Biographical summary
Dr. Brett A. Freedman graduated from Vanderbilt University (’95), University of Illinois College of Medicine (’00), Walter Reed Orthopedic Surgery Residency (’06) prior to deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) with the US Army, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal. Then he returned to complete the prestigious Emory University Spine Fellowship (’08). Upon completion of his training, COL(Ret.) Freedman was stationed in Landstuhl/Ramstein, Germany, where he served as a Section Chair, then Department Chair and ultimately acting Division Chair at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the only ACS accredited Level 1 trauma center outside of the US. While stationed in Germany, he received and managed the spine casualties from OIF and OEF. In 2015, he left active service in the US Army and started at the Mayo Clinic, where he now serves as the Chair of the Division of Spine Surgery. He retired from the military in 2019, after 24 years of service. His clinical practice focuses on degenerative and traumatic conditions of the cervical and lumbar spine. His research interests include bone health optimization, spinal arthroplasty and spinal implant innovation. He is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in spine surgery with over 200 publications, who has presented his research across the globe. He also is a dedicated educator, currently serving as Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and a member of the AO Spine North America Foundation Fellowship Committee.
Conditions treated
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Cervical herniated disk
- Cervical myelopathy
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Cervical spine deformity
- Cervical spondylosis
- Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
- Charcot foot
- Compartment syndrome
- Degenerative disk disease
- Herniated disk
- Lumbar herniated disk
- Lumbar radiculopathy
- Lumbar spondylosis
- Nonunion
- Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
- Pseudarthrosis
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal compression fracture
- Spinal cord injury
- Spinal fracture
- Spinal metastasis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spine deformity
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Spondylotic myelopathy
- Thoracic herniated disk
- Thoracic myelopathy
- Traumatic injury
Procedures performed
- Cervical disk replacement
- Diskectomy
- Foraminotomy
- Laminectomy
- Laminoplasty
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Robotic spine surgery
- Scoliosis surgery
- Spinal deformity correction surgery
- Spinal fusion
- Spinal stabilization surgery
- Spine decompression
- Spine procedure
- Spine reconstruction
- Spine tumor surgery
- Spondylolisthesis surgery
- Wound care
Interests
- Spine trauma and spinal cord injury
- Clinical outcomes research for spine surgery
- Telehealth
- Acute compartment syndrome
- Advanced wound care
Mayo Clinic locations
Rochester, Minnesota
Education
- 2008
Fellow - Spine Surgery Fellowship: Director--John Heller, MD/Scott Boden, MDEmory University Medical Center
- 2006
Residency - Residency Director: Timothy R. Kuklo, MD,JDWalter Reed Army Medical Center
- 2000
MDUniversity of Illinois College of Medicine
- 1995
BSVanderbilt University
-
CertificateAdvanced Cardiac Life Support
-
CertificateCombat Casualty Care Course - Brooke Army Medical Center
-
CertificateAdvanced Cardiac Life Support
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2010
Orthopedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
Awards and honors
- 2020
One of the Top CORR Reviewers for 2020Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR)
- 2017
One of the Top CORR Reviewers for 2017Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR)
- 2017
One of the three Best Scientific Exhibits at the 2017 AAOS Annual Meeting "SE59-Patient Reported Outcomes and Registry Development in Military Orthopaedics and Sports MedicineAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2017
Founder's Paper Award for: "Continual Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring in the Injured Extremity at Risk for Acute Compartment Syndrome--Results of a prospective, FDA-IDE TrialSociety of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2016
2016 Top ReviewerThe Spine Journal
- 2015
Meritorious Service MedalUnited States Army
- 2015
Best ORS Poster Award at the 31st Annual OTA MeetingOrthopaedic Trauma Association
- 2014
Order of Military Medical MeritUnited States Army
- 2014
Military Health System Research Symposium Award for Excellence-Outstanding Research Accomplishment/IndividualUnited States Army
- 2007
Iraq Campaign MedalUnited States Army
- 2007
Bronze Start MedalUnited States Army
- 2006
Meritorious Service MedalUnited States Army
- 2006
Baugh Research Award SemifinalistUniformed School of Health Sciences
- 2006
32nd Annual Research Award Semi-FinalistBailey K. Ashford Laboratory
- 2006
Best Resident AwardGEN Graves B. Erskine
- 2006
1st Place Resident Research Award WinnerWashington Orthopaedic Society
- 2005
Army Commendation MedalUnited States Army
- 2005
Resident Leadership AwardPfizer Pain Management
- 2005
Resident Research Day-1st PlaceWalter Reed Army Medical Center
- 2005
Baugh Clinical Research Award SemifinalistUniformed School of Health Sciences
- 2005
Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association
- 2005
1st Place Resident Research AwardWashington Orthopaedic Society
- 2005
Best Paper AwardAmerican College of Spine Surgery
- 2004
Global War on Terrorism Service MedalUnited States Army
- 2004
Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association
- 2004
Wyeth-Resident/Fellow Scholarship/Award winning paperArthroscopy Association of North America
- 2004
Resident Leadership AwardPfizer Pain Management
- 2004
Resident Research Day-1st PlaceWalter Reed Army Medical Center
- 2004
Army Achievement MedalUnited States Army
- 2003
Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association/Southern Orthopaedic Association
- 2003
Outstanding Paper AwardNorth American Spine Society
- 2003
1st Place Resident Research AwardWashington Orthopaedic Society
- 2000
Army Service RibbonUnited States Army
- 2000
National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Start Device)United States Army
- 1999
Alpha Omega AlphaUniversity of Illinois College of Medicine
- 1996
Army Commendation MedalUnited States Army
- 1995
Army Achievement MedalUnited States Army
- 1995
Phi Beta KappaVanderbilt University
- 1995
Magna Cum LaudeVanderbilt University
Professional memberships
- 2023 - 2026
Chair, Spine Program CommitteeAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2021 - 2024
Fellowship CommitteeAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2021 - present
MemberAOSpine; Telemedicine Working Group
- 2020 - 2022
MemberOwn the Bone Education Subcommittee, American Orthopaedic Association
- 2019 - present
Leadership Fellows ProgramAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2019
Leadership Fellowships CommitteeAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2017 - present
FellowAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2017
ABC Traveling FellowAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2017 - 2019
Own The Bone Publication Task ForceAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2017
OrthoPAC Executive CommitteeAmerican Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
- 2016
JOA Traveling FellowshipAmerican Orthopaedic Association
- 2015 - present
MemberEmerging Leaders Program, American Orthopaedic Association
- 2012 - present
MemberNorth American Spine Society
- 2012 - present
Active FellowAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2005
MemberAmerican Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
- 2003
MemberSociety of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons
- 2002 - 2006
Resident LiaisonAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons