About Me
I am a board-certified internal medicine attending physician offering preventive care, chronic and acute medical disease management, and health and lifestyle education. I currently care for long-COVID patients at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Post-COVID Recovery Program. I also specialize in gender-affirming and LGBTQIA+ care.
When patients come to see me, they can expect a comprehensive approach, tailored to their individual health goals, that fits into their spiritual, cultural and linguistic values. I believe in establishing and nurturing long-term relationships with my patients and working with them as a partner toward their health and wellness goals. I also coordinate care with other health care teams to ensure appropriate access to specialty care, hospital care and diagnostic tests for my patients.
My research interests are focused on minority health, health disparities, social determinants of health and COVID-19 clinical trials. I received the Center for Health Outcomes in Medicine Scholarship and Service (HOMES) microgrant to study COVID-19 outcome disparities in hospitalized patients at Ohio State. I also serve as a co-investigator in ongoing clinical trials related to treatment outcomes in post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with neurocognitive impairment and the benefits of lipid-lowering in older adults.
I am passionate about my career because it allows me to connect and care for my community alongside a dream team here at The Ohio State University. In addition to offering equitable health care services for all patients, Ohio State actively enforces an environment of diversity and inclusion within its workforce and creates an environment of growth. It’s a privilege to be a member of this institution.
In addition to my clinical work, I am the director of the Language Concordant Care Program, which coordinates care for patients with limited English proficiency. We offer patients an option to match with a physician who speaks the patient’s native or preferred language. Through this program, we aim to enhance patient safety, improve patient-physician communication, and encourage patients to share in decision-making by removing communication barriers. I also serve on the Department of Internal Medicine’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.
My role includes engaging with medical students. I participate in the longitudinal practice preceptorship program as well as serve as a mentor in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion pilot program. I also serve as part one director of Community Health Education and as a part of the Ohio State College of Medicine’s Lead.Serve.Inspire. (LSI) curriculum. This role allows me to work with medical students and community partners to identify a specific population’s needs and to develop, implement and evaluate a community health education project for that population.
I am also passionate about working with refugee populations, specifically with the large Bhutanese-Nepali population living in central Ohio. I am working to understand the health-related challenges for this population with the hope of reducing those barriers. I serve on the advisory board and as chair of Health and Wellness of Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO), which is a refugee-led, nonprofit organization. I also volunteer and precept at the student-run Columbus Free Clinic and engage in other volunteer community activities.
When I’m not working, I enjoy relaxing with family and friends. I like traveling, writing and baking.
Additional Languages I Speak
Procedures and Conditions I Treat
- Primary Care
- Internal Medicine
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Services for Transgender Persons
Locations Where I Practice
543 Taylor Ave.
Columbus, OH 43203
614-688-6400
6100 North Hamilton Road
Westerville, OH 43081
614-814-8100
in Outpatient Care New Albany
6100 North Hamilton Road
4th Floor, Suite 4C
Westerville, OH 43081
614-814-8490
Please note: Not all physicians schedule patients at each listed location.
Education and Training
Education History
Medical School
Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu,
1/1/2000 - 1/1/2007
Internship
Tribhuvan University-Institute Of Medicine, Kathmandu,
2/1/2006 - 3/1/2007
Residency
Louisiana State University Medical Center-Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
7/1/2009 - 6/30/2012
Academic Information
My Department
Internal Medicine
My Division
General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics
Reviews
The overall patient satisfaction rating is an average of all patient responses to the six doctor communication related questions shown below from the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. For additional information about the patient satisfaction survey, please visit our Patient Satisfaction Survey page.
The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their view and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
100 Patient Satisfaction Reviews
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Overall
4.8 out of 5
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Explains Things Carefully
4.9 out of 5
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Listens Carefully
4.8 out of 5
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Gives Understandable Instructions
4.8 out of 5
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Knows My Medical History
4.5 out of 5
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Shows Respect
4.8 out of 5
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Time Spent Together
4.9 out of 5
Consulting and Related Relationships
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the University requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their University responsibilities.
As of 09/29/2023, Dr. Saigal has reported relationships with the companies or entities listed below. If you have questions about the relationships listed below, please ask the faculty member. If you have questions about how these relationships are monitored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, please contact our Compliance Office.
- Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio
Wonderful.
My provider was extremely helpful in answering my questions, also discussed others ways to lower my BP besides using medications.
Very good.
She listen to my questions and answered directly.
Excellent doctor - thorough & reassuring.
Dr. Saigal is very detailed and a caring physician. I highly recommend her. My daughter is who recommended her to me.
Excellent - my second time seeing this doctor and glad I choose her for my new primary care physician.
Its hard to find a good provider. I enjoy a provider that has a personality but is also thorough. Just by the first visit, I can tell she has a personality and also scheduled test, and talked to me about my concerns. She even keeps up with my chart and messages me about my test results with helpful information on how I can fix health issues but also keeping up by wanting to redo test just to be safe. She also, said that she looked at my medical record the day prior which was nice and that she actually remembered things regarding my history. She was sweet and compassionate and actually cared. She even related to situations. It was nice to have an actual human interaction and not feeling like im speaking to a robot about medical issues/concerns. She is by far, so far... The best.
Dr Saigal is the absolute best doctor!!
Good
Dr. Saigal is the best provider I have ever had. She is patient, kind, highly knowledgeable and professional. I feel at ease in her care and know that I can trust her.
Very conscientious and a willingness to find answers to my concerns, including ordering blood test, responding In MyChart, and referrals to specialists.
Thorough questions and attentive listening, easy to relate to, very familiar with history, helpful recommendations.
First visit with her. Took time to collect my information. Very happy to have her as my provider
Dr. Saigal is fantastic. She listens to your concerns and is attentive. Responds to Mychart messages promptly.
Great listener. I feel very good about the visit and the information I was given. The doctor was either much more knowledgeable than my prior GP or she just invested the time to share her knowledge!
Very concerned.
Does not "seem" to comprehend my physical condition. Does well with follow up tests. I.E., neck, spine, knee problems. Some is my fault in not being able to do suggested exams. Overall, I give Dr. Saigal a grade of B. I have had better doctors. I am 66 years of age.
Dr. Saigal is very kind, compassionate and thorough. She listened to everything I had to say and didn't rush any parts of our conversation. I truly felt heard and cared for.
First time seeing and glad she's my new provider as well as my wife is soon to be another patient of hers.
She listens, asks good questions and provides clear directions.
All good except I still have all the same issues as I had before.
Dr. Saigal listens! She hears what I am saying and does not dismiss my concerns.
I have never felt so comfortable or listened to by a provider. I felt respected and safe.
She listens and that is important to me. Listening to you and making suggestions and sitting concern for the problem.
Good - She listened to concerns and was thoughtful and caring in responds to questions
None, good job.
One of the most careful and caring doctors I have met
The doctor was a good listener and she asked good questions
I was just not satisfied with this provider and will be seeking another provider.
Thorough, knowledgeable, high confidence in her skills.
Great experience, very understanding
Caring, professional, excellent listener, thorough,
Excellent in detail!
Thoroughly talked through all of the issues that I came with.
Dr. Saigal has always been excellent with me. She always takes her time and has given me the best of care.
She listened, asked important questions, showed concern and care, and had excellent follow-up.
Good experience.
She listens and hears me! It is really nice to be heard.
She is professional and easy to talk to
My doctor was very attentive and addressed all areas.
She listened carefully and was thoughtful about solving the problem.
Very attentive with all my concerns.
Good
Caring, attentive listener, very thorough, felt very well-cared-for during the visit and guided me towards a solid after-care plan & next steps.
The doctor provided excellent care & shown concern for my well being.
Dr. Saigal is one of the best doctors I've had attend to me. I felt like for the first time my mental health concerns were taken seriously & I was provided with great next steps & medications to help me get better.
She was very good -- she listened and she looked for concerns in my health when I didn't think I had any -- she discovered I was very sick with anemia and I didn't know that -- she had done her history of looking at my past blood test results, saw I was anemic and ordered more tests. These new tests showed I was extremely low in hemoglobin at at 5.8 where I had been at a 10 previously and I had no idea I was sick. She ordered a blood transfusion that day and called me right away. I was treated right away at the MEDEX facility. The group there seemed to know her.
I had a very good experience with my provider
Friendly doctor. I was seeking a new doctor because of my move to Ohio. This doctor fit all my criteria.
My PCP was very attentive, reassuring, honest, knowledgeable & though.
Dr. Taru made an in-depth inquiry of my previous health issues and verified my accounts with previous records.
Dr. Saigal actually listened to what I was saying. She was willing to address my concerns and symptoms