Award-winning resident returning to her roots for sports medicine fellowship
April 23, 2026, David Mitchell — Sonal Singh, MD, started her path to family medicine as an undergraduate at UCLA. This summer, she’ll return as a sports medicine fellow.
“Fellowship will be an exciting opportunity to build my skills in a specific field of family medicine and to continue practicing all the skills that I’ve learned so far,” said Singh, who will complete her training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Family and Community Medicine Residency in June. “It is a dream come true to go back to the community where I fell in love with family medicine.”
From athletic trainer to family physician
Singh was a student athletic trainer for UCLA athletics as an undergraduate before graduating in 2012 with a degree in political science and minors in theater and neuroscience. She worked as an assistant athletic trainer for a high school before returning to UCLA as a clinical research coordinator at the David Geffen School of Medicine.
“I wanted to be an athletic trainer so I could work hands-on with student athletes,” she said. “But I also loved doing research. I was following my passions and gaining different experiences. I also worked in local government for the city I grew up in on the outskirts of L.A. County. I thought, ‘What’s the one profession where I can blend these interests: health care, research and advocacy? I realized, that’s family medicine.”
As a student at St. George’s University School of Medicine, Singh had family medicine rotations in California, Florida, New York and Wisconsin. The locations were disparate, but the mentors were not.
“There was a common theme,” she said. “I saw that family physicians were respected figures within their communities who provided access to accurate information and prioritized excellent care for their patients. They were true leaders. That really stuck with me. Something so unique to family physicians is we do so much more for our patients and communities beyond the care we provide in the clinic. Being able to wear all those hats was appealing to me.”
Leadership and advocacy in residency
Singh has held numerous leadership positions in family medicine and sports medicine, including serving as a resident director on the Ohio AFP’s Board of Directors since 2024.
“I always knew I wanted to be in medicine, even though my path has been non-linear,” she said. “I've always been interested in the intersection of health care policy and advocacy. UCLA has an excellent political science department, and I thought, ‘This experience will equip me with the education and training needed to grow my advocacy work and build a strong foundation for the future.’ That was a conscious decision, and having that knowledge has allowed me to really step into a lot of advocacy spaces. One of the most rewarding things I've done in residency is being part of the OAFP.”
Be recognized for excellence in residency
Each year, the AAFP recognizes a dozen outstanding second-year family medicine residents for their leadership, academic performance, patient care and community involvement. Applications for the Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education close May 27.
Winners receive a $2,500 scholarship as well as accommodations, airfare and registration for the Family Medicine Experience, Oct. 20–24 in Nashville.
Singh also is the family medicine representative on the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine’s Sports Medicine Resident Council. She is also a co-chair of The Ohio State University’s GME Resident Advisory Council.
Singh was one of a dozen residents recognized with the AAFP’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education last fall during the Family Medicine Experience in Anaheim, California.
“It was the coolest feeling in the world,” she said. “To be recognized for the work, that not just myself but all of us residents do, and to get the support to be able to go to the meeting was incredible. It was amazing to experience the joy for family medicine that exists, especially during these challenging times, to be among like-minded individuals and feel that fire. It’s invigorating to go and learn from our experts, and there were so many things that I have taken back with me and used in my clinic. Being able to meet the other award winners and hear about their inspiring journeys through residency and how their experiences differ in different parts of the country was insightful. The networking was one of the best things, not just with residents but with family physicians at all stages of their career.”
Expanding impact through policy and research
Singh is eager to take on more leadership roles in the future and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration degree. She said physicians don’t receive enough training related to the financial aspects of health care, and the experience has helped her better understand how health care organizations work.
“I’ve been frustrated in clinic thinking, ‘Why aren’t certain treatments easier to access? Why are we not able to do what is best for our patients?’” she said. “The MBA courses have given me a different perspective and a chance to take a step back and analyze the various factors at play. So, I think, ‘How can I mitigate those decisions? How can I be present in the spaces where these critical conversations take place?’ My goal is to serve in roles that enable me to make decisions that positively impact physicians, patients and our communities.”
Singh aspires to work in academic medicine and continue to be involved in clinical research.
“Medical decision-making is largely evidence based,” she said. “Someone took the time to do the research that gives me the best practices for my patients. If I'm not doing the same for the future of my field, then we're going to be stagnant. I love research because you get to ask the hard questions and go out into your community and really understand—if something’s not working—how can we do things in a better way. It comes back to providing the safest, best and most up-to-date care for our patients. Research for me is at the core of patient care, and I want to stay curious.”
Soon, she’ll be back in Los Angeles pursuing her passion for sports medicine.
“We get UCLA athletics teams assigned to us, and as fellows we are also the team physician for a local high school,” she said. “We get full-spectrum team coverage, so I’ll get to work with the Lakers, the Sparks, the Chargers, Red Bull and the Dodgers. It is an unparalleled training environment with a multitude of diverse opportunities. I am beyond thrilled to train at UCLA.”