Dr. Julia Indik takes three powerlifting world records, next stop: U.S. nationals

Today
David Mogollon, Communications Manager, Department of Medicine

At a U.S. Powerlifting regional competition Oct. 25 in Tucson, the electrophysiologist sets new records for squat, bench press and deadlift. Headed next to the USPA Ultra Nationals in California in May, she touts the health benefits of lifting for women.

[Division of Cardiology professor Julia Indik, MD, PhD, gets some fan support before one of her lifts at the U.S. Powerlifting Southwest Regionals held Oct. 25 in Tucson.]

Division of Cardiology professor Julia Indik, MD, PhD, gets some fan support before one of her lifts at the U.S. Powerlifting Southwest Regionals held Oct. 25 in Tucson.

Courtesy of U.S. Powerlifting Association

With fans and fellow weightlifters cheering her on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Tucson Strength, her home gym, Julia Indik, MD, PhD, a professor in the Division of Cardiology at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Medicine, added not one but three world records and two national records to her name.

At the U.S. Powerlifting Association’s Southwest Regionals hosted by 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 (65) and weight class (60 kilograms). The bench press and deadlift also were national records.

The records this time are extra special to her for three reasons. One, it was a drug-tested competition. Two, she’d dropped weight to compete in a lower category. And, three, it qualified her for competing May 25-30 in the USPA Ultra Nationals in Anaheim, California.

[Serena Scott, MD, MBA, and fellow weightlifter, Julia Indik, MD, PhD, congratulate each other at the USPA Southwest Regional held Oct. 25 at the Tucson Strength gym at Wilmot and Speedway.]

Serena Scott, MD, MBA, and fellow weightlifter, Julia Indik, MD, PhD, congratulate each other at the USPA Southwest Regional held at the Tucson Strength gym at Wilmot and Speedway.

Courtesy of Serena Scott, MD, MBA

“I had a great day,” Dr. Indik said. “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!” said Dr. Indik, who’s the U of A’s Flinn Foundation and American Heart Association Endowed Chair in Electrophysiology and Heart Disease Research, Electrophysiology Fellowship director and a Sarver Heart Center member.

Qualifying for nationals was a big deal to Dr. Indik. She hopes to do better there on bench press, where she lifted 149 pounds (about the same as at a qualifying competition in July), “but got red-lighted because my butt lifted off the bench.” Her squat was 5 pounds better than her July performance, where she competed in the non-drug-tested division in the 67-kilo weight class. Her deadlift was the same, a personal record along with the squat.

[Another College of Medicine – Tucson powerlifter, Serena Scott, MD, MBA, a general internist and vice chair for faculty development and wellness, in the Department of Medicine, squares off on the bench press at the Oct. 25 USPA Southwest Regional. ]

Another College of Medicine – Tucson powerlifter, Serena Scott, MD, MBA, a general internist and vice chair for faculty development and wellness in the Department of Medicine, squares off on the bench press at the USPA Southwest Regional.

Courtesy of the U.S. Powerlifting Association

Fellow competitor Serena Scott, MD, MBA, a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine and DOM vice chair of faculty development and wellness, got first place in her age and weight class at the competition.

“This was my second powerlifting meet. My only goal was to lift heavier amounts than I did at the first one in July. And I successfully did that. I lifted 10 pounds more on my squat, 10 pounds more on my deadlift and 5 pounds more on my bench press! As I told my kids, ‘I’m competing against myself.’ Powerlifting has been a great way to improve my overall strength and fitness.”

Dr. Indik agreed about the health benefits of weightlifting, as it’s among resistance and balance exercises like yoga, tai chi, running, jogging and walking recommended to arrest and manage osteopenia or osteoporosis. Both are bone health conditions involving decreased bone density and strength in older women.

Dr. Scott added, “Julia Indik is an inspiration to me, and I hope to be at her level one day!”

You can watch the entire USPA Southwest Regional, an eight-hour extravaganza, at this link. Or you can see Dr. Indik’s record-setting lifts here: squat, bench press, deadlift.

ALSO SEE:
“Powerlifter at Dawn, Doctor by Day: Dr. Julia Indik’s Unlikely Double Life” | Posted Sept. 29, 2025

[Powerlifter and electrocardiologist Julia Indik, MD, PhD, grimaces as she starts her push back up in the squats.]
[Dr. Julia Indik reaches the apex of her lift and gets waved off by the judge as having completed it correctly.]
[Dr. Julia Indik covers her face in surprise at setting a personal best and world and national record at 154 pounds in the squat lift for her age and weight class, five pounds more than her prior PB.]
[On the bench press, Dr. Julia Indik shoves the bar aggressively back up in the air.]
[Dr. Julia Indik smiles, realizing she had just set a world and national record in the bench press at 143 pounds.]
[On the deadlift, Dr. Julia Indik yanks the bar up to her knees.]
[Dr. Julia Indik clinches the deadlift at 292 pounds with okays from the judges.]
[Dr. Julia Indik reacts positively to being told she’d just secured another national and world record in the deadlift for her age and weight class.]