Neurologist, Alum to Give Healthcare Career Tips in Virtual Panel

In the ever-evolving world of science and healthcare, innovation is key to progress and advancing patient care. For Dr. William D. Freeman BS’96, this has been a driving force in his career as an internationally renowned neurologist and neurointensivist. His belief: Make it better than you found it.

“Neurocritical and stroke care is constantly changing,” Freeman said. “Being able to innovate and create something new for patients is extremely rewarding. Saving lives is no cliché.”

Freeman is a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where he has worked for more than 20 years. There, he is the founding Neurosciences ICU medical director and a co-director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Freeman will discuss his career with UT Dallas students as a panelist at today’s virtual event, “Interviewing 101: Tackling Some Frequently Asked Questions in Healthcare.” The event, co-hosted by the NSM Career Success Center and the University Career Center, will give students practical advice from several respected figures in the industry and offer firsthand knowledge to help students understand the essential aspects of healthcare interviews. 

After graduating from UT Dallas with a degree in biology, Freeman attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He completed his residency in neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Centered on his primary interests of precision medicine of brain injury and stroke, Freeman has been recognized numerous times throughout his career for his work in advancing patient care, education and research. He is a Mayo Clinic Gold Quality Fellow, which is an honor awarded for his quality improvement initiatives, particularly in the redesign of stroke care.

Freeman credits his time at UT Dallas as building a strong foundation for his future studies. Participating in the panel is a way to give back and to continue to move healthcare forward by focusing on the innovators of the future, he said.

“UT Dallas has a rich history of incredible scientists and professors,” he said. “The neuroscience courses I took helped me with my future for my MD and subsequent training in residency in neurology. The current students are the future. Therefore, it’s critical we pay it forward to the next generation.”

The  panel will be streamed on Teams today at 1-2 p.m. CST.  Students and alumni can register for the event on Handshake. The panel also includes Jennifer Duggan, career coach and founder of Joy of Work Services; Rachael Reyna, behavioral health manager at CK Family Services; and Elizabeth Tedeschi, area operations manager for iScribeMD.

To stay updated and learn more about Freeman, follow him on X.