Associate Dean of Clinical Transformation Named at Jacobs School

Dear Jacobs School Community,

I am pleased to announce that Leslie J. Bisson, MD, has been named associate dean of clinical transformation at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

In this capacity, Dr. Bisson will be responsible for leading the transformation of UBMD Physicians’ Group and our 630 physicians into a more cohesive unit, positioning its practice plans for success in the changing health care landscape. He will also focus on helping to shape the future of clinical medicine at the Jacobs School and within UBMD, with a commitment to excellence for patients, clinicians, and partners.

As emphasized at my recent State of the School Address, we are committed to improving the health of Western New York. A key component of this is working collaboratively, both within UBMD, and with our health care system partners. 

Dr. Bisson's appointment is the result of year-long discussions among Jacobs School leadership and with community stakeholders about how UBMD Physicians' Group and our clinicians can ensure a focus on physician-led medicine and a superior patient and provider experience with outstanding outcomes for all. These discussions led to the conclusion that a more unified organization is necessary for the Jacobs School and UBMD to lead WNY health care into the future.  

An accomplished orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Bisson holds several positions, including the June A. and Eugene R. Mindell, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the Jacobs School; medical director and team orthopaedic surgeon for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres; team orthopaedist for SUNY Buffalo State, and president of UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. In addition, he sees patients at his office in Amherst.

Dr. Bisson received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery at Johns Hopkins, a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery and a fellowship in sports medicine at the American Sports Medicine Institute.

He has lectured nationally and internationally, published dozens of peer-reviewed articles, and serves on the editorial boards of high-impact sports medicine scientific journals. Dr. Bisson joined the Jacobs School in 2007 as the director of the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship.

His research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries, with a particular emphasis on the treatment of degenerative knee conditions, ACL injuries and rotator cuff tears.

Earlier this year, Dr. Bisson and the medical team with the Buffalo Bills were recognized for their lifesaving emergency response to the collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin. They were honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards, an NFL Honors Award, the American Heart Association CPR Award, among several others. In the aftermath of Hamlin’s recovery from cardiac arrest, Dr. Bisson has spearheaded an effort to bring hands-only CPR training to Buffalo’s historically underserved communities. 

In his new role, Dr. Bisson will collaborate with stakeholders to develop and implement strategic plans to improve clinical quality, patient and clinician satisfaction, and care delivery to make a positive impact on the health of our community.

I am confident that Dr. Bisson’s leadership and vision for the Jacobs School and UBMD will successfully navigate this critical transformation and fulfill our mission of delivering exceptional, accessible care to our patients and our community.

Onwards and upwards, 

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA
Vice President for Health Sciences and
Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
University at Buffalo