Community Commitment

VP&S has been a fixture of the Washington Heights–Inwood community for nearly a century. As part of the medical center our neighbors turn to for care, we are committed to serving the patients who depend on us—seeking to thoroughly integrate the work of our faculty and students into the life of the community, for the benefit of all.

This vibrant neighborhood offers faculty and students the opportunity to work with a patient population that is underserved, thereby helping to alleviate the healthcare disparities that confront minority, immigrant, and other under-resourced populations. There are many opportunities to participate in the various community education and community-building programs established by organizations within the Washington Heights and Harlem community, as well as community programs within VP&S, such as the Washington Heights Initiative, Columbia Student Medical Outreach (CoSMO), and community-based research.

Learn more about our thriving community health initiatives through the Office of Service Learning, our student-run clinics, and the Office of Government and Community Affairs, in addition to viewing the video below.