Medical Student Education

During their major clinical year (MCY), students at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) spend six weeks on the pediatric clerkship, either at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital or Harlem Hospital. Under the direction of Marguerite Costich, MD, MS and the pediatric clerkship team, students learn to care for children and families in a variety of patient care settings and develop the clinical skills, diagnostic reasoning, basic management strategies, and interpersonal and communication skills core to the practice of pediatrics. Department faculty members and pediatric residents are involved in every aspect of medical student education, from mentorship and didactic conferences to advising on career directions.

Students are exposed to both normal child development and the role illness plays in the lives of children and families. Their patient care experience is supplemented with daily rounds, conferences, case-based seminars, and team-based learning modules.

In their final year, students can avail themselves of numerous pediatric electives ranging from sub-internships on the general medicine service to virtually all subspecialty divisions within the department.

In 2021, 14 VP&S students matched in pediatric residency programs, two in medicine-pediatric residency programs and two in child neurology.

Honors and Awards

During the 2021 Babies Hospital Alumni Association annual meeting, several students received awards from Pediatrics faculty members.

The Rebecca Schwarz Memorial Prize was awarded to Angela Seffens. This award is presented to a senior medical student conducting outstanding research in pediatric heart disease.

The Harry S. Altman Memorial Prize was awarded to Teresitta Velez. This award is presented annually to a senior medical student who demonstrates enthusiasm, eagerness, integrity, honesty, and dedication to the health and well-being of children, in the best tradition of Dr. Harry Altman.

The Jerry Jacobs Prize was awarded to Estefania Chavez and Kirsten Craddock. This award is presented to a graduating student(s) who has demonstrated excellence in the differential diagnosis and treatment of disorders in children.

The Emmett Holt Fellowship Award was awarded to Daniel Pahl and Lillian Zerihun. This award is presented annually to a graduating student(s) who shows exceptional promise in the field of pediatrics and dedication to children.

The William Perry Watson Prize was awarded to Cate Nicholas and Stephanie Granada. This is the oldest award in Pediatrics, awarded to the member(s) of the VP&S graduating class showing the most valuable work in the study of the diseases of infants and children during regular courses.

Columbia COVID-19 Student Service Corps (CSSC)

In response to the pandemic, Pediatrics Vice Chair Dr. Catallozzi, along with two other Columbia University Irving Medical Center faculty and student leaders, established the Columbia Student Service Corps (CSSC), an interprofessional service-learning model to support the health system’s patients and workforce and the local community. In the winter and spring of 2021, medical student were a major part of the workforce at the mass vaccination sites on campus and in the local community, contributing to New York City’s protection against COVID-19 prior to starting their residency programs around the country.

Faculty Advising in the VP&S Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODMA)

In 2021, the VP&S Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs expanded the affinity group faculty advising program, adding five additional faculty advisors to serve as an additional layer of student support. Three of these five new advisors are Department of Pediatrics faculty.

Taylor Sewell, MD, MBA, pediatric hospitalist, is the faculty advisor for the Lambda Health Alliance—the LGBTQ+ student affinity group at VP&S. In this role he contributes to goal setting, assists in event planning, connects the board with other stakeholders, holds office hours, conducts mock residency interviews, mentors students, and more. Lambda’s work ranges from professional development and advocacy to education and community building, and Dr. Taylor is privileged to support these important endeavors.

Usha Krishnan, MD, pediatric cardiologist, is faculty advisor for the APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association) students. In this role, she works to be inclusive and involve students from South and other parts of Asia and the Middle East into APAMSA and provide individualized advice and support for these students. She helps support various community education (bone-marrow donor program) and cultural events (Pan Asian Lantern Festival) organized by APAMSA to further community understanding within the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of the Asia Pacific Middle eastern regions.

Mara Minguez, MD, MS, adolescent medicine specialist, is faculty advisor for FLIP (first-generation low income) and BALSO (Black and Latino Student Organization) students. In this role, she offers guidance in finding resources, and supports academic progress and well-being.