The American Health Council has accordingly appointed Dr. Sheila Conwa, MD, FAOA, as “Best in Medicine.” Having been in the healthcare industry for fourteen  years, Dr. Sheila Conway, MD, FAOA, is distinguished in her role as a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. 

Due to her athletic background as a competitive swimmer, Dr. Conway was exposed to orthopedics, which sparked her interest in medicine. However, it wasn’t until the end of college that Dr. Conway really started to think about medicine as a future career path, as she had continued to hold a particular passion for the biological sciences.

Dr. Conway went on to gain her M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine, graduating in 2002. Following this, she completed her Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Monmouth Medical Center from 2002 to 2007 and her Musculoskeletal Oncology Fellowship  from the University of Miami from 2007 to 2008.

Currently, Dr. Conway is working as a Professor at University of Miami where she has been based for the past 14 years. The university was founded in 1925 and now has more than 16,000 students from across the globe. It is a vibrant and diverse education center, fixated on learning and teaching, making new academic discoveries and bringing service to South Florida. The University of Miami consists of 11 schools and colleges offering more than 180 majors and programs to undergraduate and graduate students.

 The University offers a range of services and products including research, education, nursing and health studies, medicine, study abroad, business, arts and science, law, engineering, architecture, communication, education and human development, marine and atmospheric science, music and international studies.

 In her current role, Dr. Conway has an array of responsibilities. These include maintaining a vibrant  academic oncology practice and working as a primary educator for medical students, residents and fellows. She holds multiple leadership roles in graduate medical education,  working as Vice Chair of Education for the Department  of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Program Director of the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program and the Orthopaedic Oncology Fellowship Program.

 Throughout her career and personal life, Dr. Conway has enjoyed a variety of professional and personal successes. These include being rewarded with the 1996 Anna Esplanchade Award at UC Berkeley, awarded to a singular female student athlete exemplifying excellence in attitude in athletic endeavours.  In 2016, she was named Educator of the Year from University of Miami Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Conway has participated in a multitude of leadership development programs sponsored by the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and the American Medical Women’s Association. In 2011, she participated in “Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers”, a 2 week intensive course at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr Conway is particularly proud of her leadership roles in orthopaedic education and plans to continue to innovate the educational programming across the department as Vice Chair of Education. 

 Dr. Conway attributes her professional success to her strong work ethic, discipline, and structure –  attributes she acquired in her long career as a competitive swimmer. Dr Conway began competing at the age of 6 and competed as a Division I athlete at the conclusion of her swimming career at the University of California Berkeley. In addition to obtaining All-American honors, Dr. Conway qualified to compete in the US Swimming Olympic Trials in 1988, 1992, and 1996. She represented the US Swimming Team in the 1996 World University Games in Sheffield England. 

In order to continue her learning and expand her knowledge, Dr. Conway is a Fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and the American Association for Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and is active in the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society. Dr. Conway is a graduate of the inaugural class of the AOA/ APEX Leadership Certificate Program. program.

 Looking into the future, Dr. Conway would like to pursue ongoing leadership roles in Orthopaedic Surgery and medicine, through Chairperson or Medical Dean track.

 When not busy working, Dr. Conway enjoys a variety of hobbies including; scuba diving, underwater photography, gardening, and boating. Additionally, she is an active volunteer and human rights activist, having volunteered at Rio Olympics as well as working with Planned Parenthood.