Biography

Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, FACS (B.S. ’92, M.D. ’94, MBA ’11) was appointed interim president of Howard University in September 2025. A proud alumnus and distinguished surgeon, scholar, and leader, he also holds the titles of president emeritus as the University’s 17th president, and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine where he continues to teach the next generation of physicians. Dr. Frederick also continues to serve patients as a practicing cancer surgeon at Howard University Hospital. 

Previously, Dr. Frederick served as interim CEO of the American Cancer Society and its Cancer Action Network, leading more than 3,000 staff and 1.3 million volunteers. His first tenure as Howard’s interim president (2013) and as the 17th president (2014–2023) was marked by significant transformation: strengthening student success, increasing enrollment and financial aid, improving retention and graduation rates, expanding research capacity, and growing the University’s endowment to nearly $1 billion. Under his vision, Howard achieved Research One classification in February 2025 and advanced major real estate projects that created affordable housing and jobs in Washington, D.C. In recognition of his impact, the University named the Wayne A. I. Frederick Undergraduate Library in his honor.

A proud Howard alumnus who entered at age 16, Dr. Frederick earned a B.S./M.D. dual degree and later an MBA from Howard before completing postdoctoral research and surgical oncology fellowships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has held leadership roles across Howard, including provost, chief academic officer, and director of the Cancer Center.

Internationally recognized for his work to address disparities in health care and medical education, Dr. Frederick is widely published and serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards, including Mutual of America, Humana, Tempus AI Inc., Insulet Corporation, Save the Children, and is a senior advisor to Blackstone Inc. and Boston Consulting Group. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has earned numerous honors, including the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Washingtonian of the Year, Carnegie Corporation’s “Great Immigrants, Great Americans” award, and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.’s 2025 Chairman’s Award. In November 2025, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington inducted him into the Washington Business Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Laureates. He was also honored by the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute with the 2026 Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, Sr. Leadership Award.