Annual Reunion

The annual Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) Alumni Reunion brings our graduate community together to reconnect, socialize, and celebrate one another and our collective achievements in science and medicine. 

2025 Alumni Reunion

Whether you are looking to reconnect with old friends and your alma mater, make new connections across specialities and class years, dive into the academic discourse of reunion scientific sessions, or just want a fresh bite of the Big Apple, your VP&S family is ready to welcome you back to campus! 

Reunion Lodging Information

A block of rooms has been reserved at the following hotels:
Reservation Cut-off: April 1, 2025

The Edge Hotel
514 West 168th Street, New York, NY | (212) 543-0005
Arrival Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Departure Saturday, May 3, 2025
Call for Reservation with Group ID: VP&S Alumni Reunion 2025

The Belleclaire Hotel
2175 Broadway, New York, NY | (212) 453-4036
Arrival Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Departure Saturday, May 3, 2025
Click Here for the Reservation Link

Additional preferred lodging is available through the Columbia Visitors Portal

Alumni Day Program - Friday May 2, 2025

The Faculty Club
630 West 168th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10032

Parking Available:
115 Forth Washington Avenue (corner of West 165th Street)
$10.00 parking tickets are available for events at the Medical Center on Friday May 2, 2025

9:00 AM
Welcome and Registration

9:45 - 10:45 AM
Scientific Session I

James Bussel '75
Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical School
Topic: FcRn: Biology and Therapeutics

Annabelle Santos Volgman '84
McMullan-Eybel Endowed Chair for Excellence in Clinical Cardiology
Professor of Medicine, Rush College of Medicine
Immediate Past Medical Director, Rush Heart Center for Women
Director of Research and Academic Affairs, Division of Cardiology
Past Governor, American College of Cardiology of Illinois
Topic: Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease - Why is this Important?

Matthew Spotnitz '10
ODSS Data Scholar with the All of Us Research Program at NIH
Topic: Assessing the Data Quality Dimensions of Partial and Complete Mastectomy Cohorts in the All of Us Research Program

11:00 AM
Intermission

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Scientific Session II - Cell Engineering and Gene Therapy
VP&S Faculty Presenters

Markus Mapara, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Director, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Ran Reshef, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Cellular Immunotherapy and Translational Research
Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program
Division of Hematology/Oncology
Columbia Center for Translational Immunology
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

12:30 PM
VP&S Alumni Luncheon and Presentation of 2025 Alumni Awards
50 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032 - This is a paid, ticketed event.

Featuring:

James McKiernan, MD
Interim Dean, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Chief Executive Officer, ColumbiaDoctors

Jane Salmon '77
Chair, Honors & Awards

Dariush Mozaffarian '95
Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Medical Research

Stanley Chang '74
Gold Medal for Excellence in Clinical Medicine

Anne Curtis '79
Virginia Kneeland Frantz '22 Award for Distinguished Women in Medicine

Neil Freeman '85
Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to VP&S and its Alumni Association

Elaine Wan '05
Transformational Research Award

Anaeze Offodile '08
Transformational Clinician Award
 

2:30 PM
CUMC Campus Tour
Tours will depart from 50 Haven Avenue
Led by VP&S Students

Reunion Class Dinners

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Cocktails
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Dinner

Upon arrival, you will be directed to your room by the VP&S Alumni Staff

2025 VP&S Alumni Medalists

GOLD MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH

This award honors alumni who have made outstanding achievements in medical research by advancing their field and creating tangible impacts on patient care.

Dariush Mozaffarian ’95

Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, is a cardiologist, public health scientist, and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. He is dean emeritus and the Jean Mayer Professor at the Friedman School, professor of medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, and an attending physician in cardiology at Tufts Medical Center. He is a globally recognized leader in the science of nutrition, cardiometabolic diseases, policy, and Food is Medicine, aiming to create the evidence and translation for a food system that is nutritious, equitable, and sustainable. Dr. Mozaffarian has authored nearly 600 scientific publications and is one of the top cited researchers in medicine. He has served in numerous advisory roles for the U.S. and Canadian governments, American Heart Association, World Health Organization, and United Nations. Dr. Mozaffariancurrently serves on the President of the United States’ Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

GOLD MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL MEDICINE

This award honors alumni with notable achievements in clinical medicine that significantly advance healthcare outcomes. 

Stanley Chang ’74

Stanley Chang, MD, is the former Edward S. Harkness Professor and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center. He is also the K.K. Tse and Ku Include Ying Professor of Ophthalmology. He is a specialist in vitreoretinal disorders and surgery and pioneered many of the surgical techniques currently used in this field. Dr. Chang has developed and pioneered several revolutionary surgical approaches to treat complicated forms of retinal detachment, improving outcomes for patients worldwide.

VIRGINIA KNEELAND FRANTZ ’22 AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED WOMEN IN MEDICINE

This award is a testament to the remarkable achievements of Dr. Virginia Frantz, MD ’22. Her breakthroughs significantly advanced medical research, basic science, and clinical medicine. This award recognizes an alumna of VP&S who has made significant accomplishments in scientific research or clinical care. It is a tribute to the invaluable contributions of women in medicine.  

Anne Curtis ’79

Anne B. Curtis, MD, is a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. Dr. Curtis currently serves as president of the Association of Professors of Medicine, an organization that represents the leadership of departments of internal medicine across the United States and Canada. She is a past president of the Heart Rhythm Society and a recipient of their Distinguished Service Award and their President’s Award. She is also past president of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society and the Association of University Cardiologists. Her research interests include clinical trials in implantable device therapy, including defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy; sex and racial disparities in the management of patients with arrhythmias; and clinical research in atrial fibrillation. In addition to holding leadership positions on steering committees, executive committees, and data and safety monitoring boards for multicenter clinical trials, Dr. Curtis was the national principal investigator on a study of heart failure patients with atrioventricular block (entitled Block HF). She has been on the writing committees for national and international guidelines and consensus statements on atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death, ablation for atrial fibrillation, sex differences in cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiac physiological pacing. Dr. Curtis has over 350 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reviews.

GOLD MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE TO VP&S AND ITS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

This award is given to honor a graduate who has demonstrated an active commitment through volunteerism, peer/community engagement, and other similar displays of support and service to VP&S. 

Neil Freeman ’85

Neil Freeman, M.D. is a diagnostic radiologist at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville, NJ. Dr. Freeman has served in several volunteer roles for almost two decades including alumni director, hosting first-year students, mentorship and most notably as president of the VP&S Alumni Association. Dr. Freeman remains highly engaged and effective in connecting with alumni and students. He most recently assumed the role as co-chair of the Class of 1985 and looks forward to hosting class gatherings and fostering connections.

TRANSFORMATIONAL RESEARCH AWARD

This award honors an alum within 25 or fewer years of graduation from VP&S who is making transformational contributions to biomedical research.

Elaine Wan ’05

Elaine Wan, MD, is the Esther Aboodi Associate Professor of Medicine in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Columbia University Medical Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and an attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She is trained in internal medicine and clinical cardiology and is an invasive cardiac electrophysiologist. Dr. Wan is the Director of Electrophysiology Research and oversees all electrophysiology clinical trials. She performs implantation of cardiac devices including pacemaker and defibrillators, as well as ablation of arrhythmias. She is a translational researcher also interested in development of innovative imaging modalities to improve ablation delivery. 

TRANSFORMATIONAL CLINICIAN AWARD

This award honors an alum within 25 or fewer years of graduation from VP&S who is making transformational contributions to advance clinical medicine. 

Anaeze Offodile ’08

Anaeze Offodile, MD, is the chief strategy officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). He is a double board-certified physician with clinical expertise in oncologic reconstruction, a health services researcher with a focus on alternative payment models and care redesign, and a healthcare administrator with management experience in academia. Dr. Offodile joined MSK from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he served as enterprise executive director for Clinical Transformation since 2018. In that role, he pioneered multiple first-in-oncology programs at the institution to address the operational, financial, and clinical challenges of delivering high-quality, inpatient-level care in a patient’s home or community. He was also a member of the Department of Plastic Surgery, where he established a diverse reconstructive practice performing microvascular reconstructive procedures on the breast, extremities, and abdominal wall. Previously, Dr. Offodile served as special advisor to the President of the National Academy of Medicine on activity related to the Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative and as a policy advisor to the group director of the Patient Care Models Group at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Currently, he is a nonresident scholar in health policy at the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences, a nonpartisan think tank at Rice University.