Meet Our Provider

Maj. Saira Ahmed, MD, FAAP
U.S. Army

What inspired you to pursue a career in health care?

I’ve always known I wanted to be a pediatrician—I’ve loved working with kids for as long as I can remember. Before medical school, I taught high school math in Bridgeport, Connecticut through Teach For America. That experience had a huge impact on me. I saw firsthand the challenges teenagers face and how important it is for them to have adults they trust in their corner. That’s what inspired me to go into adolescent medicine.
 

What is your area of expertise, and what do you enjoy most about your work?

I’m an adolescent medicine specialist, which means I work with teens and young adults as they figure out life, health, school, relationships, and everything in between. I especially enjoy helping with things like contraception, menstrual issues, acne, depression, eating disorders, etc. I also really enjoy working with military families and helping teens navigate the ups and downs of military life. What I love most is being able to support young people during such a critical time and help them feel more confident, healthy, and ready for adulthood.
 

How do you ensure a positive patient experience in your care?

In adolescent medicine, we really take the time to get to know our patients. We make space for one-on-one conversations so they can ask questions privately and start learning how to take ownership of their own health. We also work together on making positive changes—whether that’s quitting vaping or marijuana, exercising more, cutting down on screen time, or building better habits in general. We want our clinic to be a place where patients and families feel comfortable, heard, and supported.
 

Can you share a memorable moment or success story from your practice?

One of the best parts of my job is seeing a patient come back feeling better—smiling more, laughing again—after starting treatment for something like depression or anxiety. Those moments really stick with me. I also love working with medical students and residents. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow more confident throughout their rotation and start to feel comfortable taking care of adolescents. Seeing their excitement when something clicks or when they connect with a patient makes teaching one of the best parts of what I do.
 

What are your interests outside of work?

I’m a big Formula 1 fan and will talk your ear off about the next race or my favorite teams and drivers if you let me! It’s one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind outside of the clinic.