The Community Research Forum Returns to CUIMC
On June 22nd, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) welcomed community residents and others to campus for a Community Research Forum (CRF) focusing on the latest advances in cancer research at Columbia. It was the first in-person CRF since 2019, although several virtual events were held during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CRF is an opportunity for members of the communities that make up Northern Manhattan to learn about the latest cutting-edge research being conducted at CUIMC. Previous forums have focused on hypertension, oral health, mental health, Alzheimer’s Disease, among other subjects.
The CUIMC Office of Government & Community Affairs hosted the forum in collaboration with the Hebert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC), the Office of Community Service Programs, the Irving Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, and the Community Board 12 Health and Environment Committee. Dr. Mary Beth Terry, HICCC Associate Director of Population Science and Community Health, moderated the panel, which featured talks by Drs. Manuela Orjuela, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Pediatrics, Jasmine MacDonald, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, and Phoenix Matthews, Professor of Behavioral Sciences (in Nursing). There was also a question-and-answer period and an opportunity for informal discussion at a reception following the panel.
Those who attended learned much about cancer research at Columbia and how it affects them directly. Eddie Cuesta, Executive Director of Dominicanos USA (DUSA), said, “I want to thank Columbia University Irving Medical Center for the return of the in-person Community Research Forum. I am so glad to have attended along with so many community members. We heard and learned about the latest advancements in Cancer Research and innovations. Congratulations to all of the Columbia University scientists and staff for their dedication to their work and for creating informative presentations for the community. Thank you for making the community aware of preventive health measures, such as personal and toxic household products that can cause cancer. It was wonderful for the community to hear about clinical and community-based participatory research in the field."
LaQuita Henry, Co-Chair of the Community Board 9 Health and Environment Committee added, “The presentation by the CUIMC team was unbelievably mesmerizing. Information provided was fresh and enlightening — especially for those like me who serve in a public capacity with responsibility to keep our residents well-informed and up to date. I was also engrossed because each researcher spoke with such keen interest in her specific topic — each was so knowledgeable and spoke with clarity, assuredness, and sincere caring. My being there among others with similar interests was important as well because their questions and statements mirrored my community concerns. One of the most challenging aspects of committee chairing is finding effective means to widely disseminate relevant and readily useable health information to our residents so that they have it when they need it. I was so pleased with conversations at the close of the presentations when I talked with the organizers about replicating this significant event to help broaden our outreach efforts. I am more than stoked that our partnership can make it happen! Enthusiastically, we have begun the process to link Community Board 9/CUIMC resources for these presentations in public forums for this year. What a worthwhile and meaningful occasion!”
Dr. McDonald noted, “I am grateful that the community came out to hear the brief lectures by I and my colleagues. The opportunity to engage with community in which we live, work, and play and for whom we do this research for, was amazing.”
Dr. Orjuela added, “The event showcased the enthusiasm of an engaged group of citizens of a broad array of ages, educational levels, and who represented several constituencies of Northern Manhattan, including members whose primary language is Spanish, and who were able to benefit from the simultaneous translation services that were available to all who were there. As a speaker, what I found most compelling was experiencing the attendees’ palpable interest in learning about work happening at Columbia.”
In discussing the evening’s event, Ross Frommer, CUIMC Vice President for Government & Community Affairs said, “The Community Research Forums are an opportunity for our neighbors to learn more about some of the really interesting and important research that goes on at Columbia every day. There is also the opportunity, if they so choose, for people who attend to learn about how they can participate in research at CUIMC, whether it be cancer related or another subject.”
The next CRF will be held sometime this fall. The topic will be Artificial Intelligence and how it can be used to help people and improve the health care system.