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Medical Student
Wayne State University
Dhiraj “DJ” Tadikamalla is a fourth-year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine with a strong interest in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R). He is passionate about improving patient function, quality of life, and access to rehabilitative care through clinical innovation, research, and community engagement.
DJ’s research focuses on neurorehabilitation, oncology, urology, and digital health interventions. He has presented multiple projects at regional and national conferences, including studies on student-run free clinics, human-centered website design to promote youth physical activity, and integrating social needs programs into urban clinics. Several of his projects have received research awards and recognition.
Beyond research, DJ serves as a volunteer and financial coordinator at Cass Clinic, a student-run free clinic serving Detroit’s underserved population, where he manages an $80K annual budget, oversees grants, and leads fundraising efforts. He also contributes to medical education through near-peer teaching and promotes student well-being as part of Med2Med, a program fostering connection and resilience among medical students.
DJ’s career interests include spinal cord injury, sports medicine, and interventional spine, with a passion for leveraging technology and patient-centered approaches to optimize functional outcomes. Outside of medicine, he enjoys fantasy football, soccer, fitness training, and exploring adaptive sports initiatives.
