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 no memory of the event or the subsequent three weeks of unconsciousness. Rushed through emergency care and transferred between facilities, including the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Neurosurgery ICU and Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation, her physical recovery was arduous. However, the psychological clarity that emerged upon waking focused not on her own survival, but on her duty to patients and family, revealing what she describes as the most honest definition of vocation.
The incident exposed a personal contradiction Dr. Ross now speaks about openly: while she consistently urged patients to prioritize preventative health, she had normalized self-neglect in her own life. "I neglected myself," she stated, "not out of shame, out of habit. Women in high-pressure professions do that. We carry everything. We push through." She identifies this pattern as a widespread, often unspoken professional hazard where endurance and minimizing personal needs are mistaken for professionalism. The accident, by forcing a complete stop, offered a truth she could no longer ignore, transforming her personal reckoning into a broader commitment.
This commitment now extends beyond clinical practice. Dr. Ross is preparing a book aimed at helping career-driven women protect their physical and emotional well-being proactively, arguing that survival is not synonymous with success. Her advocacy will reach a global audience this February when she brings her story to the 16th Annual International Women in Surgery Career Symposium. The event, dedicated to advancing women in surgical careers, will be held February 6–7, 2026, at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. Founded to encourage more women to pursue and thrive in surgery, the symposium serves as a vital hub for mentorship and professional strategy.
"The accident didn't pull me off my path," Dr. Ross explained. "It sharpened it. It reminded me that women don't need to survive alone at the top. We need to lift one another, make room for each other, and protect our health along the way." Her leadership now models a form of strength grounded in sustainability, purpose, and the radical honesty of acknowledging vulnerability. In a field that often rewards stoicism, her message redefines strength not as relentless conquest, but as the capacity to listen, heal, reflect, and ultimately return with greater intention to elevate others.
