Lynn M. Cleary, MD, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University
Lynn M. Cleary, MD, demonstrated her aptitude as a medical educator before she completed her residency. As a trainee, she worked with fellow residents to develop a didactic curriculum for the medicine clerkship, and students recognized her teaching by honoring her with the Tufts Medical School Resident Teaching Award. The didactic curriculum became the first of many contributions to curriculum development that have defined Dr. Cleary’s distinguished career and exemplified her passion for medical education.
Dr. Cleary joined the faculty at SUNY Upstate Medical University in 1985 and became a core faculty member for the medical student and residency programs. Students recognize Dr. Cleary’s teaching excellence in their course evaluations; her courses consistently rank in the top 10% of Upstate educators.
“Dr. Cleary’s teaching style is characterized by high expectations and supportive mentoring. She has a particular skill in assessing a learner’s strengths and areas less developed, understands the process of skill acquisition at the stages of development, and helps them move forward along the continuum,” says Mantosh Dewan, MD, a distinguished service professor at Upstate.
Her teaching talents have led to leadership appointments at Upstate, including associate dean for curriculum, senior associate dean for education, and, currently, vice president for academic affairs. As vice president, Dr. Cleary oversees Upstate’s academic programs, student affairs, interprofessional education, and program assessments.
Dr. Cleary continues to teach and mentor medical students as course director for electives in quality, patient safety, and leadership; as a lecturer in pharmacology and attending physician on the internal medicine inpatient services; and as councilor of the Alpha Omega Alpha Upstate Gamma Chapter, for which she encourages members to serve as teachers and mentors.
Dr. Cleary is also an influential educator on the national stage as a member of several boards, committees, and working groups. She has served on the boards of directors of Alpha Omega Alpha and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), from which she also earned an honorary lifetime membership. Dr. Cleary has served as an advisor to the AAMC, particularly as a key contributor to the Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Residency and Recommendations for Clinical Skills Curricula for Undergraduate Medical Education.
She has been honored many times as a physician-educator. She is a recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award and the Exceptional Mentor Award from the National American Medical Women’s Association. In 2004, she was promoted to distinguished teaching professor, SUNY’s highest distinction for educators.
Dr. Cleary received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary and her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Tufts-New England Medical Center.