Graduate Spotlight: Ryan Ford, M.D.
Posted on May 13, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Ryan Ford, M.D.
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama
Undergraduate Institution: University of South Alabama
Residency Match: Anesthesiology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana
What drew you to this specific specialty? Was there a specific moment or rotation that solidified this choice for you?
I watched a stat C-section roll to the OR, and had the privilege of witnessing the anesthesia team work together in real time while comforting a woman through potentially the scariest day in her life. That mix of hands-on work, being useful in a tough situation, and being a rock for someone in a storm — it checked all of my boxes
Where do you see your career going in 5 to 10 years?
In five years, I should be finishing up a fellowship in obstetric anesthesia and starting my first attending job in academic medicine contributing to closing the maternal health mortality gap!
Is there a specific attending, resident, or faculty member who had a significant impact on your training? How did they help shape your path?
I had the privilege to work alongside two incredible physicians, Dr. Kandi Knightshead and Dr. Maryann Mbaka whose influence profoundly shaped my development. These women not only instilled the importance of respectful patient advocacy but also served as paradigms of excellence in and out of the operating room. They’ve shown me the type of physician I want to be and have played the single largest role in informing my future practice.
As you prepare to start your residency, what is one thing you will miss the most about living in the Mobile area?
Without fail, it’s the community I’ve built. From Mrs. Cheryl at the Rouses, to the medical assistant team at Franklin Primary, to all the friends I’ve made in between. Anyone who knows me knows one of my favorite phrases is that “it takes a village,” and I’m so thankful for Mobile for giving me an incredible village and letting me be a villager for some incredible people. I’m looking forward to building that same community in New Orleans!