We celebrate retiring Executive Dean Dr. Bud Isaacson

After seven years of outstanding service as Executive Dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University (CCLCM), Bud Isaacson, MD, Professor of Medicine, is stepping away from the Executive Dean’s role as of Dec. 31. Dr. Isaacson will continue his internal medicine practice along with coaching and other activities to support Cleveland Clinic physicians.

Dr. Isaacson’s contributions to medical education and at Cleveland Clinic are many and highly impactful. Most recently, he helped lead the successful Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) survey — full accreditation was achieved for the maximum eight-year term — following an 18-month self-study, comprehensive data report and multi-day site visit in March.

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“Bud is a joy. He finds the positive in every encounter, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Everyone in his orbit —patients, colleagues and students — hold him in the highest esteem.”

–Stan Gerson, MD, Dean and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

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Under his leadership and working closely with colleagues at CWRU, the Health Education Campus opened in 2019 to bring medical, nursing, dental medicine and physician assistant students together to learn. Within months of opening, its atrium was transformed into Hope Hospital to accommodate an anticipated surge in COVID-19 patients (which fortunately didn’t happen).

In 2020, and under Dr. Isaacson’s guidance, CCLCM faculty and students developed solutions for unprecedented educational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a rapid pivot to virtual classes and implementation of a virtual clinical curriculum to allow students to meet their learning objectives. During the pandemic, CCLCM held virtual versions of spring milestone events: Capstone, Match Day and graduation.

As a result of the pandemic and its impacts on healthcare professionals’ mental health, Dr. Isaacson urged an even stronger focus on student wellness and support within the CCLCM program.

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“Bud has been a colleague of mine for 33 years. He is the epitome of professionalism. Because I trust him implicitly, I recommended him to care for my father. My father adored Bud and thought he was the best doctor he’d ever seen. I think it says a lot when your colleagues trust you to care for a family member.”

–Serpil Erzurum, MD, Chief Research & Academic Officer, Cleveland Clinic; Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University

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Over his tenure, CCLCM’s programs reached new heights. This year, CCLCM received a record number of applications — 2,742 for 32 spots — and the highest yield of accepted offers in program history (offering 44 slots to fill 32 positions). In 2024, CCLCM celebrated its 20^th anniversary with weekend-long festivities for faculty, staff, students and alumni.

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“Rather than recite Bud’s many education and clinical accomplishments, I’d like to recognize him for his impeccable character. He is fair-minded and calm, and possesses equanimity. As I reflect on the seven classic virtues — trust, compassion, courage, justice, wisdom, temperance and hope ― he consistently lives up to them all.”

–James K. Stoller, MD, MS, Chief of Education, Cleveland Clinic; Professor of Medicine and Senior Associate Dean (Cleveland Clinic), Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University

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Under Dr. Isaacson’s stewardship, CCLCM has developed its offerings to equip the next generation of healthcare professionals with the skills, professionalism and empathy required to navigate care in an ever-changing medical landscape. These initiatives encouraged integration of pressing societal factors, such as climate health and artificial intelligence, into the curricula as well as a deeper connection and understanding of the communities we serve. This humanities-informed approach to medical education helps build the mindset necessary for the workforce of the future: physicians and researchers who will provide the highest level of care to our communities for generations to come.

As further testimony to the success of CCLCM, 30 alumni are members of the Cleveland Clinic staff.

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“Bud is widely known as someone who shows up, whether it’s to celebrate an accomplishment or to tackle a challenge. He’s always willing to be there.”

–Christine Warren, MD, MS (’09), Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, and Associate Professor of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University

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The achievement of which Dr. Isaacson is proudest is managing to adapt to a changing medical education landscape while staying true to CCLCM’s guiding principles, which include, among others, a focus on reflective practice; student-driven learning; working collaboratively, not competitively; problem-based curriculum; and portfolio assessment. All these principles are in service of graduating students who are outstanding clinicians and researchers.

Dr. Isaacson has received many awards during his tenure, including the much-coveted Bruce Hubbard Stewart Humanitarian Award from Cleveland Clinic; Master Teacher Award from the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Physicians; Master Educator Award from Cleveland Clinic; inaugural CCLCM Graduating Students Award; Stephen Ockner MD Clinician Educator Award, Department of General Internal Medicine; and the Outstanding Contribution to Education Award from the Cleveland Clinic Educators Collaborative. He is also a member of the Case Western Reserve University Academy of Scholar Educators.

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“Everyone should have someone at work to turn to when they have a question, an important decision to make or a problem they don’t know how to address. That person for me has been Bud.”

–Neil Mehta, MBBS, MS, Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs and Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University

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We hope you join us in thanking Dr. Isaacson for his transformative leadership and vision that have defined his tenure. His emphasis on excellence has not only elevated CCLCM but also set a high standard for medical education, and the principles he championed will continue to inspire and guide future generations of medical students and healthcare professionals.

Looking forward, Christine Warren, MD, MS (’09), who has been serving as Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs since July 2019, has graciously accepted the role of interim Executive Dean while a national search is underway. Dr. Warren will continue in her other roles while serving as interim Executive Dean.