Meet Dr. Harika Pal
Board-Certified Family Physician | Integrative & Functional Medicine
Dr. Harika Pal is the founder of Sona Via Health and a board-certified family physician with advanced training in integrative and functional medicine. Drawing on extensive clinical experience, deep knowledge of physiology, and relentless curiosity, she’s known for listening closely and looking beyond isolated symptoms to uncover what truly drives them—helping her patients create targeted plans that lead to measurable, lasting improvement.
Dr. Pal brings more than 15 years of experience as a family physician, having practiced across diverse clinical settings. Over time, she recognized the limitations of a model that rushed appointments and relied too heavily on prescriptions as the primary solution.
She founded Sona Via Health to offer something different: a space where patients feel known, visits allow for real conversation, and care plans focus on prevention through evidence-based, personalized medicine.
Dr. Pal specializes in hormone and metabolic health, gut and cardiometabolic conditions, inflammatory disorders, and chronic disease prevention. Patients describe her as calm, attentive, and endlessly curious—a physician who listens carefully and connects the dots with precision.
“Prevention has always been central to my work, and that comes from my own family experience. I grew up watching loved ones face chronic health conditions like diabetes, early heart disease, and a kidney transplant—conditions that might have been prevented or delayed with earlier intervention, better health literacy, and more consistent guidance. That is why I focus so strongly on prevention in my practice today.”
Credentials & Advanced Training
Dr. Harika Pal brings a deep foundation in conventional medicine, enriched by advanced training in integrative and functional approaches.
Medical School
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Residency
Family Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center (NYC)
Integrative Medicine
University of Arizona Integrative Medicine in Residency Program
Functional Medicine
Certified Practitioner, Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)
Professional Experience
Medical Director, Institute for Family Health — overseeing multiple sites across New York City, improving care systems, leading teams of clinicians and training medical students/residents.
Family Physician, Montefiore Medical Center — providing comprehensive care for diverse and often underserved communities.
Functional Medicine Physician, Parsley Health — focusing on root-cause, whole-person care.
Co-founder & Former Board Chair, PurpLE Health Foundation — a nonprofit that provides trauma-informed medical and mental health care to survivors of gender-based violence.
Dr. Pal has also been published in medical periodicals such as American Family Physician and led educational seminars for corporate wellness programs, particularly in the areas of diabetes care and prevention.
Beyond
Sona Via Health
Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring New York City’s neighborhoods, discovering new theater and art, reading fiction, rewatching favorite rom-coms, and tending to my (many) houseplants. Travel and time outdoors—especially hiking—are important to me, and I love conversations about how to make health and wellness feel less intimidating and more like real life.
A Different Kind of Care
I have seen firsthand how primary care is often reduced to 10-minute slots where patients repeat their story to a new provider each visit and leave with no long-term plan. Sona Via Health aims to be different.
Every appointment is with me, not a rotating physician or a team of strangers. My role is to help you understand your health risks, prevent problems as early as possible, and feel supported in creating a realistic path towards a healthier life.
This is made possible through the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model, a simple membership structure that removes insurance barriers so I can keep the practice small and focus entirely on your care.
