This biography is a part of Central Times’ 2024 Distinguished Alumni Ceremony coverage. To see biographies of all of this year’s inductees, click here.
Dr. Catherine Adrian DeRidder works as a child abuse and general pediatrician at Los Angeles General Medical Center and is a volunteer faculty member at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. She is one of only a handful of child abuse specialists in Los Angeles. Through her work, she evaluates children and their living situation for signs of abuse and also serves as a primary care physician for many high-risk children and families.
DeRidder spent her entire childhood in Naperville. Though she moved to California in her professional life, she still has family residing here and still loves Naperville, deep-dish pizza, and fresh corn on the cob.
During her time at Central, she was highly involved, as a member of National Honors Society, Rotary Interact, and SAC (Student Advisory Council). She was the vice president of her senior class council and ran Mr. NCHS. DeRidder has been interested in helping the community since early in her life. Back then, she did so by volunteering and showing exceptional determination throughout high school.
DeRidder has written many publications in her field of work to bring light the signs of child abuse. Working with children by keeping them healthy and safe as well as maximizing their potential is one of her biggest passions. She enjoys the gratification of knowing that she has protected a child who is living in a dangerous environment as well as continuing to see that child grow and stabilize in their family and home.
She is a part of the SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) program that investigates child abuse and neglect, and she frequents court as an expert medical witness. She has received many awards for her work in pediatrics. She works closely with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, District Attorney, County Counsel, and law enforcement.
DeRidder has received recognition for teaching medical students and residents about child abuse pediatrics at USC’s Keck School of Medicine and Los Angeles General Medical Center.
DeRidder now resides in California with her husband Mauritz and her children Cora and Mark.
