Alwyn T Cohall, MD
Overview
Dr. Alwyn Cohall is a Professor of Public Health and Pediatrics at the Columbia University Medical Center and the Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Cohall's main areas of research interest include adolescent health; sexual and reproductive health; access to healthcare, particularly for young men of color; using media/technology to enhance health communication/health promotion; and, integrating trauma-informed care into clinical practice. In addition to his research interests, Dr. Cohall is board-certified in both pediatrics and adolescent medicine and has a private practice in adolescent health.
Dr. Cohall serves as the director of the Harlem Health Promotion Center which is devoted to reducing health disparities in the Harlem community. He is also the director of Project Stay (Services to Assist Youth), which is a New York State Department of Health funded program that provides confidential health services to young people affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS. Further, he is the medical director of the NYC CDC STD Prevention Training Center which focuses on enhancing the skills of primary care providers to manage patients with sexually-transmitted diseases. Additionally, in his role as Co-Principal Investigator at the New York Presbyterian site, he is involved with an NIH funded research project called “Link2Care” which designed to improve screening for STIs/HIV and substance use and subsequent linkages to health care services for Justice Involved Youth at high-risk for HIV.
Dr. Cohall is Co-Director of the Washington Heights/Inwood Youth Opportunity HUB – a program funded by the NYC District Attorney’s office to reduce youth involvement in the justice system. Finally, he is also Co-Director of BeWell, a health and wellness initiative for youth attending an afterschool academic enrichment and youth development program at 5 New York Public Library sites
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- AIDS
- Male Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
- Stress Management
Academic Appointments
- Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at CUMC
- Professor of Population and Family Health at CUMC
- Professor of Pediatrics at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Harlem Health Promotion Center
- Director, Project STAY (Services To Assist Youth)
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
UnitedHealthcare
- Columbia University Employee Plan
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- BA, 1976 Wesleyan University
- Internship: Montefiore Hospital
- Residency: Montefiore Hospital
- Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
American Academy of Pediatrics
Society for Adolescent Health in Medicine
American Public Health Association
Board Certifications
- Pediatrics
- Adolescent Medicine
Honors & Awards
1989 American Medical Association (AMA) Distinguished Service Award on behalf of America's Youth
1991 New York Magazine, named "One of the Outstanding Physicians in New York City"
1996 New York Urban League "Building Brick" Award for service to youth in New York City
2001 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Health Achievement Award
2003 New York Civil Liberties Union
2005 American Academy of Pediatrics - Founders of Adolescent Health Award for Community Leadership
2005 HIV Leadership Award - TheBody.com
2006 Family Planning Advocates of New York State - The Shirley Gordon Public Policy Leadership Award
2011 Public Health Association of New York City (PHANYC) - Allan Rosenfield Award for Social Justice
2015 New York State Department of Health, Outstanding Achievement Award for Service to HIV (+) Youth
Research
Research Interests
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Community Health
- HIV/AIDS
- Incarceration Prevention
- LGBT health
- Maternal and Reproductive Health
- Urban Health
Selected Publications
15. Cohall A*, Cohall RM, Ellis JA, Vaughan R, Northridge ME, Watkins-Bryant G, Butcher J. More than heights and weights: What parents of Harlem adolescents want from health care providers. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004;34(3).
20. Cohall A*, Cohall R, Dye B, Vaughn R. Overheard in the halls: What adolescents are saying and what teachers are hearing about health. Journal of School Health. 2007;77(7):344-350
16. Cohall A*, Cohall R, Dye B, Dini S, Vaughan R. Parents of urban adolescents in Harlem, New York and the internet: A cross-sectional survey on preferred resources for health information. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2004;6(4):1-8.
15. Cohall A*, Cohall RM, Ellis JA, Vaughan R, Northridge ME, Watkins-Bryant G, Butcher J. More than heights and weights: What parents of Harlem adolescents want from health care providers. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004;34(3).
5. Hunter J, Cohall A, Mallon G, Moyer MB, Riddel JP. Health Care Delivery and Public Health Related to LGBT Youth and Young Adults In: Handbook of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Public Health. A Practitioner's Guide to Health. Michael Shankle (editor).Haworth Press; New York, NY: 2006.
6. Cohall A*, Nshom M, Nye A. One chip at a time: Youth development and technology. In: Adolescent Medicine State of the Art Reviews, E-Health. 2007;18 (2): 415-424
14. Armstrong, B., Cohall, A.T., and Cohall R.M. The Health of Young Men of Color. Social Work Practice with Vulnerable and Resilient Populations. Alex Gitterman (Ed). 3rd Edition. (2013). New York: Columbia University Press. (In Press).
12. Armstrong B, Cohall A. Health Promotion with Adolescent and Young Adult Males: An Empowerment Approach. In: Adolescent Medicine State of the Art Reviews, Adolescent Health Promotion. 2011:544-580
30. Cohall AT, Nye A, Moon-Howard J, Kukafka R, Dye B, Vaughan RD, Northridge M. Computer Use, Internet Access, and Online Searching for Health Information among Harlem Adults. American Journal of Health Promotion. Am J Health Promot. 2011 May-Jun;25(5):325-33
33. Neu N, Nelson J, Ranson E, Whittier S, Shaw A, Cohall A. Urine and Extragenital Gonococcal and Chlamydia Infections in HIV Positive Young Men Who Have Sex with Men (YMSM): Enhanced Detection of Rectal Chlamydia when Screening with Nucleic Acid Amplified Tests versus Cultures. Journal of Mens Health. 2012;9:89-93
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov
Urban Health Activities
Project STAY: 1.Provision of community health education, venue-based STI/HIV screening for high-risk youth, with a particular focus on youth in the justice system, and LGBT youth 2. Provision of comprehensive medical and psychosocial services to HIV-infected youth 3.Provision of PEP and PrEP to high-risk youth 4. Developing innovative media communication to enhance health promotion for high-risk youth