Top 10 Campus News Stories of 2013

2013 was a great year for the medical center community. We broke ground for one new building and unveiled plans for another. Our musicians relaunched an orchestra, and members of our research community took a stand on sequestration. Look back at the year through our top campus news stories of 2013.

1. CUMC Breaks Ground for Medical and Graduate Education Building

CUMC leadership and donors broke ground for construction of the Medical and Graduate Education Building in a Sept. 16 ceremony. The 14-story glass at 104 Haven Ave. will foster community through shared spaces for collaboration, teamwork, and interaction across the four graduate schools. Read more. 

2. CUMC Welcomes New Dental Dean

On Aug. 1, Christian Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, became the new dean of the College of Dental Medicine. An expert on pain management and jaw disorders, Dr. Stohler brings to CUMC impressive credentials in research and academic leadership. Read more.

3. Columbia Announces New Home for Nursing School

Columbia unveiled plans to build a new home for the Columbia University School of Nursing, one of the oldest nursing schools in the nation. The 7-story facility will provide 65 percent more space than the current location. Construction is expected to begin in late 2014.  Read more.

4. Columbia Creates Fast-Track MD for PhD Scientists

The College of Physicians and Surgeons launched a three-year MD program for PhD-trained biological scientists in 2013. The accelerated curriculum prepares graduates for physician-scientist careers that combine a knowledge of fundamental biomedical science with an understanding of how diseases and their treatments affect humans. Read more.

5. New ColumbiaDoctors Practice Opens in Midtown

At the Jan. 24 ribbon cutting (from left): Philip Milstein, Robert Kelly, Steven J. Corwin, Louis Bigliani, Robyn Gmyrek, Lee Goldman, Kenneth Forde, and Mark McDougle. (Photo: Diane Bondareff)

CUMC kicked off 2013 by opening a new 125,000-square-foot faculty practice near Rockefeller Center in January, giving the commuters and visitors who stream into midtown Manhattan easy access to some of the city’s top practitioners. Read more.

6. Members of the CUMC Community Speak Out About Sequestration

Members of the CUMC community attended the Rally for Medical Research in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 18, 2013.

During the lead-up to the sequester, as well as after it took effect, members of the CUMC community rallied, wrote, and spoke about the long-term consequences of NIH funding cuts.

• Budget Cuts, Sequester, Shutdown. When Will the Damage End? 
• Filippo Mancia, PhD, says the U.S. cannot afford to cut its investment in science. 
• Members of the CUMC Community Campaign to Support NIH Funding

7. First Class Under New P&S Curriculum Graduates

The Class of 2013 was the first to graduate from P&S under a new curriculum that includes four months of protected time to complete a scholarly project. Read about four projects from the inaugural class.

8. Medical Center Launches TEDMED CUMC

In April, P&S students organized CUMC’s first annual participation in TEDMED, an independent licensee of the TED conference. The event featured speakers from CUMC’s four schools, two interactive sessions, and streaming content from the national TEDMED conference in Washington, D.C. Read more.

9. CUMC Orchestra Returns with First Concert in Almost a Decade

The CUMC Symphony Orchestra performed on Nov. 17, in an expanded form featuring CUMC's talented staff, faculty, and student musicians. Read more.

10. White Coat Ceremony, 20 Years Later

The White Coat Ceremony—a rite of passage that marks the beginning of a student’s formal medical studies—started at P&S 20 years ago. Read more.