Community Programs & Initiatives

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of our neighbors. CUIMC offers community programs and initiatives, spanning college prep programs for youth, school-based dental clinics, community-based participatory research, and clinical home visits for our community’s most vulnerable residents. The CUIMC Office of Community Service Programs works to connect our local community with our valuable resources. Each year, these programs serve tens of thousands of community residents. Click on the sections below for an extensive, but not all-inclusive, list of community programs and initiatives. 

Youth Education and Pathway Programs

  • America Reads ProgramFor more than 20 years, this program  partnered with local elementary schools with the goal of ensuring that all children read independently and on grade level by third grade. See the Education drop-down menu for more information or contact us for further information.
  • Biostatistics Epidemiology Summer Training Diversity Program (BEST): The program works to expand and diversify the behavioral and biomedical sciences’ workforce by introducing undergraduates from underrepresented populations to biostatistics and cardiovascular and pulmonary disease research.
  • Columbia University Neuroscience Outreach (CUNO): The program facilitates science and neurosciences-related activities for local youth and the general public to expose them to science.
  • CURE High School Program: The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center CURE summer program encourages high school and undergraduate students to pursue careers in cancer research and provides mentorship. CURE aims to strengthen the pool of underrepresented minorities, economically disadvantaged groups, and first-generation college students entering into cancer-related research fields. 
  • Ernest E. Just Biomedical Research Scholars:  The E.E. Just Biomedical Research Scholars @ Columbia is a partnership between the UNCF/Ernest E. Just Life Science Initiative and Columbia University that provides African American undergraduate and graduate students with research opportunities and access to mentors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and the HICCC. 
  • NERA MedPrep Academy Program: A free summer enrichment program targeting traditionally underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged college freshmen and sophomores interested in attending medical school.
  • Program to Inspire Minority Undergraduates in Environmental Health Science Research (PrIMER): A research program for full-time, undergraduate underrepresented minority, and underserved students from the New York City area who are typically underrepresented in STEM fields. Participants gain valuable research experience in environmental health sciences.
  • State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)A free high school and college preparatory program designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine or related STEM fields.
  • Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)A free six-week summer enrichment program for first- and second-year college students from groups who are underrepresented in health professions. Every year, the program accepts 80 participants.
  • Summer of Translational Aging Research for Undergraduates (STAR U): The goal of STAR U is to increase diversity in the field of neuroscience and aging. Every year, the program provides mentorship and training to 10 to 12 young scientists who have unique experiences and perspectives.
  • Summer Program for Underrepresented Students (SPURS): A biomedical research program which provides research fellowship experiences to undergraduate students from Universities in the City of Greater New York. The program provides meaningful training in biomedical research and enhance the students’ ability to achieve a career in biomedical research and/or medicine.
  • Summer Public Health Scholars Program (SPHSP): A program for undergraduate students that works to increase interest in and knowledge of public health and biomedical science careers.
  • Summer Research Program for Science Teachers: Established in 1990, the program contributes to the improvement of secondary students’ understanding of science by providing their teachers with experience in the practice of science.
  • Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)For more than 20 years, SYEP has placed local youth in CUIMC departments. Every year, more than 100 participants gain first-hand work experience and foster mentoring relations. Learn more about our campus wide program here under the Education section.
  • Young Docs: A program by the Black and Latino Student Organization (BALSO), Young Docs aims to attract minority students to the medical field by exposing them to the fun/exciting sides of medicine and science. The program visits local elementary schools and high schools and participates in mentoring events and science fairs.

Community Clinics, Health Education, and Outreach

  • APOYOAn adolescent pregnancy program with the mission to educate, support, and provide resources for pregnant adolescents in the Washington Heights area by fostering collaborative relationships between medical student mentors and participating adolescents     
  • Columbia Center for Community Health: In 2023, Columbia University Wellness Center was renamed Columbia Center for Community Health to reflect the increased scope of providing more community health worker training and to increase its community impact.
  • Columbia Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership (CHHMP): A student-run clinic that provides free, quality medical care and health services to the homeless or uninsured community in upper Manhattan.
  • Columbia Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership Dental (CHHMP Dental): CHHMP Dental is a student-run free clinic that partners with CHHMP Medical on the first and third Tuesdays of every month to provide free dental care to the homeless, uninsured, and undocumented residents in Upper Manhattan.
  • Columbia Nursing Opioid Overdose Training: With a mission to combat the opioid epidemic, the program has trained thousands of local residents in the use of Narcan, the opioid-overdose antidote.
  • Columbia Student Medical Outreach Program (CoSMO): A student-run clinic that provides free, high-quality primary health care to the uninsured population of Washington Heights.
  • Columbia University Care Access Project (CCAP): CCAP is a student-run clinic that strives to increase access to care for all people through providing free medical services, prescriptions, and infection screening to members of the Washington Heights community.
  • Community DentCare NetworkThe Community DentCare Network is a series of partnerships and collaborations with neighborhood schools and community health clinics, designed to provide patient-centered dental services to northern Manhattan’s low-income, underserved, and uninsured residents. The network includes six school-based clinics and a Mobile Dental Center linked to five community-based practices.
  • Community Research Forums: Throughout the year, the Office of Academic & Community Partnerships presents several Community Research Forums that are free and open to residents of our neighboring communities. These forums allow community residents to learn about the latest research spearheaded by Columbia faculty.
  • Harlem Health Promotion Center (HHPC): A collaboration of community, academic, and public health stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of the Harlem community. Since 1990, HHPC has been working with Harlem leaders and community members through research, education, advocacy, and service delivery. 
  • Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (HICCC) Community Outreach and Engagement Office (COE): COE brings together a team of experienced researchers, clinicians, and community health educators. Working with community stakeholders and community members and HICCC cancer patients and their families, the office is committed to reducing the burden of cancer.
  • Medical Center Neighborhood Fund (MCNF)The MCNF is dedicated to raising funds for local nonprofit organizations that offer vital services and opportunities in northern Manhattan.
  • Project Medical EducationA full-day program that aims to provide community stakeholders with an in-depth look at the overall operations of our medical center.
  • Q Clinic: A free student-run clinic that provides primary care services, physical exams, STI/HIV screenings, health management, subsidized medications, PrEP, and flu shots. The clinic welcomes all patients especially those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and/or part of the queer community.
  • VP&S Human Rights and Asylum ClinicThe Asylum Clinic is a student-run clinic that provides pro-bono medical evaluations to adults and children who are seeking asylum in the United States.
  • Zuckerman Institute Outreach and Education ProgramsThe programs showcase the groundbreaking research of the Zuckerman Institute in creative ways for school children, families, after-school groups, and adults.

Clinical Research and Community-Based Participatory Research

NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) Programs*

  • ANCHOR (Addressing the Needs of the Community through Holistic, Organizational Relationships): A program that works to identify the health-related social needs of Northern Manhattan/South Bronx Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and address their identified needs through referrals to local community-based social service organizations. 
  • Avon Foundation Breast Imaging Center: A dedicated screening facility offering imaging services in a supportive, private, and comfortable setting.
  • Behavioral Health Crisis Program: The program offers comprehensive behavioral health outpatient clinical services for children, adolescents, and adults to meet the needs of our community.
  • Center for Community Health & Education: A community and school-based program providing comprehensive medical, mental health, and health education services for underserved adolescents and adults in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem, and the Bronx.
  • Center for Community Health Navigation: The center supports the health and well-being of patients through the delivery of culturally competent, peer-based support in the emergency department, inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.
  • Center for Family and Community Medicine: The center works to enhance the health of our community through education, service, research, and academic-community partnerships.
  • CHALK (Choosing Healthy and Active Lifestyles for Kids): CHALK is an integrated obesity prevention program that aims to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in Northern Manhattan and to create environments in which healthy lifestyles are integral to the lives of all children.
  • Community and Faith-Based Program: The program partners with community and faith-based organizations to improve the health of members in its communities.
  • Community Hearing Health Collaborative: The collaborative works to address the needs of hearing-impaired infants and newborns by supporting, educating, empowering, and connecting families to resources.
  • Compass Program: Compass is a comprehensive program for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents in a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space.
  • Family Peace Trauma Treatment Center: The program provides mental health services to children ages birth to 5 years (0-5), and their primary caregivers, who have been exposed to various forms of trauma including violence and abuse.
  • Health Home: An intensive care management service program for Medicaid patients with complex and high-cost medical conditions.
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network (ACN): The ACN provides primary care to children and families in communities throughout Manhattan with the goal to improve the health and quality of life for residents in New York City's underserved communities.
  • Lang Youth Medical Program: A six-year science enrichment program that mobilizes the resources of NYP and CUIMC to prepare young adults from the Washington Heights and Inwood community for careers in biomedical science and medicine.
  • Manhattan Cancer Services: The program works to reduce cancer outcome disparities among uninsured New Yorkers.
  • Project STAY (Services to Assist Youth): The program provides medical, gynecological, psychological, and case management services to people with HIV and at risk for HIV, STIs, and hepatitis C. The program provides services to youth on site and in the community.
  • Reach Out & Read: A pre-literacy program that highlights the importance of reading for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
  • School-Based Health Centers: Seven school-based health centers serving 23 public schools in Harlem, Washington Heights/Inwood, and the Bronx.
  • Smoking Cessation: Facilitates provider and community education activities on smoking cessation topics.
  • The Uptown Hub: A youth opportunity hub in Washington Heights and Inwood that serves youths aged 14 to 24 years who have been or are at risk for involvement with the juvenile or adult judicial systems.
  • Transitions of Care Program: Works to strengthen continuity of care between NYP inpatient units and subsequent settings to reduce the risk of avoidable readmissions to the hospital and/or emergency department.
  • Turn 2 Us: A mental health promotion and prevention program in partnership with the NYP Ambulatory Care Network, Columbia University Community Pediatrics, former NY Yankees Captain Derek Jeter;s Turn 2 Foundation, and local elementary schools.
  • Waiting Room as a Literacy & Learning Environment (WALLE): The program addresses the social determinants of health by providing targeted health education and resource referrals to patients.
  • WIN for Asthma: A partnership between NYP, CUIMC Pediatrics, and community members that provides culturally sensitive support and education to children with asthma and their caregivers.
  • Young Men's Clinic: Through partnership with NYP Ambulatory Health Network, the clinic focuses on male sexual and reproductive health issues and provides confidential health services to adolescents to prevent unplanned pregnancies and STI/HVI infection and transmission.

*A number of NewYork-Presbyterian programs are in collaboration with CUIMC and/or involve CUIMC faculty, staff, and/or students.