Ortho Central has expanded its patient care yet again through a new Bone Health Clinic, under the direction of Amanda Boyd, board-certified physician associate.
Boyd took the helm of the clinic in early January, and said she is dedicated to not just treating patients but also helping them learn about and prevent bone-related diseases. She noted that half of all adults over age 50 have experienced bone loss, and it is one of the least recognized health issues in the general public.
Boyd originally had worked as a clinic and human resources manager, with several members of her current team in a different capacity. After several years, however, the urge to provide more tangible, direct patient assistance became overwhelming.
That’s when she returned to school, earning her degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center’s Physician Associate program. Transitioning away from her established HR career was an unexpected change, but a welcome one.
“I chose to go back for a few reasons,” Boyd said. “As a first-generation college student, I have always been driven by the desire to pursue an advanced degree. I chose to become a physician associate not only to make my family proud and to show my children that it is never too late to chase your dreams, but also to make a meaningful impact on my community through health care.
“This path allows me to combine my personal aspirations with a deep commitment to improving the well-being of those around me.”
During this period of time, Boyd also suffered a tremendous loss in losing her dad to prostate cancer.
“It was a pivotal moment for me,” she said. “Going through this experience made me want to be better educated and more prepared to care for and support my family, friends and a greater patient population in the future. My dad and I had many conversations before he passed about my dream of becoming a PA. I know that if he were still here with us, he would be proud that I was able to accomplish this goal. I am incredibly fortunate to have a team of family that supports me with my mom, husband, kids (and previously my dad) being my biggest cheerleaders.”
Boyd noted that bone loss, especially in older people, can occur as the result of hormonal deficiencies, medications, endocrine diseases and other factors—well beyond a simple lack of calcium. Genetics, along with lifestyle choices such as smoking, heavy drinking and a sedentary lifestyle, can also contribute to bone loss-related issues.
“Bone health issues are often overlooked,” she said. “There is a significant need for earlier screenings across both sexes. While osteoporosis is commonly thought of as a women’s disease, it also greatly affects men. For individuals over 45 with any risk factors, screening is strongly recommended to detect potential issues early and implement preventive measures whenever possible.
“Osteoporosis by itself is a silent disease, but very deadly,” she added. “In women, the total death rate from osteo-related fractures is larger than the number of breast, cervical and ovarian cancers combined. In men, the lifetime risk of fragility fracture is greater than that of prostate cancer.
She said approximately 300,000 hip fractures occur in the United States every year, and that about 50% of those who suffer a hip fracture never regain their previous function. However, if these individuals had been screened, made aware of potential risks and educated on fracture prevention, those numbers would likely be much lower.
Boyd and her clinic team work closely with sports medicine doctors and orthopedic surgeons, plus primary care physicians, to offer personalized, multidisciplinary care for each specific patient. Among the services her clinic provides are multiple levels of osteoporosis management, bone density testing, risk assessments, fracture prevention strategies, and treatment for Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies crucial to bone strength, plus exercise and lifestyle counseling.
"Beyond my passion for patient care, the reason I re-joined the Ortho Central team is because I’ve had the privilege of working with them before, and they are like family to me,” she shared.
“In addition to their exceptional professional skills, our providers uphold the highest standards of integrity, morals and values—qualities that I feel are crucial when it comes to delivering the best patient care.
The Ortho Central Bone Health Clinic is located at 3400 Tecumseh Road, Suite 305, within the West Professional Building. More information is available at NormanRegional.com/locations/ortho-central-bone-health-clinic/ or by calling 405.515.8094.
Outside the office, Boyd said she spends time with her family, which includes husband Chris Boyd, a business owner and consultant. The two are parents to a son, Marshall, who’s a junior at OU, and daughter, Presley, a senior at Norman North High School. She enjoys cooking, baking, running, working out, playing guitar, and hosting get-togethers with friends and family.
“I believe in a holistic approach, in both my professional and personal life,” she said. “It reflects my dedication to health, wellness and building meaningful relationships.”
“Osteoporosis by itself is a silent disease, but very deadly."