Meet Dr. Aliya Frederick
The Woman Behind the Crown and the White Coat
Physician. Scientist. Advocate. Public Speaker. Titleholder. Entrepreneur. Author. A multi-hyphenate leader whose life's work sits at the intersection of medicine, representation, and inspiration.
Dream Bigger. Be Inspired. Lead with Purpose.
The Crowned MD
INTRODUCTION
More Than a Title. More Than a Degree.
Dr. Aliya Frederick, MD, PhD — The Crowned MD — is a double board-certified pediatric neurologist, neuroscientist, public speaker, mentor, advocate, author, and seasoned beauty queen with a legacy of wins at the national and international level. Trained at some of the nation's most prestigious institutions, she has built a unique platform at the intersection of medicine, representation, and inspiration, reaching audiences far beyond traditional academic and medical spaces.
But the degrees and the crowns only tell part of the story. The heart of The Crowned MD is found in the why — in the little girl who first dared to dream of becoming a doctor at the age of ten, and in every young person she now reaches who is standing at that same crossroads, wondering whether the worlds of science and medicine has a place for them.
THE ORIGIN STORY
A Dream Imagined at Ten. A Life Built Around It.
Dr. Aliya Frederick first imagined becoming a doctor at the age of ten years old. What began as a childhood dream became a guiding star — one she pursued with focus, dedication, and an unwavering belief in what was possible, even when the path was not always clear or easy. Her academic journey took her to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
She went on to earn a PhD in Neuroscience and a medical degree from Vanderbilt University, one of the nation's most prestigious institutions, before completing her residency and fellowship training at UC San Diego, California, where she has remained as a faculty physician, training and mentoring the next generation of physicians and scientists.
Her journey from a ten-year-old with a dream to a double board-certified pediatric neurologist and neuroscientist is not just her story — it is the story she tells every time she steps onto a stage, enters a classroom, or places a crown on her head. Because if she could get here, so can others.
It was there that her trajectory was profoundly shaped by the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program; a transformative experience that provided not only financial support, but mentorship, personal development, peer community, and access to research opportunities that would prove pivotal to everything that followed. Through the Meyerhoff Program, Dr. Frederick had the opportunity to spend a summer conducting research at the University of Lancaster in England — and it was there, in a laboratory far from home, that she discovered her love of neuroscience. That discovery would chart the course for the rest of her career.
THE PHYSICIAN & SCIENTIST
Excellence at the Intersection of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Frederick is double board-certified in Psychiatry & Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology — a distinction that reflects years of rigorous training and a deep commitment to excellence in the practice of medicine. As a faculty physician, she is dedicated not only to the care of her patients but to the cultivation of the next generation of physicians and scientists, training and mentoring residents and fellows who will carry this work forward.
Her clinical expertise spans pediatric neurology and neurophysiology, and her academic background in neuroscience informs both her practice and her passion for making science accessible, exciting, and achievable for diverse young people who are just beginning to imagine their own futures in medicine.
BS, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology — University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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PhD, Neuroscience - Vanderbilt University
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Residency, Child Neurology - University of California San Diego
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Fellowship, Clinical Neurophysiology - University of California San Diego
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Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology - University of California San Diego
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Board Certifications - Psychiatry & Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology
THE ADVOCATE & MENTOR
Opening Doors. Building Pathways. Changing the Narrative.
Advocacy is not something Dr. Frederick does alongside her work — it is the thread that runs through all of it. Guided by a philosophy rooted in service, representation, and creating pathways for others to thrive, she has dedicated herself to ensuring that the next generation — particularly young people from underrepresented communities — has not just the inspiration, but the concrete support and access needed to succeed.
She is an active faculty advocate and member of several mentoring programs dedicated to increasing the number of diverse individuals in the pipeline for careers in healthcare and supporting the longitudinal success of students and trainees of color. Through her DEI leadership roles, she champions a culture of inclusion and belonging in the workplace — advocating not just for representation in numbers, but for environments where diverse individuals are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Her advocacy extends beyond the walls of the institution. Through youth organizations, community appearances, school visits, and leadership programs, Dr. Frederick meets young people where they are — making science and medicine feel accessible.
THE TITLEHOLDER
A Crown Worn with Purpose.
Since stepping onto the pageant stage for the first time in 2019, Dr. Aliya Frederick has built an impressive legacy of wins at the state, national, and international level — using every title and every platform to amplify a message that extends far beyond the competition floor.
She currently holds the title of Ms. Black California and is preparing to compete for the National title in 2026 — carrying with her a platform rooted in representation, mentorship, youth empowerment, and the belief that dreaming bigger is not just an aspiration but a practice.
As a double board-certified physician and scientist who competes at the highest levels of pageantry, Dr. Frederick occupies a space that is entirely her own — and she uses it with intention, grace, and an unwavering sense of purpose.
Beyond the competition stage, she has served as a pageant judge for several prestigious systems, hosted red carpets, modeled in fashion shows, and been featured in commercials, podcasts, and print media — bringing the message of The Crowned MD to audiences near and far.
The crown is not the destination. It is the amplifier.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Rooted in Service. Driven by Purpose. Measured by Impact.
Everything Dr. Frederick does is guided by a set of core values that define not just her work, but who she is as a person:
Service
Leadership is about showing up for others.
Dr. Frederick leads by serving, consistently putting the needs of her community, her students, and the next generation at the center of everything she does.
Representation
Dr. Frederick shows up visibly, unapologetically, and fully — in the clinic, on the stage, in the community — so that every young person who looks up can see themselves reflected in what is possible.
Mentorship
The right mentor at the right moment can change the entire trajectory of a life. Dr. Frederick invests personally in the development of others because she knows firsthand how transformative that investment can be.
Excellence
In medicine, in advocacy, in pageantry, and in life — Dr. Frederick holds herself to the highest standard, not for recognition, but because the communities she serves deserve nothing less.
POSSIBILITY
Dr. Frederick believes in the extraordinary potential of every young person who has yet to fully imagine what they are capable of. That belief is the heartbeat of The Crowned MD.
