Leadership Team

Dean

Dean Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH

Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH
Dean and DeLamar Professor of Public Health; Director, Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center
lpfried@columbia.edu

Dean Fried is a world-renowned geriatrician and epidemiologist. Since her appointment as Dean in 2008, she has led the transformation of Columbia Public Health’s MPH and doctoral programs into interdisciplinary education that provides strong grounding in public health and expertise for leadership in the 21st Century. Under her leadership, the School has developed novel translational programs in interdisciplinary science, including health impacts of climate change; lifecourse bases for achieving public health; data science for health; and the creation of the Program in Global Health Justice and Governance, the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center.


Vice Deans

Ying Kuen Cheung
Vice Dean for Faculty
Professor, Biostatistics

yc632@cumc.columbia.edu

Dr. Ying Kuen K Cheung's primary research interests include experimental design, with an expertise in early phase clinical trials in cancer and stroke, both significant public health concerns especially in the aging population. Efficient statistical designs facilitate the screening of potential treatments and identification of appropriate dose ranges of treatments, while maintaining the safety of consented patients. Dr. Cheung has served on the steering committee or as an investigator in many Mailman School and Columbia-initiated and commercially-sponsored studies.

Sami Jarrah, MPH
Vice Dean for Finance and Administration
Executive Director for Public Partnerships

sj3278@cumc.columbia.edu

Mr. Jarrah directs the School’s compliance, facilities, finance, information technology, and human resources functions. He also provides leadership for developing and deepening mutually beneficial partnerships between the School and the public sector at all levels. Previously, Mr. Jarrah served as the Chief Financial Officer at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as Chief Operating Officer at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and as Deputy Director at the Multnomah County Health Department. Mr. Jarrah earned his MPH from the University of Washington and his BA from Davidson College.

Michael Joseph, PhD
Vice Dean for Education
Associate Professor of Epidemiology

mj3019@cumc.columbia.edu

Dr. Joseph is a highly regarded teacher and curricular innovator, whose educational contributions and approach have been recognized locally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Joseph provides academic guidance for the Mailman School’s education portfolio, which enrolls more than 1400 students from around the world in doctoral and master’s degree programs. As Vice Dean, he leads the Columbia MPH and directs a range of support services, including admissions and financial aid, student affairs, and career services.

Gary W. Miller, PhD
Vice Dean for Research Strategy and Innovation
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

gm2815@cumc.columbia.edu

Dr. Miller moved to Columbia University in 2018 after 16 years at Emory University. Dr. Miller is the founding director of the HERCULES Exposome Research Center at Emory University, the first exposome-based research center in the U.S. He authored the first book on the topic, The Exposome: A Primer. His research focuses on environmental drivers of neurodegeneration. In his vice dean role, Dr. Miller partners with faculty to further their research success and serves as a catalyst to propel interdisciplinary work throughout the School.


Administrative Leadership

Anne Marie Benedicto, MPA, MPH 
Chief of Staff 
asb50@cumc.columbia.edu 

Ms. Benedicto oversees operations of the Dean’s office and directs advancement of the School’s strategic priorities.  Previously, Ms. Benedicto served as the Vice President of the Center for Transforming Healthcare, and was the Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for The Joint Commission.  She has held finance and quality-related positions in healthcare organizations in New York City. Ms. Benedicto earned her BA from the University of California at Berkeley, her MPA from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, and her MPH from the Mailman School of Public Health. 

Vanita Gowda, MPA
Associate Dean and Chief Communications Officer
vrg8@cumc.columbia.edu

Ms. Gowda is a strategic communications and advocacy professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the public and private sectors, focusing on initiatives to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved populations around the world. She started her career as a reporter in Washington DC, covering Capitol Hill and national affairs. Vanita earned her MPA from Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs and earned her BA from the College of William & Mary.


Center Directors

Center for Infection and Immunity

W. Ian Lipkin
Director and John Snow Professor of Epidemiology, Professor of Neurology and Pathology 
Administrative Contact: Kelly Magnus (kh2907@cumc.columbia.edu)

ICAP

Wafaa El-Sadr
Director and Mathilde Kfrim-amfAR Global Chair, University Professor
Administrative Contact: Mkeba Cason (mtc2101@cumc.columbia.edu)


Department Chairs

Biostatistics

Kiros Berhane
Chair and Cynthia and Robert Citron-Roslyn and Leslie Goldstein Professor
Administrative Contact: Sonia Lyn (svl1@cumc.columbia.edu)

Environmental Health Sciences

Andrea Baccarelli
Chair and Leon Hess Professor
Administrative Contact: Fernando L. Luque (fll2112@cumc.columbia.edu

Epidemiology

Charles Branas
Chair and Gelman Endowed Professor
Administrative Contact: Laura Goldenkranz (lag2172@cumc.columbia.edu)

Health Policy and Management

Michael Sparer
Chair and Professor
Administrative Contact: Rebecca Schoenfeld (rs3665@cumc.columbia.edu)

Population and Family Health

Terry McGovern
Chair and Harriet and Robert H. Heilbrunn Professor
Administrative Contact: Jenny Cheng (jc5261@cumc.columbia.edu)

Sociomedical Sciences

Kathleen Sikkema
Chair and Stephen Smith Professor
Administrative Contact: Yasmin Davis (yj12@cumc.columbia.edu)