Brenessa Lindeman appointed executive dean of Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Brenessa Lindeman, MD, as executive dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
As executive dean, Lindeman will lead Lerner College of Medicine’s distinctive five-year physician-investigator medical education program, with a focus on delivering exceptional student experience, along with overseeing the college’s academic, administrative and financial operations.
A distinct program of Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is a tuition-free program nationally recognized for educating future physician-scientists and advancing innovation in medical education. Lindeman will also have an academic professorial appointment at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, which will be announced at a later date.
Lindeman becomes the fourth executive dean to lead the program since it was established in 2002 and is the first surgeon and first woman to serve in the role. She succeeds J. Harry Isaacson, MD, who held the position from 2018–2025, guiding the college through a period of significant growth and educational innovation. She will begin in October 2026.
“Dr. Lindeman is an inspiring leader and a highly regarded educator and surgeon,” said James Stoller, MD, chief of education at Cleveland Clinic. “She is the right person to continue Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University’s long success in training physicians and physician investigators, and her passion for improving the education and experiences of medical students will lead us into the future.”
“We are delighted to welcome the next executive dean to the leadership of our medical education programs of the School of Medicine. Dr. Lindeman has developed exceptional proficiency in competency-based assessment, including Entrustable Professional Activities and evaluation that will add considerable depth to our innovative learning environment,” noted Stan Gerson, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.
Lindeman joins the medical school from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she has served since 2017. She is currently vice chair of education in the School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery; professor of surgery, pediatrics and medical education; program director of the Endocrine Surgery Fellowship; and assistant dean of graduate medical education.
Lindeman received her medical degree from Vanderbilt University’s School of Medicine, completed a residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins University, where she served as administrative chief resident, and completed a fellowship in endocrine surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She holds a Master of Education in Health Professions from Johns Hopkins. Her clinical interests include thyroid cancer, benign thyroid disease, hyperparathyroidism, adrenal disease and surgical treatment of inherited endocrine syndromes.
An internationally recognized scholar in health professions education, Lindeman’s research focuses on how best to assess and develop competencies across the continuum of medical education, from undergraduate to graduate medical education. She has published extensively on competency-based assessment, learner development, physician wellness, learning environments, and resident supervision and autonomy. Her scholarship has advanced evidence-based approaches to training and evaluating future physicians.
About Case Western Reserve University
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 128,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
