Committed to Women’s Health: Dr. Soma Mandal

Becoming the medical director of Women’s Health at Jersey Shore University Medical Center was an opportunity for Soma Mandal, M.D., to combine evidence-based medicine, shared decision-making and careful listening to help women achieve meaningful, sustainable health goals.

Since joining Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in January, she has focused on building a practice that offers primary care and women’s health services in one setting.

“For example, a patient just called looking for a primary care doctor who is knowledgeable about perimenopause and menopause,” Dr. Mandal says. “She was able to address all of the patient’s questions herself, in one setting.

This is a natural next step for Dr. Mandal, who has spent her career blending her primary care and women’s health expertise with a holistic view of the patient and their stage of life.

“I talk to my patients about hormonal concerns and how to keep their hearts and brains healthy, especially during perimenopause and menopause,” she says. “My goal is to make sure my patients don’t feel lost or fall through the cracks.”

Dr. Mandal was born in Queens and grew up on Long Island. She returned to New York City for college, attending New York University undergraduate and medical school. Then, she completed a prestigious research fellowship at Oxford University in England.

Helping others was something Dr. Mandal felt drawn to, even as a child.

“Being a doctor appealed to me because it involves helping people and figuring things out,” she says.

Truly listening to patients and meeting them where they are is one of Dr. Mandal’s philosophies.

“Listening first and gathering as much data as possible are critical,” she says. “At the same time, my goal is always to partner with patients and figure out what works for them — and what doesn’t.”

Dr. Mandal advises patients to focus on balance and consistency in their lives rather than perfection. She encourages them to take time to meditate, take a walk and “do things that feel like you’re feeding your soul.”

“When it comes to women, myself included, the number one thing is to put yourself first,” she says. “I always advise my patients to make doctor’s appointments for themselves, too, not just everyone else in the family.”

In addition to maintaining her busy practice, Dr. Mandal, a married mother of two teenagers, is the author of two books, Dear Menopause, I Do Fear You! and Middle Masiac, and is the host of Soma Says, a podcast exploring everything from food guilt to urinary incontinence.

“I encourage my patients to prioritize prevention, listen to their bodies and remain active participants in their care decisions.”

My Preventive Health Hack

“I’m committed to packing healthy foods for lunch, eating out less, cooking healthy proteins and cooking with the right types of oils. I want to instill this in my family so that as my kids get older, they’ll understand how important it is to eat well.”

Next Steps & Resources

• Meet our source: Soma Mandal, M.D.
• Make an appointment online with Dr. Mandal or a physician near you, or call 800-822-8905
• Learn more about primary care services at Hackensack Meridian Health.