Anoma (Zehra) Ahmed (’04) joined New York Tech as a principal faculty member in 2007 in the Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies. She was the academic coordinator of the program in 2013-2015 and took on the position of chair in 2016. From 2007 to 2013, she was the Coordinator of Student Activities & Community Health Initiatives and still works with students on numerous outreach activities.
Ahmed brings her diverse ethnic background and experiences of living and working in South and East Asia to her position as the Assistant Director of Cultural Competency/Community Education. In addition to this role, she has been the site coordinator for El Salvador in the Center for Global Health since 2008. Her interest in global health is apparent in her scholarly work and service. She was a board member and continuing medical education (CME) chair of the Physician Assistants for Global Health from 2014-2016. She was a member of the International Clinical Rotations Subcommittee of the Physician Assistant Education Association from 2013-2017. She was the vice president (2011-2013) of Community Health Initiatives and Partnerships Global, an NGO that worked in El Salvador.
A few of the numerous committees she serves on, both in the School of Health Professions and the university, are: co-chair of the Dean’s Speaker Series (2011-2019), the Inter Professional Education Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee on Institution-Level Educational Goals, and the Curriculum Committee. She also served as a member of the steering committee for the Institute of Clinical Competence renovation project (March 2017- May 2018). Since April 2017, she has served on the steering committee of the Medical Academic Program for the 21st Century (‘MAP-21”) of NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Her teaching, research, and service interests are in women’s health, global health, and cultural competence. She is a strong advocate of integrating technology into all facets of the program and mentors faculty in this endeavor.
Ahmed received an M.S. degree in instructional technology/professional trainer in December 2018. She also received her master’s in PA Studies from New York Institute of Technology. She has worked clinically in emergency medicine, nuclear medicine, and hematology/oncology. Her medical education began in Sri Lanka, where she earned her medical degree (MBBS ‘91). As a physician, she worked in women’s health, pediatrics, critical care, and family medicine. The diverse subjects she teaches in the PA program reflect this wide experience.
Recent Projects/Research
- Co-PI on “Communities on the Move: Partnering for Wellness and Empowerment”. New York Tech ISRC Grant for $8,901, May 2017.
- Webinar Presentation
ReelDx Education presents a Real Patient Video Case Review.
Title: Toddler with fever and seizures presents unresponsive in a developing world setting. Panelists: Zehra Ahmed PA-C, MBBS; William Blazey, DO; David Spiro, M.D. Presented on 1/23/2017.
reeldx.app.box.com/s/mm7fijf5b6umm6lcy2kt54l6whvjt9ak - An Interprofessional Experience in Peredo, Haiti. Patricia M. Chute, Ed.D, Kelly A. Lavin, OTR/L, OTD, Brookshield Laurent, D.O., Zehra Ahmed, PA-C, MBBS. American Speech Language-Hearing Association Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. November 17, 2016.
- Cultural Competence 101 Workshop. New York State Society of Physician Assistants, Annual CME Conference, Tarrytown. October 8, 2016.
- Navigating International Clinical Education: Risks, Resources, Research. Panel discussion with N. Hudak, R. Ditoro, and K. Wyne. Physician Assistant Education Association Annual Education Forum. Washington, D.C. November 12, 2015.
- Addressing the Needs of LGBT Patients in PA Education. Presented by Corri Wolf, M.S., PA-C, RD, and Zehra Ahmed, MBBS, PA-C, at the Physician Assistant Education Association Education Forum in Philadelphia, Penn., on October 18, 2014.
- NYIT School of Health Professions and NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Conference in Washington, D. C., April 2014.
- Women’s Health: A Global Perspective. Presented at the 2013 Physician Assistant Global Health Symposium in Virginia Beach, Va.
- Use of Standardized Patient Encounters to Assess Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, and Professionalism During the Clinical Year. Zehra Ahmed and Corri Wolf. Presented at the 2012 PAEA Annual Education Forum and at the NY State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Conference, 2012.
Publications
- Parisi, V., Ahmed, Z., Lardner, D., & Cho, E. (2012). Global health simulations yield culturally competent medical providers. Journal of Medical Education, 46(11), 1126-1127. doi: 10.1111/medu1.2012.
- Ahmed, A. Z. A Day in the life of a PA in Ghana. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, October 2011.
- Ahmed, A. Z. When the patient asks – What is a nuclear cardiac stress test? Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, January 2009.
Reviewer
- Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), Publisher of Open Access Journals. (2018 - present)
- Medical Education Journal (John Wiley & Sons Ltd). “Really Good Stuff” section (2013 - present)
- Editorial Board of REELDX and Editor of Developing World Medicine (2017-present)
Honors + Awards
- Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants Award, February 6, 2019
- Educator of the Year, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2015
- Student Appreciation Awards, 2011, 2012, and 2016
- With other faculty of the Center for Global Health: 2014 Presidential Engagement Award for Student Engagement in Global Education, New York Tech
- Standard of Excellence, Distinguished Teaching Award, New York Tech 2011
- Award for Outstanding Teaching, School of Health Professions 2010-2011
- Award for Outstanding Service to New York Tech, 2007–2008
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- Clinical Medicine I, II, III (HEENT, Endocrinology, Geriatrics)
- Clinical Skills I and II
- Behavioral Medicine
- Clinical Decision Making
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Women’s Health
- Pediatrics
- Anatomy
- Pulmonology & Gastroenterology
- Cultural and Health Disparity Issues in a Global Setting (for the Certificate in Global Health)