CUIMC Update - March 9, 2022

CUIMC Update is a weekly e-newsletter featuring medical center news and the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and trainees. Please send your news, honors, and awards to cuimc_update@cumc.columbia.edu. Grants are provided by the Sponsored Projects Administration office.

NEWS

Audio Interview with Katrina Armstrong 
Katrina Armstrong, MD, joined Columbia on March 1 as Chief Executive Officer for Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. In this audio interview, she discusses her journey as a doctor and as a leader, why biomedical research must address health disparities, and what’s on her NYC bucket list. 

Break the Bias: A Conversation with Anne Taylor 
The theme of this year's International Women's Day was "Break the Bias." We spoke with Anne Taylor, MD, vice dean for academic affairs and the John Lindenbaum Professor of Medicine, about her role as a standout leader in the arena of gender equity in academic medicine. We discussed the challenges facing women in academic medicine, the value of mentorship, and the opportunities that lie ahead for achieving a more equitable medical professoriate. Read more.

Employee Appreciation Week in March 
CUIMC faculty and staff are invited to participate in employee appreciation events through March 11, including a session on practicing mindfulness and a jazz music showcase. Find and register for events here

Columbia Fertility Clinic Opens in White Plains
The Columbia University Fertility Center has opened a new clinic in White Plains. The site offers fertility screening, diagnosis, and related services plus referrals to obstetric and gynecologic care at CUIMC. Read more

March Women’s History Month: Women at CUIMC Who Made a Difference
Many women connected to CUIMC have made deep and lasting imprints over the years. Meet some of the remarkable clinicians, educators, scientists, and alumni from throughout history. Read more

New Knowledge Center Wing Unveiled 
The Knowledge Center at the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library recently opened the doors to its expanded wing. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the space encompasses the design and flexible layouts of the existing Knowledge Center and builds on the library’s aim to engage the CUIMC community with information in innovative environments that foster a superior user experience. Read more.

Palliative Care Services Vary by U.S. Region, Population 
New Columbia Nursing research finds fewer palliative care services for Black and Hispanic nursing home residents. Read more

Safety Tips: NYC Subways and Buses 
This video presentation from Columbia Public Safety offers useful safety tips for traveling on MTA subways and buses. The most important tip is to stay alert and be aware of your situation. 

VP&S Pediatrics Annual Report: Transforming Care for Children Through Innovation
In its 2021 annual report, the VP&S Department of Pediatrics celebrates the accomplishments of the past year: new and innovative clinical and research programs for children, extraordinary graduates from training programs, all-time high research funding, an even stronger culture of inclusion, diversity, and anti-racist practices, and more. View annual report

GRANTS

VAGELOS COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS

Elizabeth Clarice Verna, MD, Surgery, will receive $1,258,819 over five years from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for a subaward of “A trial of transplanting Hepatitis C-viremic kidneys into Hepatitis C-Negative kidney recipients (THINKER-NEXT).”

Ronald Wapner, MD, and Noelia Zork, MD, Obstetrics & Gynecology, will receive $1,257,917 over four years from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for “Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network.”

Sandeep Wontakal, MD, PhD, Pathology & Cell Biology, will receive $967,680 over four years from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for “Elucidating the Spatiotemporal Regulation of a Long Non-Coding RNA Required for Neurodevelopment.” 

Xuebing Wu, PhD, Medicine, will receive $600,000 over three years from the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance for “Targeting tumor with CRISPR/Cas13-based sequence-specific cell knockout.”

MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Gina Wingood, ScD, Sociomedical Sciences, will receive $1,231,220 over five years from the National Institute of Mental Health for “Social Determinants of HIV.” 

AWARDS AND HONORS

VAGELOS COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS

Minoree Kohwi, PhD, and Chao Lu, PhD, have been awarded prestigious 2022 Hirschl Trust Research Awards by the Irma T. Hirschl Trust Research Scientist Program. Read more

Sanne Eveline Klompe has received the Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award, one of the most prestigious accolades for PhD research in the biological sciences. 

EVENTS

CopeColumbia’s New Workshop Series: Surviving Pandemic Fallout, March 10, 12 p.m., register here

Setting Boundaries & Prioritizing Mental Health, March 10, 3 p.m., register here

Updates on COVID-19 and Children: A Webinar for Pediatricians and Families, March 10, 6 p.m., register here

Situational Awareness Training, March 11 (for faculty and staff), 9 a.m., register here, and March 21 (for students), 4 p.m., register here

Jewish Cultural and CUIMC Women’s ERGs Celebrate Purim on Haven Plaza, March 15, 11 a.m., register here

Columbia Science and Health Equity Lecture Series - Olajide Williams, MD, March 15, 4 p.m., register here.

Megillah Reading in honor of Purim, March 17, 11 a.m., Hammer Health Sciences Center, room 303, register here

Mental Health Lessons from Women Around the World, March 17, 3 p.m., register here.

Transgender and Nonbinary Health Care Instagram Live Program, March 18, 1 p.m., read more.

CUIMC Women Roundtable: Imposter Syndrome at Work, March 24, 12 p.m., register here.

For more events, visit the CUIMC Events listing.