Messages From Leadership

We are committed to the well-being and success of all community members. Columbia complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not engage in illegal preferences or discrimination.

The Department of Medicine at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is the home for a community of health care providers, scientists, and administrators who are dedicated to all aspects of our academic missions. These core values not only serve the principles of justice, but are also necessary ingredients for achieving excellence in clinical care, education, and research.

We have been serving the communities of Washington Heights and the greater New York area for the past century. Our institution, in partnership with NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, has provided care to all those in need during successive health care crises such as the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1990s or most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. I am proud that in these critical moments, all members of the department have selflessly come together to provide the highest standard of care for our patients. 

We strive to recruit and develop faculty, trainees, and staff who want to care for underserved communities. The Department of Medicine’s Office of Faculty Advancement & Community Engagement led by Dr. Christopher Irobunda, has developed dedicated mentorship and career development programs for training individuals who want to devote their careers to community service. Finally, our department contributes to many community service and education programs at CUIMC.

I invite you to explore our website to learn more about this initiative.

Ali G. Gharavi, MD
Harold Ames Hatch Professor of Clinical Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeons

Welcome to the Department of Medicine, Office of Faculty Advancement & Community Engagement.

The Department of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is widely acclaimed and widely honored. The department and its various subspecialties/divisions and their contributions to medical education, patient care, and biomedical/clinical research is second to none in the world.

The mission of the office is to promote faculty advancement and community engagement across the entire department of medicine and to help the department in identifying, attracting, and maintaining trainees, faculty, and individuals that embody the department’s core values of excellence in the aforementioned areas including community outreach and service.

We strive to make sure that our trainees, faculty, and staff feel a sense of support, appreciation, and respect for who they are. These initiatives include mentoring, advocacy, pathway programs, community service, lecture series, support groups, and accountability measures.

Christopher Irobunda, MD, PhD
Jim Ovia Professor of Cardiology
Vice Chair, Faculty Advancement & Community Engagement
Department of Medicine