Sonya Ahmed, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon: Women’s health champion
By Magi Thomley Williams / Photo by Kate Treick Photography
Sonya Ahmed, M.D., has been an athlete all her life, beginning gymnastics at the age of 5.
“My largest reason for my career choice is that I was an athlete,” she said, “and it was so hard to find a female in orthopedics then. And it honestly still is! I loved the musculoskeletal system and being an athlete with all my injuries, I thought orthopedics was best for me.”
The career path has taken her on a rewarding journey.
“I have been a provider for the US Olympic team. I was the chief medical officer for the Lillehammer Youth Olympics,” she said.
Ahmed is a certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society. She sees patients at North Florida Bone and Joint Specialists, and she is a physician provider to the Andrews Institute.
Orthopedists have primarily two jobs: They treat fractures and joint problems; ultimately, the goal is prevention of injuries. For injury prevention and bone mineral density, building muscle mass helps. It also burns more calories, making the body more efficient when doing nothing at all or doing another activity.
“And that’s probably the one thing that I would say for female readers — try to be more active and be more cognizant of the idea of prevention,” Ahmed said.
“If you want to talk about the best thing right now for bone density, prevention of fracture, prevention of injury — I cannot stress it enough — is strength training. Strength training can be an endorphin release, a stress reliever. It is statistically proven to help build bone mineral density, prevent future fractures,” she said.
She tells women to get over the idea that weightlifting is manly and will make women look too manly.
In general, women are more susceptible to injury due to post-menopausal hormonal imbalances, which lead to bone mineral density issues. Often women are already a little bit uncomfortable participating in some sports.
Her advice: “Get out of your comfort zone. Go challenge yourself. Do it in an intellectual, strategic way, and you’ll prevent injury, you’ll build bone density, and you will probably have better mental health too.”
Ahmed sees there are challenges for others like her who want to become orthopedic surgeons.
“I think medicine has become extremely difficult for everyone and especially women. Especially in ortho.”
Reports show that only 4% to 9% of orthopedists are female. The specialty tends to be a man’s club where most patients (mostly males) learn of the specialty because of sports injuries. Surgeries like joint replacement can require more physicality than finesse, which can be off-putting to some females.
Ahmed’s brother (also a physician) has dubbed her the “carpenter of the family” because of the physical demands of her work. She describes herself a bit differently.
“I am a Southern girl at heart, but I am full-blooded Egyptian. I currently love to teach and previously had academic jobs for teaching. I travel giving lectures about foot and ankle, different products, etc.”
Ahmed is also a champion for women’s health and female medical professionals.
