Highland's Bilal Ahmed, M.D., Receives Prestigious Appointment
February 23, 2011
Dr. Bilal Ahmed
Highland’s Associate Chief of Medicine Bilal Ahmed, M.D., has been named a fellow in the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. Fellowship is the highest level of membership of the Royal College, which has supported and represented physicians for nearly 500 years.
"The Fellowship of the Royal College is the culmination of a lifelong dream for me as it is indeed a rare honor," said Dr. Ahmed, who becomes one of only about 440 U.S. physicians to be granted fellowship.
Dr. Ahmed, 48, passed a rigorous examination in 1994 to join the Royal College of Physicians of the UK, which has locations in London, Edinburgh and Dublin. To move up from "member" to "fellow", doctors need to distinguish themselves in the practices of medicine, medical science or medical literature, and they must have made a significant contribution in one or more of these areas. Finally, the doctor must be nominated by another fellow in order to be elected by council.
Dr. Ahmed fit all the criteria. He is renowned not only as a physician but as a teacher. He was the first hospitalist at Highland and instrumental in building its hospitalist program, the largest among Rochester area hospitals. In addition, Dr. Ahmed is Associate Program Director of the University of Rochester’s Internal Medicine residency program and has received more than 20 teaching awards from medical residents. He emphasizes the value of a classical approach of care, which focuses on clinical examination of the patient to assist medical findings and diagnosis, rather than exhaustive and arbitrary diagnostic testing. Under his leadership, all instruction at Highland is held at the patient’s bedside, and patients are welcomed as active participants.
Highland’s Director of the Center for Healthy Aging William Hall, M.D., nominated Ahmed for fellowship. Hall is also a fellow.
"Dr. Ahmed has received this international honor specifically for his outstanding medical teaching," Dr. Hall said. "He is among the best of the best. This isa great honor for Dr. Ahmed and also for Highland."
As a fellow, Dr. Ahmed says he will be serving as an International Examiner for the membership test in Edinburgh and be involved in the RCP’s advisory board.
Dr. Ahmed received his medical degree in Lahore, Pakistan and completed a medical residency in the United Kingdom. In 1994 he joined Highland, where he completed his U.S. medical residency.
He lives in Pittsford with his wife and three children.