About Us
Established in 2023, the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships (OACP) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is the central office dedicated to advancing CUIMC's community service mission. OACP plays a pivotal role in building new and enhancing existing relationships between CUIMC’s schools, departments, and the local community, promoting inclusive engagement through community-centered programs and initiatives. By collaborating with key stakeholders and service organizations, the office leverages university resources and forges connections between community leaders and academic partners to collaboratively address community-identified needs, with the shared goal of improving health and well-being.
In partnership with the Offices of Community Health and Community Service Programs, the OACP supports outreach and engagement in community health, clinical and research initiatives, and the promotion and dissemination of translational research findings. It also strengthens community-based clinical and research capacity while expanding service-learning opportunities for faculty, trainees, and community health providers.
Our Team
Sandra Harris
- Vice President for Community Affairs & Partnership Engagement
Sandra Harris is the Associate Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. In her role, she is responsible for maintaining community and institutional relations, developing partnerships and promoting university and community programs that impact the health and well-being of the northern Manhattan community.
Prior to her role at the Office of Government and Community Affairs, Sandra served as executive director of the Northern Manhattan Community Voices Collaborative, a national initiative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation with Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine as the lead partner. Under her leadership, Community Voices strengthened partnerships between community organizations and neighboring institutions to increase and promote access to quality health care services. She helped secure funding to establish health outreach projects targeting the uninsured and health education programs focused on asthma, nutrition and exercise, and mental health services.
Sandra’s work in the northern Manhattan community began 23 years ago as a constituent services liaison with then State Senator Franz Leichter. During her tenure there she developed a keen understanding of the needs of her community that led her to change her career path from housing-tenant advocacy to strengthening mental health services and developing policies that impact the mental, health and social well being of the residents of northern Manhattan. This career change led her to work for the largest Dominican non-profit organization in the country, Alianza Dominicana.
Sandra has a Masters degree in Social Work from Hunter College and Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Human Services- Metropolitan College of New York. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, member of American Public Health Association, National Association of Social Workers and the NJ Mental Health Counselor’s Association.
Rafael Lantigua, MD
- Director, Office of Community Service Programs; Associate Dean for Community Service; Professor of Medicine
Rafael Lantigua, M.D. is the Director, Office of Community Service Programs; Associate Dean for Community Service and Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Since coming to Columbia in 1980, he has a distinguished record of working to improve the health of aging minorities. He was the driving force behind CALME, the Columbia Center for the Active Life of Minority Elders, which supported research to reduce health disparities affecting minority elders and established an important bridge between Columbia researchers and the neighboring community. Dr. Lantigua also helped start the Columbia Center for the Health of Urban Minorities to shift community based-research from studies for the community to studies with the community. Dr. Lantigua earned his Medical Degree at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Natalia J. Arias-Abreu
- Administrative Manager
Natalia J. Arias-Abreu is the Administrative Manager for the Office of Government and Community Affairs and CUIMC Events. In her role, Natalia oversees the administrative operations across Government and Community Affairs and CUIMC Events. Her activities include and are not limited to the department's daily operations, budget and finance, human resources, technology, event planning, and special projects to ensure efficient, high-functioning departments. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Lehman College.
Diego Quintuña
- Community Affairs Coordinator
Diego Quintuña is the Community Affairs Coordinator for the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships. He oversees the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), the Medical Center Neighborhood Fund (MCNF), America Reads, and other ongoing initiatives serving the residents of Washington Heights and Inwood. He holds a B.A in Political Science from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Joseph Aguiar
- Administrative Assistant
Joseph Aguiar is the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships where he provides administrative support to senior leadership, staff, and external guests. With a background in project management, analytics, and community outreach, Joseph is passionate about taking initiatives to find the best solutions and working purposefully to achieve the mission. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Mercy University.
Naomi Alcantara
- Project Coordinator
Naomi Alcantara (She/Her/Ella) is the Project Coordinator for the Office of Academic and Community Partnership (OACP). In this role, she enhances OACP's community service mission by fostering collaborative partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders. Naomi has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Long Island University. She is dedicated to developing and strengthening community and academic partnerships, fostering service-learning opportunities, facilitating systems to empower these partnerships, and accomplishing initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being.
Brittany Robinson
- Program Coordinator
Brittany Robinson (She/Her) is the Program Coordinator for the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships. In this role, she oversees all Haven Plaza programming and coordinates with local community groups in hosting events on the Columbia University Irving Medical Campus. Brittany earned her B.A in Political Science and International Relations from Gonzaga University and has a background in both housing and education reform in New York City. She is excited to continue to build partnerships across the Washington Heights, Inwood, and CUIMC communities!
Ross A. Frommer
- Vice President of Government Affairs
Ross A. Frommer is Vice President for Government and Community Affairs. He represents the Medical Center on legislative and executive branch matters at the federal, state, and local levels, and assists with the development and implementation of programs with the surrounding communities of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He is also a Lecturer at the Columbia University School of Nursing.
Prior to coming to Columbia University, Ross spent five years working for former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) as State Director in the New York City office and as the Regional Director of the upstate office in Oneonta, New York. In that position, he was in charge of all constituent outreach and managed the state staff.
Before joining Senator Moynihan's staff, Ross held several legislative and government positions. These include Legislative Assistant and Counsel to Congressman James Scheuer (D-NY), Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Legislative Counsel to the New York State Office of Federal Affairs, and Legislative Director of the Northeast/Midwest Senate Coalition.
In addition to his work in government, Ross was the New York Political Director for the Bradley Presidential Campaign in 2000. He was also a Disaster Assistance Employee with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a member of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Military Academy Selection Panel.
Ross is an attorney and practiced as a litigator with the Brooklyn, New York firm of Cullen and Dykman. He is admitted to practice in New York State, the District of Columbia, and before the Federal Courts. Ross is a past Chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges Government Relations Representatives Steering Committee and was Vice President for Membership and a member of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. He has also taught politics at the St. John’s University School of Continuing Education and has been a guest lecturer at Columbia University, Fordham University, Upstate Medical University, New York University, and the State University of New York College at Delhi. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Democracy Prep New York Charter School Network.
Ross, a native New Yorker, graduated from Tufts University and holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He is married to Connie Dong. They currently live in New York City.
