Surgeon's Near-Fatal Accident Sparks Movement for Women's Health in High-Pressure Careers

Dr. Sharona Ross, a nationally respected surgeon, experienced a life-altering moment on June 1 when a bicycle accident left her with multiple fractures and three weeks of unconsciousness. The incident, which she cannot recall, erased weeks of her memory but clarified her purpose with startling intensity. Upon awakening, her immediate concern was not for her own survival but for her patients' trust and her children's future, revealing a profound sense of duty that defines her vocation. This instinctual focus on responsibility amidst crisis underscores a fundamental truth about professional identity when all control is lost.

The accident did not transform Dr. Ross but revealed the person she had always been—steady, grounded, and a calming presence in high-pressure environments. However, it also exposed a troubling pattern familiar to women in medicine and other demanding fields: the habitual neglect of self-care while prioritizing others. For years, Dr. Ross had advocated for preventative health measures with her patients, yet she admits to neglecting her own well-being out of habit rather than shame. This observation highlights a systemic issue where women in high-pressure professions are conditioned to endure, minimize discomfort, and treat self-neglect as a professional virtue.

Following emergency treatment in St. Petersburg, Dr. Ross was transferred to the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Neurosurgery ICU and later to Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation, where she struggled to walk. Miraculously, her memory began returning approximately three weeks post-accident, though it never included the incident itself or her hospital transports. This experience reshaped her priorities from personal recovery to a broader commitment: speaking honestly about the invisible costs of excellence and helping women protect their health proactively. Her upcoming book aims to guide career-driven women in safeguarding their physical and emotional well-being without guilt or apology, emphasizing that survival differs fundamentally from success.

Dr. Ross will share her insights at the 16th Annual International Women in Surgery Career Symposium on February 6–7, 2026, in Clearwater, Florida. This globally recognized event, dedicated to advancing women in surgical careers, provides a vital platform for mentorship and collective support. Dr. Ross asserts that the accident sharpened rather than diverted her path, reinforcing the need for women to lift each other and prioritize health while pursuing ambitious goals. Her leadership now models a sustainable approach that acknowledges limits, embraces vulnerability, and maintains excellence—offering radical honesty in a profession that often rewards stoicism.

Dr. Ross redefines strength not as relentless conquest but as the capacity to listen, heal, reflect, and return with greater intention. This strength elevates others rather than dominating them, creating a legacy of purposeful leadership. Her journey from trauma to advocacy underscores a critical message: protecting one's health is not a diversion from professional ambition but its essential foundation, ensuring that women can thrive without waiting for crisis to justify self-care.