Joseph
Alderete, MD

COL (Ret.) Joseph F. Alderete Jr., MD, FAOA, is an orthopaedic oncologist and limb restoration expert at UT Health San Antonio, where he serves as Associate Professor, the Frances and Blackstone Dilworth Professor in Orthopaedic Oncology, and Director of the RegenR8 Limb Optimization Research Laboratory. A West Point graduate and Mayo Clinic–trained surgeon, Dr. Alderete has dedicated his career to caring for patients with complex limb injuries and advancing innovations that improve recovery, mobility, and quality of life.

Dr. Alderete served 30 years in the U.S. Army, leading surgical and medical teams around the world—including roles as Chief Surgeon for Task Force 32 in Iraq and Deputy Commander for Clinical Services in Afghanistan. He also helped lead the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center, one of the nation’s premier centers for amputee and limb salvage rehabilitation. Throughout his service, he cared for severely injured service members, helped shape national standards in extremity trauma care, and championed breakthroughs in amputee rehabilitation and limb optimization.

Today, Dr. Alderete’s work brings together clinical care, research, and innovation. Through the RegenR8 lab and ongoing Department of Defense collaborations, he is developing new approaches in nerve repair, bone regeneration, osseointegration, and human performance. He is widely recognized for his leadership, education, and military medical service, and continues to mentor future surgeons while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in limb restoration.

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