Cleveland Clinic Appoints Dr. Brenessa Lindeman as Executive Dean

Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University have appointed Dr. Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., M.E.H.P., as the new Executive Dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She will take on the role in October 2026.

In her new position, Dr. Brenessa will oversee the college’s five-year physician-investigator medical education program. Her responsibilities will include enhancing the student experience and managing the institution’s academic, administrative and financial operations.

The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is part of Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine and is known for its tuition-free medical education program. Established in 2002, the college focuses on preparing future physician-scientists while promoting innovation in medical education.

Dr. Brenessa will become the fourth Executive Dean of the college and the first woman and first surgeon to hold the position. She succeeds J. Harry Isaacson, M.D., who served as Executive Dean from 2018 to 2025 and oversaw a period of growth and educational innovation. Dr. Brenessa will also receive an academic professorial appointment at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, which will be announced later.

Key Highlights:

• Dr. Brenessa Lindeman becomes the first woman and surgeon to lead the college
• She brings extensive experience in medical education and surgery
• She will begin her new role as Executive Dean in October 2026

“Dr. Brenessa is an inspiring leader and a highly regarded educator and surgeon,” said James Stoller, M.D., M.S., and 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. Brenessa has developed exceptional proficiency in competency-based assessment including Entrust able Professional Activities and evaluation that will add considerable depth to our innovative learning environment,” said Stan Gerson, M.D., Dean of the School of Medicine.

Dr. Brenessa 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.

Dr. Brenessa 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, Dr. Brenessa’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.