Situated on a 20-acre campus in Northern Manhattan and accounting for roughly half of Columbia University’s nearly $3 billion annual budget, Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) provides global leadership in scientific research, health and medical education, and patient care.
CUMC’s major teaching hospital affiliates are NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, both of which share the CUMC campus. The medical center also has academic affiliations with Bassett Healthcare, in Cooperstown, NY; the Isabella Geriatric Center, in New York City; and Arnot Ogden Medical Center, in Elmira, NY. Columbia’s faculty practice is ColumbiaDoctors.
CUMC plays a leading role in global health issues, in particular, capacity building. About 30 percent of P&S students participate in international programs, and almost 50 percent of third-year dental students participate in the school’s global health externships. The nursing school has research and teaching partnerships with schools and clinics in Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, and Taiwan. Mailman School of Public Health has programs in more than 100 countries across the globe.
P&S, founded in 1767, was the first school to award the MD degree (in 1770), and its legacy of innovation continues. Major curriculum changes implemented in 2009 reflect the changing practice of medicine in the 21st century. The new Bassett Track trains students for primary care work in rural environments. P&S is one of the most research-intensive medical schools, and its students’ MCAT scores and grade-point averages are among the highest in the country.
CUMC is especially proud of its relationship with the surrounding Washington Heights community, many of whose members have roots in the Dominican Republic and other Spanish-speaking countries. CUMC’s Office of Government and Community Affairs serves as the primary liaison between the Medical Center and the community. Currently, CUMC has more than 40 active research and clinical programs in Northern Manhattan, including Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood.
