Meet Dr. Sowmya Boddhula: Endocrinologist and Lifestyle Medicine Specialist at UT Health Austin
Reviewed by: Sowmya Boddhula, MD
Written by: Lily Vining
For Sowmya Boddhula, MD, medicine is about connection. Whether she’s helping a patient manage diabetes or teaching medical students the art of compassionate care, she approaches each encounter with the same goal: helping people live healthier, fuller lives.
“I always tell my patients that better health comes from addressing every part of their lives,” she says. “Medication is important, but so are things like movement, nutrition, and sleep. Those are the pieces that make lasting change possible.”
Dr. Boddhula is part of UT Health Austin’s new Endocrinology Clinic, where she’s helping patients manage a range of conditions, including diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, osteoporosis, and adrenal disorders. With board certifications in both endocrinology and lifestyle medicine, she takes a holistic approach — one that focuses on both medical treatment and the lifestyle factors that shape overall well-being.
Expanding Access to Endocrine Care
Dr. Boddhula’s path to endocrinology began during her early career in primary care. She quickly noticed that many of her patients were struggling with endocrine-related conditions — and that access to specialists was limited.
“I would see patients waiting four to six months to see an endocrinologist,” she recalls. “By the time they were able to get help, their condition had often worsened. That need really inspired me to specialize so I could help patients sooner.”
That focus on access is what excites her most about her work at UT Health Austin.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to help open a clinic that brings much-needed endocrinology care to our community,” she says. “That means we have the chance to offer care in a way that’s thoughtful, timely and centered on each patient’s needs.”
Teaching the Next Generation of Physicians
As an assistant professor in Dell Medical School’s Department of Endocrinology, Dr. Boddhula is as passionate about education as she is about clinical care. She sees her teaching as an extension of her mission to improve health outcomes — both for her own patients and for the communities her students will one day serve.
“Working with medical students and residents keeps me learning, too,” she says. “We go through real patient cases together and talk about not just what’s happening medically, but how to approach patients with empathy and understanding. That’s what truly makes a difference.”
Her academic work also reflects this focus on improvement and innovation. Dr. Boddhula’s research centers on quality improvement in endocrine care, and she recently published a case series examining patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and COVID-19, helping other clinicians understand how the pandemic impacted those with complex metabolic conditions. Her efforts bridge the gap between hands-on patient care and the ongoing advancement of endocrinology education and practice.
Through her compassionate care, focus on lifestyle-driven wellness, and dedication to teaching, Dr. Sowmya Boddhula is bringing a refreshing, whole-person approach to endocrinology at UT Health Austin — one that helps patients and future physicians alike thrive for the long term.
For more information about the Endocrinology Clinic at UT Health Austin or to schedule an appointment, call 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737) or visit here.