# Columbia University Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI)

> The Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Columbia University is one of the oldest and most established biomedical informatics departments in the United States, founded as the Center for Medical Informatics in 1987 and formalized as a department in 1994. Located on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) campus in Washington Heights, New York City, DBMI is both an academic department within Columbia University (affiliated with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons) and an information services partner to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The department is chaired by George Hripcsak, MD, MS. Noémie Elhadad serves as Graduate Program Director. DBMI conducts research across AI, large language models, machine learning, clinical natural language processing, electronic health record phenotyping, causal inference, data assimilation, mobile health, observational health data science, clinical decision support, genomics, and health equity. The department offers a full range of training programs from high school summer research through postdoctoral fellowships.

## About DBMI

- [Home](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/): Department overview, mission, recent news, and featured research
- [DBMI At A Glance](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-at-a-glance/): Quick facts about the department, size, and scope
- [DBMI History](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-history/): Founded 1987 as the Center for Medical Informatics; became a department in 1994; second-oldest biomedical informatics department in the country
- [Visit Us](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/visit-us/): Address (622 W. 168th Street, Presbyterian Building, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10032) and directions to the CUIMC campus
- [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/): Department commitment to DEI and anti-racism
- [DBMI Resources](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-resources/): IT infrastructure, servers, and access to the Clinical Data Warehouse containing over 20 years of data on 5.1+ million patients

## People

- [Faculty](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/faculty/): Full faculty directory with titles and affiliations
- [Training Faculty](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/training-faculty/): Faculty who advise graduate students, listed with primary research interests (e.g., machine learning, NLP, decision support, EHR phenotyping, genome privacy, clinical informatics)
- [Staff](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/staff/): Administrative staff, research & development team, and department faculty directory
- [Students](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/students/): PhD students, MD-PhD students, MA students, and postdocs & fellows
- [People](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/people/): Combined directory of faculty, students, and their advisors

## Academic Programs

- [Academics Overview](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/academics/): Summary of all degrees and training opportunities offered by DBMI
- [PhD in Biomedical Informatics](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/phd-in-biomedical-informatics/): Research doctoral program requiring 60 credits of graduate coursework (4000+ level), 6 residence units, and tracks in bioinformatics, translational informatics, clinical informatics, clinical research informatics, or public health informatics
- [MD-PhD in Biomedical Informatics](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/md-phd-in-biomedical-informatics/): Combined medical and doctoral degree for students pursuing physician-scientist careers
- [MA in Biomedical Informatics](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/ma-in-biomedical-informatics/): Master's program requiring BINF G6001 (Projects in Biomedical Informatics) culminating in a Master's Essay or Capstone Project; can be pursued part-time (up to 4 years for 30 points)
- [MD-MA in Biomedical Informatics](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/md-ma-in-biomedical-informatics/): 5-year joint degree with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, integrating graduate informatics training with medical school
- [Certification of Professional Achievement in Health Information Technology (HIT)](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/hit-certification/): Part-time certificate for working professionals with a bachelor's degree; virtual once-a-month classes plus online modules; prepares graduates for roles as Clinical Analysts, CMIOs, CNOs, Chief Data Scientists, EHR Managers, and Health IT entrepreneurs
- [Clinical Informatics Fellowship](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/clinical-informatics-fellowship/): 2-year ACGME-accredited subspecialty fellowship sponsored with NewYork-Presbyterian; open to physicians board-eligible in any clinical specialty; applications through ERAS under "Clinical Informatics (Internal Medicine)"
- [NLM Non-Degree Postdoctoral Fellowship](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-careers/postdoctoral-fellowship/): National Library of Medicine–funded postdoctoral research fellowship for US citizens and permanent residents with an MD or PhD
- [Postdoctoral Fellowship (Degree-Seeking)](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/postdoctoral-fellowship-degree/): NLM-funded 2-year postdoctoral training with enrollment in the MA or PhD program for fellows without prior informatics coursework
- [Summer Research Program](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/summer/): 7-week in-person program (June 29 – August 14, 2026) for high school seniors, recent graduates, and undergraduates; held at DBMI offices on the 20th floor of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; application deadline February 20
- [OHDSI Summer School](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/ohdsi-summer-school/): 5-day intensive training in OMOP, OHDSI, and observational research using real-world evidence; held at 622 West 168th Street, 20th Floor, Room 200

## Courses

- [Courses](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/courses/): Full BINF course catalog; core courses include BINF G4000, BINF G4001, BINF G4002 (Machine Learning in Health Care), BINF G4003, and BINF G6002 (Research Methods); also lists BINF G8001 (Independent Readings), BINF G8010 (MPhil Teaching Experience), BINF G9001 (Doctoral Research), BINF G9999 (Doctoral Dissertation), CMBS G4010 (Responsible Conduct of Research), and BINF G4099 (Research Seminar)

## Research

- [Research Overview](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/research/): Research mission covering AI, data science, human-computer interaction, and biomedical knowledge discovery
- [OPTACIMM Center](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/optacimm/): Optimizing with Applied Clinical Informatics Models and Methods — center using informatics to advance healthcare delivery, covering clinical intelligence, research informatics, population health informatics, analytics, and human-centered AI

## Admissions

- [Applying to Columbia](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/apply/): Application information for all DBMI programs — PhD, MA, NLM MA, MD-PhD, NLM Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, and HIT Certification; PhD and MA applications are through the GSAS Coordinated PhD program in biomedical sciences; requires transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS (if applicable), three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement; PhD deadline is typically December 1 each year

## News & Events

- [News & Events](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/news-events/): Department announcements, research highlights, awards, PhD profiles, and faculty news
- [DBMI Seminar](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-seminar/): Weekly seminar series held Mondays at 1 pm ET, in-person at PH20-200 and via Zoom; 1-credit course open to the public for attendance
- [DBMI Seminar 2024 Archive](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-seminar-2024/): Past seminar schedule and abstracts
- [DEI Special Seminar Series](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/special-seminar-series/): Series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Informatics, Health Care, and Society

## Careers

- [DBMI Careers](https://www.dbmi.columbia.edu/dbmi-careers/): Current open positions including Associate Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Research Scientist roles

## Contact

- Address: Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168th Street, Presbyterian Building, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10032
- HIT Program inquiries: hit@columbia.edu
- Summer School organizers: DBMItrainings@cumc.columbia.edu
- Summer Research Program: Herbert Chase (hc15@cumc.columbia.edu), Angely Arriaza (aa5691@cumc.columbia.edu)
- Clinical Informatics Fellowship: Program Director Sivan Kinberg, MD, MS, MA (sk1312@cumc.columbia.edu); Coordinator Angely Arriaza (aa5691@cumc.columbia.edu)

## Optional

- [YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HPf8c48EBVcbSWc_xCCbQ): Dept. Biomedical Informatics Columbia University — recorded seminars and department videos
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/school/columbia-dbmi/): Official department page
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaDBMI/): Official department page