Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Major Donald R. Fredericks Jr. (DJ), MD, was raised in Anderson, S.C., and graduated from Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. MAJ Fredericks completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he received the Erskine Award for most outstanding graduating resident in the National Capital Region. He went on to complete a fellowship in spine surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, before returning to serve as an orthopaedic spine surgeon at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda in 2022.
MAJ Fredericks assumed his current roles as WRNMMC Chief of Orthopaedic Spine and Pediatric Surgery in 2023 and as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in 2022.
MAJ Fredericks has deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, serving as Lead Theatre Orthopaedic Surgeon at Baghdad Diplomatic Support Hospital for Joint Task Force Savior 2023. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery, has authored over 30 peer reviewed articles and book chapters, and is the Co-Director of the Orthopaedic Biomechanics Research Laboratory at WRNMMC.
Awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medals, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He lives in Washington D.C., with his dear wife Alexandra Fredericks and their two dogs Woody and Cricket.