Learn About The 2025 Laureates: Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick
Laureate Q&A
Author: JA of Greater Washington
Community Involvement
Published:
Monday, 18 Aug 2025
Sharing
Image caption: Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, Interim President, Howard University
The 2025 Hall of Fame Laureates are names you’ve likely seen in headlines for years. But this series offers something different: a rare, personal look at their journeys—told in their own words. Through candid reflections, hard-earned lessons, and timeless advice, these leaders share what it truly means to lead with purpose and leave a lasting mark.
WASHINGTON'S BEST IN BUSINESS: DR. WAYNE A. I. FREDERICK
From patient care to leading institutions, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick proves that purpose-driven leadership can transform lives and systems alike. Learn more about his inspiring journey from Interim CEO of the American Cancer Society to President Emeritus and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at Howard University, and why he’s one of this year’s Laureates.
What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: My diagnosis of sickle cell anemia at birth was the impetus to pursue a career in medicine. However, as I navigated my academic career in high school and college, I realized I was very intellectually curious about finance, complex organizational management, and leadership. That interest led to me pursuing an MBA and getting involved in administrative leadership, board governance and entrepreneurship.
Did you have a mentor or a role model over the course of your career? Who was it, and how did they impact your career trajectory?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors, far too many to name here. Nonetheless, I’ll set aside the usual caution against singling anyone out and highlight two individuals who have had a lasting influence on me. Dr. LaSalle Leffall Jr. was a mentor in my academic surgical career initially. As I pursued a fellowship in surgical oncology, his support and guidance were invaluable. The disciplined approach and pursuit of excellence that he deployed in all things have served as a guidepost for me.
The second is Vernon Jordan. He provided guidance in all things outside of medicine. He was a sage man with a lived experience that was larger than life itself. There was no issue, occurrence, or personality he had not encountered and/or navigated. His ability to speak to all these arenas provided me with an encyclopedia on life itself.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned from a failure or setback?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: I have learned far more from failures and setbacks than I have from successes. As a matter of fact, I am more adroit at recalling failures and setbacks. Regardless of the magnitude of those failures and setbacks, they have all taught me that getting back up and rejoining the fight was the most important thing.
President Roosevelt’s speech about the Man in the Arena is a reminder that "while setbacks and failures should not define who you are, they are important lessons in shaping who you are and are necessary on the road to success."
What advice would you give to students about managing stress and maintaining mental health while preparing for their careers?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: Given the history of my father, I am acutely aware of managing my own mental health and the stresses that may lead to its deterioration. Students should prioritize their well-being. They should be open to seeking advice and counsel and outlets for stress. We should all live fully and passionately, and not have the pursuit of careers be the centerpiece of our existence, but rather find fulfillment in all that life has to offer. In some circumstances, that means walking away as I did, even when there may be more to achieve.
If you could choose one person, living or dead, to have dinner with, who would it be? Why?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: My father. My father was a mounted branch police officer who suffered a head injury after falling off his horse and, subsequently, within a couple of years later committed suicide a month shy of my third birthday. I did not and would not know him, but I have loved and felt his presence all my life. I would want to know and understand his pain, but also feel his joy.
What do you consider your greatest professional achievement, and why?
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick: My most important role in life is being a father. There is no professional achievement that has completely fulfilled me in the way fatherhood does every day. So, with that in mind, I would say that my greatest professional achievement has been not having my professional career get in the way of my fatherhood.
Invest in the Future — Honor Dr. Frederick
Support Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick’s induction into the Washington Business Hall of Fame and help advance the mission of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. Your contribution directly fuels experiences that equip local students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in a competitive world.
Make a gift or reserve your table today!