Biography

Zahid Ahmad, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. 

Dr. Ahmad’s clinical and investigative focus is lipid metabolism disorders, including dyslipidemia, chylomicronemia, and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). 

His research aims to identify the causes of cholesterol and triglyceride disorders and to develop new treatment options for patients who suffer from them.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Ahmad and his colleagues currently are working to identify families with these conditions in an effort to better understand their underlying genetic causes – and, ultimately, to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Ahmad has published a number of scholarly articles and delivered many invited lectures. 

He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2010 and is American Board of Internal Medicine-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes. 

Dr. Ahmad earned his medical degree at the Tulane University School of Medicine.

He completed both a residency (internal medicine) and a fellowship (endocrinology and metabolism) at UT Southwestern Medical Center – training in cholesterol metabolism and genetics with mentors Drs. Abhimanyu Garg, Scott Grundy, and Helen Hobbs.

He also holds a B.S. in biomedical engineering from the Tulane University School of Engineering.

Active in the FH Foundation, Dr. Ahmad also is a member of professional organizations that include the American Heart Association, Endocrine Society, National Lipid Association, and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

In 2019, Dr. Ahmad was named a Texas Monthly Super Doctor Rising Star.

Meet Dr. Ahmad

Dallas Endocrinologist Specializing in Lipid Disorders

In both the clinic and the lab, Zahid Ahmad, M.D., is working to fight lipid metabolism disorders – abnormalities in the way the body processes cholesterol and fat.

An endocrinologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Ahmad specializes in treating patients with extremely high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

These patients include those with conditions such as dyslipidemia, chylomicronemia, and familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that causes LDL cholesterol to soar to dangerously high levels.

Dr. Ahmad also has special expertise in treating patients unable to tolerate their cholesterol medications – an issue that affects up to 10 percent of patients prescribed these drugs.

“I’m motivated by helping people who no one else has been able to help, both in the clinic and through my research,” he says. “Our clinic is a referral center for the most complex patients – those experiencing the most problems with their lipid levels and their medications.” 

Active in investigating lipid disorders, Dr. Ahmad continues to build upon UT Southwestern’s Nobel Prize-winning discoveries in the field.

“Conducting research gives me a lot of insight into all the different cholesterol and triglyceride drugs, and it keeps me current on the most promising practices and ways of managing lipid disorders,” he says. “It also helps me facilitate patient enrollment in clinical trials of new, leading-edge medications.”

Dr. Ahmad was attracted to endocrinology because he has many family members who suffer from diabetes and early-onset cardiovascular disease.

“That led me to really specialize and develop a niche in treating and investigating cholesterol and triglyceride issues.”

Dr. Ahmad is fellowship trained and certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes.

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Education & Training
  • Fellowship - UT Southwestern Medical Center (2007-2010), Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • Residency - UT Southwestern Medical Center (2004-2007), Internal Medicine
  • Medical School - Tulane University School of Medicine (2000-2004)
  • Undergraduate School - Tulane University (1996-2000)
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • FH Foundation (2013)
  • National Lipid Association
  • Endocrine Society
  • American Heart Association
Honors & Awards
  • Texas Monthly Super Doctors, Rising Star 2020
  • Texas Monthly Super Doctors, Rising Star 2019
  • Featured Poster (2014 Endocrine Society Meeting, Chicago, IL) 2014, “Familial Hypercholesterolemia: systematic genetic screening in a multi-ethnic U.S. cohort reveals a lack of disease-causing mutations in a large proportion of patients.”
  • Jean D. Wilson Excellence in Scientific Mentorship Award 2017, Division of Endocrinology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
  • 2nd Renewal - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Research Award 2015, National Institute of Health (NIH)
  • Chief Fellow 2007, UT Southwestern Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship Program, Dallas, TX
  • Clinical Nutrition Scholars Program 2010, Center for Human Nutrition, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
  • Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Research Award 2011, National Institute of Health (NIH)
  • Top Rated 2013 Internal Medicine Grand Rounds Lecture 2013, “Complex Dyslipidemias: Challenges in Management”
  • Renewal - Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Research Award 2013, National Institute of Health (NIH)
  • Young Investigator's Award 2014, National Lipid Association Meeting, Orlando, FL
Books & Publications
Research
  • Genetic/familial disease involving cholesterol or triglycerides
  • Severely elevated triglycerides (Triglycerides > 1000 mg/dL)
  • Patients with cholesterol/triglycerides that has been difficult to treat
  • Chylomicronemia
  • Xanthomas (skin rash/bumps due to high cholesterol or triglycerides)
  • Very low cholesterol (LDL-C < 40 mg/dL) - Hypocholesterolemia
  • Statin intolerance
  • Pancreatitis due to high triglycerides
  • Invidividuals with very high cholesterol (Cholesterol > 300 mg/dL)
  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Q&A by Dr. Ahmad