Sonya Ahmed, an orthopedic surgeon from UCSD Health System, will be the chief medical officer at the upcoming 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Norway which will run from Feb. 12 to 21. Ahmed was selected by the United States Olympic Committee last October and serves as the head of the foot and ankle division of the orthopedic surgery department at UCSD Health.

Ahmed’s qualifications include being a medical consultant for the San Diego Chargers. But according to USOC Managing Director of Sports Medicine Bill Moreau, Ahmed has treated players from various athletic backgrounds.

“Dr. Ahmed has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional athlete care, communicating with providers and athletic trainers from the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National Governing Bodies for various sports,” Moreau said in a UCSD press release dated Jan. 28. Participants in the Winter Youth Olympic Games range from 15 to 18 years of age and will compete in 70 medal events from 15 different athletic disciplines. Moreau added that Ahmed’s experiences in general and sports-related orthopedic surgery have qualified her for this role.

“She has a competitive athletic background, which allows her to understand the pressures and challenges of training and competing,” Moreau explained. “Her passion for sports combined with her excellence as a physician-surgeon give her Team USA athletes and coaches a lot of confidence in the care she provides.”