Natalie A. Sanders

Natalie A. Sanders is an Associate Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Utah, specializing in faint, fall, and frailty syndromes with expertise in delirium prevention. She serves as Program Director for the ACGME-approved Geriatric Fellowship and will assume Medical Directorship of the University of Utah Madsen Geriatrics Clinic in July 2023, while maintaining clinical practice at the University of Utah Geriatrics Clinic and leadership in the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP).

Her educational journey includes:

• B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Nevada
• D.O. from Western University of Health Sciences
• Internal Medicine Internship, Residency, and Geriatrics Fellowship at University of Utah School of Medicine (serving as Chief Medical Resident)

Dr. Sanders' research centers on geriatric syndromes, investigating baroreceptor function in fall pathogenesis, testosterone-exercise interventions for fracture prevention, and prognostic value of frailty assessments. She actively disseminates the Patients Priority Care framework to align clinical practice with patient-centered goals, supporting the University of Utah's Age Friendly Health System accreditation through evidence-based approaches to elder care.

Her publication record (2011-2019) demonstrates consistent focus on fall prevention, frailty assessment, and cardiovascular-geriatric interfaces, with significant contributions to clinic model innovation, cost analysis of specialized geriatric services, and educational frameworks for interdisciplinary care. These works collectively advance the understanding of multifactorial geriatric syndromes through rigorous clinical investigation and practical implementation science.

Her professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)

Dr. Sanders mentors medical students, residents, and geriatric fellows while co-leading the Medicine-Geriatrics integrated residency/fellowship program. Her leadership extends to the pioneering University of Utah Faint and Fall Clinic (where she expanded frailty assessments as Medical Director) and the HELP program, both critical to the institution's national recognition in age-friendly care. Current initiatives focus on scaling Patients Priority Care implementation and refining fall prevention protocols through multidisciplinary collaboration across clinical and academic units.

She directs clinical operations for geriatric services at the Madsen Health Center while contributing to national geriatric education through American Geriatrics Society curricula, maintaining active roles in both clinical innovation and training the next generation of geriatric specialists.