Alan J. Lesse, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, has been appointed senior associate dean for medical curriculum in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

He had served as interim senior associate dean since January following the death of Avery Ellis, who had held the post since 2008.

“In addition to his outstanding experience in clinical service, research and teaching, Lesse has the administrative and leadership skills needed to continue to innovate and evolve the medical curriculum according to the standards established by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education,” Michael E. Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean of the UB medical school, said in announcing the appointment.

Lesse will continue to serve as vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine and chief of the infectious disease section at the Veterans Administration Western New York Healthcare System. He also is associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Microbiology and Immunology in the medical school.

Lesse’s clinical work focuses on infectious diseases, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus. He conducts research on Staphylococcal infections, particularly complications related to S. aureus bloodstream infections.

A member of the school’s medical curriculum committee, Lesse teaches extensively in the medical school. He works with students throughout the full spectrum of medical education, from first-year medical students to senior fellows in infectious diseases.  

In 2014, Lesse was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Among his other honors are the Siegel Committee for Teaching Award in pre-clinical years, letters of commendation for both pre-clinical and clinical teaching, and the Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty Teaching Award.

He received his BA and MD from the University of Virginia. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Temple University and completed clinical/research fellowships in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia.