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Brett A. Freedman, M.D.

  1. Orthopedic Surgeon

Specialty Groups

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Appointments

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.

  1. Cauda equina syndrome
  2. Cervical herniated disk
  3. Cervical myelopathy
  4. Cervical radiculopathy
  5. Cervical spine deformity
  6. Cervical spondylosis
  7. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy
  8. Charcot foot
  9. Compartment syndrome
  10. Degenerative disk disease
  11. Herniated disk
  12. Lumbar herniated disk
  13. Lumbar radiculopathy
  14. Lumbar spondylosis
  15. Nonunion
  16. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament
  17. Pseudarthrosis
  18. Sciatica
  19. Scoliosis
  20. Spinal compression fracture
  21. Spinal cord injury
  22. Spinal fracture
  23. Spinal metastasis
  24. Spinal stenosis
  25. Spine deformity
  26. Spondylolisthesis
  27. Spondylolysis
  28. Spondylotic myelopathy
  29. Thoracic herniated disk
  30. Thoracic myelopathy
  31. Traumatic injury
  1. Cervical disk replacement
  2. Diskectomy
  3. Foraminotomy
  4. Laminectomy
  5. Laminoplasty
  6. Minimally invasive surgery
  7. Robotic spine surgery
  8. Scoliosis surgery
  9. Spinal deformity correction surgery
  10. Spinal fusion
  11. Spinal stabilization surgery
  12. Spine decompression
  13. Spine procedure
  14. Spine reconstruction
  15. Spine tumor surgery
  16. Spondylolisthesis surgery
  17. Wound care
  • Spine trauma and spinal cord injury
  • Clinical outcomes research for spine surgery
  • Telehealth
  • Acute compartment syndrome
  • Advanced wound care
  1. 2008
    Fellow - Spine Surgery Fellowship: Director--John Heller, MD/Scott Boden, MDEmory University Medical Center
  2. 2006
    Residency - Residency Director: Timothy R. Kuklo, MD,JDWalter Reed Army Medical Center
  3. 2000
    MDUniversity of Illinois College of Medicine
  4. 1995
    BSVanderbilt University
  5.  
    CertificateAdvanced Cardiac Life Support
  6.  
    CertificateCombat Casualty Care Course - Brooke Army Medical Center
  7.  
    CertificateAdvanced Cardiac Life Support

Certifications

  1. 2010
    Orthopedic SurgeryAmerican Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2020
    One of the Top CORR Reviewers for 2020Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR)
  2. 2017
    One of the Top CORR Reviewers for 2017Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR)
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 2016
    2016 Top ReviewerThe Spine Journal
  6. 2015
    Meritorious Service MedalUnited States Army
  7. 2015
    Best ORS Poster Award at the 31st Annual OTA MeetingOrthopaedic Trauma Association
  8. 2014
    Order of Military Medical MeritUnited States Army
  9. 2014
    Military Health System Research Symposium Award for Excellence-Outstanding Research Accomplishment/IndividualUnited States Army
  10. 2007
    Iraq Campaign MedalUnited States Army
  11. 2007
    Bronze Start MedalUnited States Army
  12. 2006
    Meritorious Service MedalUnited States Army
  13. 2006
    Baugh Research Award SemifinalistUniformed School of Health Sciences
  14. 2006
    32nd Annual Research Award Semi-FinalistBailey K. Ashford Laboratory
  15. 2006
    Best Resident AwardGEN Graves B. Erskine
  16. 2006
    1st Place Resident Research Award WinnerWashington Orthopaedic Society
  17. 2005
    Army Commendation MedalUnited States Army
  18. 2005
    Resident Leadership AwardPfizer Pain Management
  19. 2005
    Resident Research Day-1st PlaceWalter Reed Army Medical Center
  20. 2005
    Baugh Clinical Research Award SemifinalistUniformed School of Health Sciences
  21. 2005
    Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association
  22. 2005
    1st Place Resident Research AwardWashington Orthopaedic Society
  23. 2005
    Best Paper AwardAmerican College of Spine Surgery
  24. 2004
    Global War on Terrorism Service MedalUnited States Army
  25. 2004
    Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association
  26. 2004
    Wyeth-Resident/Fellow Scholarship/Award winning paperArthroscopy Association of North America
  27. 2004
    Resident Leadership AwardPfizer Pain Management
  28. 2004
    Resident Research Day-1st PlaceWalter Reed Army Medical Center
  29. 2004
    Army Achievement MedalUnited States Army
  30. 2003
    Resident/Fellow Research AwardEastern Orthopaedic Association/Southern Orthopaedic Association
  31. 2003
    Outstanding Paper AwardNorth American Spine Society
  32. 2003
    1st Place Resident Research AwardWashington Orthopaedic Society
  33. 2000
    Army Service RibbonUnited States Army
  34. 2000
    National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Start Device)United States Army
  35. 1999
    Alpha Omega AlphaUniversity of Illinois College of Medicine
  36. 1996
    Army Commendation MedalUnited States Army
  37. 1995
    Army Achievement MedalUnited States Army
  38. 1995
    Phi Beta KappaVanderbilt University
  39. 1995
    Magna Cum LaudeVanderbilt University

Professional memberships

  1. 2023 - 2026
    Chair, Spine Program CommitteeAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  2. 2021 - 2024
    Fellowship CommitteeAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  3. 2021 - present
    MemberAOSpine; Telemedicine Working Group
  4. 2020 - 2022
    MemberOwn the Bone Education Subcommittee, American Orthopaedic Association
  5. 2019 - present
    Leadership Fellows ProgramAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  6. 2019
    Leadership Fellowships CommitteeAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  7. 2017 - present
    FellowAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  8. 2017
    ABC Traveling FellowAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  9. 2017 - 2019
    Own The Bone Publication Task ForceAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  10. 2017
    OrthoPAC Executive CommitteeAmerican Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
  11. 2016
    JOA Traveling FellowshipAmerican Orthopaedic Association
  12. 2015 - present
    MemberEmerging Leaders Program, American Orthopaedic Association
  13. 2012 - present
    MemberNorth American Spine Society
  14. 2012 - present
    Active FellowAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  15. 2005
    MemberAmerican Association of Orthopedic Surgeons
  16. 2003
    MemberSociety of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons
  17. 2002 - 2006
    Resident LiaisonAmerican Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.