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August 2025 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: LINDA I. SULEIMAN, MDHonoring Leadership, Innovation, and Impact in Orthopaedic Surgery
As we celebrate Women in Medicine Month, we proudly highlight the Linda I. Suleiman, MD, a pioneering orthopaedic surgeon whose dedication to clinical excellence, education and better care continues to shape the future of medicine.
Specializing in joint replacement and adult reconstruction surgery, Dr. Suleiman has clinical expertise that spans hip and knee replacements, minimally invasive joint procedures and complex prosthetic revisions. Known for her precision and compassionate care, Dr. Suleiman consistently earns high praise from her patients. |
Linda Suleiman, MD, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, and Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, at Northwestern Medicine
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She is also one of just six Black female surgeons in the U.S. who is specialty-trained to perform joint replacements — a distinction that resonates deeply with her patients, many of whom travel from out of state to receive care from a surgeon who understands their lived experiences.
Academic Distinction and Leadership
Dr. Suleiman serves as an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine. She earned her medical from Howard University College of Medicine in 2012 and served as chief administrative resident during her orthopaedic surgery residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Brian Hartigan, MD Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching and Patient Care.
Following her residency, she completed a fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement at Rush University Medical Center, then a two-year health policy fellowship with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). Dr. Suleiman serves as a member of the AAHKS program committee and will take on the role of program chair for AAHKS 2026.
Academic Distinction and Leadership
Dr. Suleiman serves as an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine. She earned her medical from Howard University College of Medicine in 2012 and served as chief administrative resident during her orthopaedic surgery residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Brian Hartigan, MD Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching and Patient Care.
Following her residency, she completed a fellowship in adult hip and knee reconstruction and replacement at Rush University Medical Center, then a two-year health policy fellowship with the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). Dr. Suleiman serves as a member of the AAHKS program committee and will take on the role of program chair for AAHKS 2026.
Research and Global Care Contributions
Dr. Suleiman has authored numerous papers, notably collaborating with Heartland Alliance to establish a screening process that integrates factors affecting patient selection and outcomes. Last year, she received the AAHKS Fare Grant for her research aimed at implementing a digital joint screening program designed to enhance healthcare access.
Earlier this year, Dr. Suleiman joined Women Orthopaedists Global Outreach (WOGO) on a transformative humanitarian mission in Arusha, Tanzania. Traveling over 8,000 miles and coordinating the shipment of 9,000 pounds of surgical supplies and equipment, Dr. Suleiman and the WOGO team successfully performed 47 knee replacements for patients in need.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Dr. Suleiman’s journey — from her roots in Hamilton, Ontario, and her mother’s sacrifices as a physician displaced by civil war in Somalia, to becoming the first Black woman faculty member in the Northwestern Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery — testifies to her resilience and dedication. Her dual roles as a surgeon and educator allow her to change lives in the operating room and in the classroom.
Dr. Suleiman has authored numerous papers, notably collaborating with Heartland Alliance to establish a screening process that integrates factors affecting patient selection and outcomes. Last year, she received the AAHKS Fare Grant for her research aimed at implementing a digital joint screening program designed to enhance healthcare access.
Earlier this year, Dr. Suleiman joined Women Orthopaedists Global Outreach (WOGO) on a transformative humanitarian mission in Arusha, Tanzania. Traveling over 8,000 miles and coordinating the shipment of 9,000 pounds of surgical supplies and equipment, Dr. Suleiman and the WOGO team successfully performed 47 knee replacements for patients in need.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Dr. Suleiman’s journey — from her roots in Hamilton, Ontario, and her mother’s sacrifices as a physician displaced by civil war in Somalia, to becoming the first Black woman faculty member in the Northwestern Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery — testifies to her resilience and dedication. Her dual roles as a surgeon and educator allow her to change lives in the operating room and in the classroom.
