Community leaders attend annual CUIMC Project Medical Education

Columbia University Irving Medical Center held its annual Project Medical Education (PME) on Monday, July 23. The PME program is designed to provide participants with a unique opportunity for an up-close and personal look at medical education and the day-to-day activities that take place at an academic medical center such as Columbia. By participating in the CUIMC PME program, attendees learn about the overall operations of the medical center and hear first-hand from leadership about the challenges and opportunities we face in advancing our education, research, patient care, and service missions.

The day began with a welcome by Steven Shea, Senior Vice Dean, an overview of CUIMC finances by Joanne Quan, Chief Financial Officer, and an introduction to research at the medical center by Rudi Odeh-Ramadan, Vice President for Research Administration.  Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs Lisa Mellman and Associate Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology Rachel Gordon also discussed medical education at Columbia.

After a brief tour of the Vagelos Education Center, this year's 25 participants visited the New York State Psychiatric Institute for an overview of the Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence with Dr. Roberto Lewis-Hernandez and a look into brain slicing in Dr. Mark Underwood’s lab. At the Mailman School of Public Health, participants met with Dean Linda Fried, worked through a simulation exercise demonstrating the public health considerations taken into account in disease outbreak, and visited Dr. Micaela Martinez’s environmental health lab.

Attendees then heard from several representatives from the College of Dental Medicine, including Dean Christian Stohler and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jim Fine, followed by a visit with Dr. Xavier Pi-Sunyer for an overview of his obesity research at the Institute for Human Nutrition. The day ended with Dean Bobbie Berkowitz for a tour of the School of Nursing’s simulation center, as well as an opioid overdose training from Kellie Bryant, Assistant Professor of Nursing.

Project Medical Education attendees include community leaders, elected officials, and local residents, and those who have attended the program have found it to be a rewarding and educational experience.