Jennifer Lindsey, MD, MBA, Named Next Incumbent of the Diane and Albert Kaneb Chair in Ophthalmology

Jennifer Lindsey, MD, MBA, has been appointed the next incumbent of the Diane and Albert Kaneb Chair in Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear. This Chair was endowed by the late Diane Kaneb, former Board Chair at Mass Eye and Ear and a long-time supporter of the hospital, and her husband, Al Kaneb. Diane joined the Board of Directors in 1989, bringing a passion and dedication to improving patient care, expanding research, and fueling Mass Eye and Ear’s strategic direction and financial stability. She served as Chair of the Board from 2006 to 2009.

In addition to her immense generosity as a volunteer leader, Diane and her husband Al were generous philanthropic supporters of the Department of Ophthalmology. In addition to establishing the Diane and Albert Kaneb Chair, they also supported the Harvard Ophthalmology Ocular Genomics Institute at Mass Eye and Ear, the Simmons Lessell Fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology and the Thomas J. Madden Fellowship in Retina.

Dr. Lindsey was recruited to Mass Eye and Ear in 2025 to serve as Program Director for the Harvard Ophthalmology Residency Program and Vice Chair for Education at Harvard Ophthalmology, and Associate Chief for Ophthalmic Education at Mass Eye and Ear. A national leader in medical education, Dr. Lindsey previously served as Associate Professor and Director of Resident Education for Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Acting Chief of the Ophthalmology Section at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System at Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

During her tenure at Vanderbilt, she was instrumental in modernizing the residency curriculum with cutting-edge technologies and innovative teaching methodologies. Notably, she developed Vanderbilt Eye Online, a curated electronic curricular platform for ophthalmology residents, a first step toward tailoring curricula for the next generation of digital native learners. 

Dr. Lindsey's exceptional contributions in education have been recognized with several awards, including the Surgical Instruction Award in 2008, 2010, and 2012, and the Denis O’Day Excellence in Clinical Instruction Award in 2014 and 2017. Dr. Lindsey is also a highly regarded and active member of the Association for University Professors of Ophthalmology and is currently the President of the Program Directors Council, a member of the Communications Committee, and of the Working Group for Advocacy. Dr. Lindsey also served as past President of the Association of Veterans Affairs Ophthalmologists, where she spearheaded the organization’s engagement on the VA national standards of practice.