College of Medicine – Tucson’s Julia Indik earns powerlifting honors
Serena Scott, MD, MBA, left, and Julia Indik, MD, PhD.
Courtesy of Serena Scott
Julia Indik, MD, PhD, a professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Medicine, racked up three world records and two national records at the U.S. Powerlifting Association’s Southwest Regionals.
Indik, the U of A’s Flinn Foundation and American Heart Association Endowed Chair in Electrophysiology and Heart Disease Research, the Electrophysiology Fellowship director and a Sarver Heart Center member, will compete in the association’s Ultra Nationals in California in May.
At the regionals held Oct. 25 at Indik’s home gym, Tucson Strength, she lifted 154 pounds in the squat, 143 pounds in the bench press and 292 pounds in the deadlift. Each was a world record for her age group (65-69) and weight class (60 kilograms).
“I had a great day,” said Indik, who took up weightlifting eight years ago. “I got world records in all three lifts, including a bona fide national record in bench and deadlift. And I got best lifter of the day for the master’s women drug-tested division, too.”
Serena Scott, MD, MBA, a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson and the Department of Medicine vice chair of faculty development and wellness, also participated in the competition, earning first place in her age group (40-44) and weight class (67.50 kilograms).
Indik and Scott both tout the benefits of powerlifting to improve overall strength and fitness, particularly for women as they age and deal with decreased bone density and strength.
The event was only Scott’s second powerlifting meet, and she said she’s looking forward to continuing to improve.
Said Scott, “Julia Indik is an inspiration to me, and I hope to be at her level one day.”
A version of this story appeared on the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson website.