a caring doctor. She takes time to understand the issue, and provide personalized care. I appreciate the way she cares for patients.

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Very kind and a great listener. Explains things in a clear and concise way!

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    She is a great primary care doctor who tries very hard to get to know you as a whole person, not just your symptoms or problems. She has always worked with me to solve issues and explore solutions.

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Very gracious, polite, knowledgable

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    Please feel free to use the comment I made in the beginning of the survey.

    SUGAR HOUSE HEALTH CENTER

    It is always good to leave an appointment with great guidance & kindness.

  • Sonja Van Hala, MD, MPH, FAAFP is a board-certified family medicine physician and board-certified lifestyle medicine physician who welcomes patients of all ages to her practice. She sees patients through virtual visits (telemedicine) only. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1998 and her family medicine residency training at the University of Utah in 2001. She completed a faculty development fellowship with a focus on teaching at the University of Utah in 2003 and earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Utah. Her professional interests include full spectrum family care for patients of all ages, in particular women's health, lifestyle medicine, and mental health. Her research interests are leadership skills, provider wellness, and quality improvement education in medical education. In her leisure time, Dr. Van Hala enjoys live music, whole food plant-based cooking, yoga, trail-running with her dog, skiing, gardening and hanging out with her husband and two children.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Family & Preventive Medicine -Professor (Clinical)
    Board Certification
    American Board of Family Medicine
    American Board of Lifestyle Medicine

    Education history

    Undergraduate Biology - University of Michigan B.S.
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of Michigan Medical School M.D.
    Research Fellow Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research Fellow
    Internship Family Medicine - University of Utah, Family & Preventive Medicine Intern
    Residency Family Medicine - University of Utah, Family & Preventive Medicine Resident
    Chief Resident Family Medicine - University of Utah, Family & Preventive Medicine Chief Resident
    Graduate Training Public Health - University of Utah M.P.H.
    Fellowship Curriculum Development - University of Utah, Family & Preventive Medicine Academic Fellow
    Fellowship National Institute for Program Director Development (NIPPD) Fellowship Fellow
    Fellowship David Eccles School of Business, Health Science Leadership Development Program 2016 Mini-Fellowship

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Joy EA, Van Hala S, Cooper L (2009). Health-related concerns of the female athlete: a lifespan approach. Am Fam Physician, 79(6), 489-95. (Read full publication)
    2. Bahng SC, Van Hala S, Nelson VS, Hurvitz EA, Roloff DW, Grady LA, Lewis CC (1998). Parental report of pediatric tracheostomy care. Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 79(11), 1367-9.
    3. Saffel-Shrier S, Gunning K, Van Hala S, Farrell T, Lehmann W, Egger M, Miniclier N (2012). Residency redesign to accommodate trends in geriatrics: an RC-FM variance to establish a patient-centered medical home in an assisted living facility. Fam Med, 44(2), 128-31. (Read full publication)
    4. Van Hala S, Cochella S, Jaggi R, Frost C, Kiraly B, Pohl S, Gren L (2018). Development and Validation of the Foundational Healthcare Leadership Self-assessment. Fam Med, 50(4), 262-8.
    5. Pohl SD, Van Hala S, Ose D, Tingey B, Leiser JP. (2020). A Longitudinal Curriculum for Quality Improvement, Leadership Experience, and Scholarship in a Family Medicine Residency Program. Fam Med, 52(8), 570-575.
    6. Jones KB, Fortenberry K, Sanyer O, Knighton R, Van Hala S (2018). Creation of a Family Medicine Residency Blog. Int J Psychiatry Med, 53(5-6), 427-435.
    7. Van Hala S, Nelson VS, Hurvitz EA, Panzi A, Bloom DA, Ward MJ (1997). Bladder management in patients with pediatric onset neurogenic bladders. J Spinal Cord Med, 20(4), 410-5. (Read full publication)
    8. Hobson WL, Avant-Mier R, Cochella S, Van Hala S, Stanford J, Alder SC, Croskell SE (2005). Caring for the Underserved: Using Patient and Physician Focus Groups to Inform Curriculum Development. Ambul Pediatr, 5(2), 90-5.
    9. Joy EA, Van Hala S (2004). Musculoskeletal curricula in medical education: filling in the missing pieces. Phys Sportsmed, 32(11), 42-8. (Read full publication)
    10. Joy EA, Van Hala S, Marshall (2004). Pregnancy as an opportunity for behavior change. Current sports medicine reports, 3(6), 327-9. (Read full publication)
    11. Locke AB, Fortenberry KT, Sullivan E, Ose D, Tingey B, Qeadan F, Henson A, Van Hala (2020). Use of a Feedback Survey as a Part of a Wellness Champions Program to Improve Academic Faculty Satisfaction and Burnout: Implications for Burnout in Academic Health Centers.. Global advances in health and medicine,
    12. Fortenberry KT, Van Hala S, Frost C (2017). Establishing a Culture of Intentional Wellness: Lessons From a Family Medicine Resident Focus Group. DOI:10.22454/PRiMER.2017.597444. 1(12),
    13. Badarane D, Knox J, Camacho A, Magill MK, Van Hala S, Jones J (2019). Increasing Chlamydia Testing Rates via Targeted Outreach. PRiMER. 2019 Jan 1;3:17. PRiMER Peer-Reviewed Reports in Medical Education Research, 3(17),
    14. Knox J, Fortenberry KT, Qeadan F, Tingey B, Holman A, Stoesser K, Van Hala (2021). Implementing an Anonymous Closed-Loop Feedback Process and Associations With ACGME Annual Survey Scores in a Family Medicine Residency. Family medicine, 53(10), 878-881. (Read full publication)
    15. Fortenberry KT, Cochella S, Stoesser K, Ose D, Taylor E, Frame K, Van Hala S (2022). Teaching Self-directed Learning Skills Through a Resident-Led Milestones Process. PRiMER, 6(40),
    16. Van Hala S, Taylor E, Cochella S (2024). Leadership Development in Graduate Medical Education: A Pilot Study of Implementation of a Validated Self-assessment Instrument. Family Medicine, 56(6), 387-392.

    Commentary

    1. Van Hala S, Fortenberry K (2024). Primary Care Adult ADHD Evaluations. Commentary to “Adult ADHD Diagnosis in a Family Medicine Clinic”. Published online. Annals of family medicine,

    Letter

    1. Fortenberry K, Knox J, Van Hala S (2018). What do Residents Want for Burnout Prevention? ¿ Time [Letter to the editor]. Acad Med, 93(3), 343-344.
    2. Van Hala S, Cochella S, Frost C, Gren L (2018). Collaborative Skills Essential to Leadership [Letter to the editor]. Fam Med, 50(9), 712-3.
    3. Van Hala S (2007). Maximizing workflow with an EHR. [Letter to the editor]. Fam Pract Manag, 14(6), 13. (Read full publication)
    4. Jones KB, Sanyer O, Fortenberry K, Van Hala (2017). Resident Education Through Blogging and Other Social Media Platforms. Journal of graduate medical education, 9(2), 256-256.

    Other

    1. Van Hala S (2010). The Autopsy (poem). Fam Med (6(42), p. 397).
    2. Van Hala S, Rowell (1996). Partner Violence: How You Can Recognize and Intervene in Partner Abuse, A Guide for Health Care Providers (Handbook).
    3. Van Hala (2021). I Am Sorry, Honey. Voices From the Faculty: A Collection of Stories From University of Utah School of Medicine Faculty, 2, 23.
    4. Van Hala (2023). The Snowstorm. Published online. As of 6/6/23: 7,025 views. JAMA,
    5. Van Hala (2023). The Snowstorm. JAMA, 329(20), 1742.
    6. Van Hala (2024). A Harrowing Elixir. 3, 9.
    7. Van Hala (2025). Delayed Diagnosis. 5,

    Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

    1. Van Hala (2015). Transparency in Wellness.
    2. Kiraly B, Van Hala (2014). Practice Management Curriculum: An Evolving Design.
    3. Van Hala S, Leiser J, Kiraly B, Backman R, Jones (2013). Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in a Family Medicine Residency Program: Leveraging Three Missions.
    4. Leiser J, Van Hala S, Backman R, Kiraly (2011). Order From Chaos: Improving Quality of Care in a Resident/Faculty Practice Through Integrated Team Meetings.
    5. Van Hala S, Leiser J, Backman (2008). Tools to Implement and Teach the "Care Team Model" in a Family.
    6. Van Hala (2015). You Don't Have to Feel Overwhelmed with Your First Newborn.
    7. Van Hala (2014). Tenets for Internship and Beyond.
    8. Van Hala (2016). Who is YOUR Doctor?.
    9. Van Hala (2017). Vulnerability in Leadership.
    10. Pohl S, Van Hala S, Ransco M, Leiser J (2018). How the University of Utah Prepares Family Medicine Residents to Lead Value Improvement Efforts [Web]. Available: https://catalyst.nejm.org/residents-lead-value-improvement-efforts/.
    11. Fortenberry K, Knox J, Van Hala (2018). What Do Residents Want For Burnout Prevention? Time.
    12. Van Hala (2018). Tending to Transition.
    13. Van Hala (2019). Rose, Thorn, Bud.
    14. Stoesser K, Van Hala S (2019). VBAC (Vaginal birth after cesarean section).

  • News & Podcasts

    News

    Podcasts

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