Medical Providers
The Northwest Florida Ballet is proud of our strong community partnerships with these incredible healthcare professionals who provide medical care to our dancers.
Dr. Sonya Ahmed
Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon
Sonya Ahmed, MD, is the official Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic provider for the Northwest Florida Ballet. Dr. Ahmed is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon with expertise in treating foot and ankle disorders. Her surgical interests include arthroscopic, minimally invasive and open treatment of all foot and ankle disorders, including athletic and reconstructive procedures and cartilage transplant procedures.
Dr. Ahmed’s desire to become an orthopedic surgeon was driven by her lifelong love of gymnastics, track and field and her intimate understanding of the impact of injury and recovery on all levels of an athlete. She was the first female pole vaulter inducted into her school’s Hall of Fame. Dr. Ahmed’s accolades speak to her expertise and reputation as she has served as a consultant to the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres and as a regional medical provider for the United States Olympic Team. She has also consulted on athletes with foot and ankle injuries in the NFL, MLB, NCAA, NBA and competitive dance companies. The United States Olympic Committee also selected her as the Chief Medical Officer for the Youth Winter Olympic Games in 2016.
Dr. Rachel Hutchison
Chiropractor
Dr. Rachel Hutchison is the official Chiropractor for the Northwest Florida Ballet. As a native of the Ft. Walton Beach/Destin area, she founded Hutchison Chiropractic Center in 2005. It started as a small practice but has quickly become one of the leading chiropractic clinics in Northwest Florida. She has dedicated her life to helping the families of both Okaloosa and Walton counties get their health back naturally through safe and effective chiropractic care.
Her desire to become a doctor struck her as a child, and she never dreamed of becoming anything else. Despite health setbacks early in life, she became an avid athlete. She attended the University of South Alabama as a pre-med student, initially studying to be a pediatric cardiologist. However, after needing another heart surgery in 1997 that led to a recovery laden with complications, chiropractic was the only specialty that could put her on the proper road to healing. After graduating from chiropractic school at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas, TX, she graduated Cum Laude with a Doctorate of Chiropractic in August of 2005.