Susan E. Cochella

Susan E. Cochella, MD, MPH, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, she delivers full-spectrum primary care to patients of all ages at the Sugar House Health Center and Madsen Health Center.

Education & Training

• MD – University of Nevada
• Residency in Family Medicine – University of Utah School of Medicine
• MPH – University of Utah School of Medicine
• Faculty Development Fellowship – University of Utah Hospital School of Medicine
• BS, Molecular Biology – University of Colorado, Boulder

Research & Professional Interests

Dr. Cochella’s scholarly efforts focus on three intertwined domains: medical education innovation, healthcare leadership development, and evidence-based improvements in primary-care delivery. She is particularly invested in designing curricula that emphasize patient-centered care, mental and emotional health integration, and health-workforce policy. Her work on opioid-prescribing safety bridges clinical practice and public-health policy, aiming to reduce overdose deaths through provider education and system-level interventions.

Scientific Contributions

Across more than a decade of peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Cochella has advanced national family-medicine clerkship standards, evaluated leadership assessment tools, and implemented pharmacist-led safety interventions for chronic opioid therapy. These studies collectively inform best practices in both graduate medical education and community-based care.

Clinical & Academic Service

Although specific grant portfolios and PhD advisees are not detailed in the text, Dr. Cochella’s role as a clinician-educator places her at the intersection of patient care, curriculum development, and health-system leadership training. She continues to mentor learners in family medicine while maintaining a busy clinical practice with limited availability for new patients.