She was the daughter of the pharmacist Karl Björkman and Matty Egerström, and the cousin of bridge designer Axel Björkman.

[4] She graduated from tertiary school in Stockholm in 1904, and qualified as Licentiate of Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in 1917.

During the influenza epidemic, she worked at Borgholm's hospital from 1918-19.

[3] Astrid Björkman was Sweden's first female chief physician and hospital manager.

In 1945, she was awarded a ‘size 8’ Illis Quorum gold medal.