Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

A Message from the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

Christopher Irobunda, MD, PhD  

On behalf of the Department of Medicine Office of Faculty Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Columbia University.

The mission of the office is to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire Department of Medicine, now and for the future, by identifying, attracting, and maintaining underrepresented individuals that embody the Department’s core values of excellence in medical education, patient care, biomedical research, and community service.

We strive to make sure that our underrepresented minority trainees and faculty feel a sense of belonging, support, appreciation, and respect for who they are. We achieve this through concrete initiatives that originate from each sub-specialty Division’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committees under the guidance of the Departmental committee. These initiatives include mentoring, advocacy, pipeline programs, community service, lecture series, support groups, and accountability measures.

Our residency program is the premier pipeline to our fellowship and faculty recruitment efforts. In addition to training our residents to become competent in the diagnosis and management of complex medical situations, we also want our residents to be competent in promoting equitable, compassionate, and respectful care to all our patients in the communities we serve.

With the support of the leadership of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, diversity, equity and inclusion are becoming an integral part of the systems, structures, and culture of the Department and institution as a whole.

We believe that you will find our residency program both academically and culturally fulfilling.

Christopher Irobunda, MD, PhD

Jim Ovia Associate Professor of Cardiology

Vice Chair, Faculty Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Department of Medicine

Lindenbaum-Thomson Society for Diversity in Medicine (LTSDM)

The Lindenbaum-Thomson Society for Diversity in Medicine (LTSDM) is committed to promoting academic excellence and diversity. Founded by Black and Latino house officers, LTSDM was named in honor of two preeminent physicians at Columbia: Dr. John Lindenbaum, an acclaimed hematologist, social advocate, and founder of the Annual Lindenbaum Lecture Series, and Dr. Gerald Thomson, an honored nephrologist, prior Dean of Minority Affairs at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the first Black President of the American College of Physicians (ACP). Since its establishment, LTSDM has continually advocated for the recruitment, retention, and development of minority physicians traditionally under-represented in medicine. It has done so through dedicated mentorship, lectures highlighting diverse faculty, community outreach, and regular social gatherings. Consequently, LTSDM has fostered a diverse and supportive academic and social environment, and a legacy of commitment and contribution to the surrounding community.

For more information about LTSDM, please contact Dr. William Turner at wt62@cumc.columbia.edu.

The Pride Pod

The Stonewall Riots occurred in New York City in 1969 and are considered to be one of the most important events in the modern gay rights movement. What started on Christopher Street moved across the country and landed on the steps of the Supreme Court in 2015 in Obergefell v. Hodges. Despite this victory, the battle for equal rights, recognition, and respect is not over, and often the medical community has lagged behind in this movement. The Pride Pod hopes to remedy this. We openly demonstrate to our patients our commitment to cultivating a community of respect for all people and help educate providers in the care of LGBTQA+ patients. The Pride Pod is also a close-knit group of physicians who are able to support each other through residency and create personal and professional connections for life.

You can reach out to our executive board by emailing Dr. Eric Burnett at ejb2192@cumc.columbia.edu.

Women in Medicine

Women in Medicine at Columbia (WIM@C) is a resident-led organization that aims to support, inspire, and promote the advancement of women residents in Columbia’s Department of Medicine. The group was founded in 2015 and has grown into a large and dynamic forum for discussion, mentorship, and education. In addition to an executive committee of resident leaders, WIM@C is supported by the residency program leadership, faculty sponsors, and a steering committee of women residents, fellows, and attending physicians across the Columbia Department of Medicine. The group hosts a variety of events throughout the year addressing career development, leadership, gender bias and equity, and work-life balance.

We believe that WIM@C plays an invaluable role in fostering the success of women trainees and by extension, the Department as a whole. We encourage you to ask questions about the experiences of women trainees wherever you visit and especially as you consider making Columbia your residency training community. You can reach out to our executive committee by contacting Ella Magun, emm7011@nyp.org.

LTS: Lindenbaum Thompson Society

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