Robert Fullilove Appointed Co-Director of Manhattanville Wellness Center, Joining Olajide Williams

Columbia University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Robert Fullilove, Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at the Columbia University Medical Center and Associate Dean, Community and Minority Affairs, as Co-Director of the Manhattanville Wellness Center, located on the ground floor of the Jerome L. Greene Science Center on its Manhattanville campus. The Center has several community-based initiatives, including training members of the Harlem community to become health advocates to prevent stroke and promote mental health. 

Fullilove's appointment will move the Center's mission forward, allowing it to continue to meet its objectives by providing the community with preventative measures related to stroke and cardiovascular disease, mental health screening, and outreach services. Dr. Fullilove will seek to broaden community relationships and academic partnerships during a time when anti-racism efforts have become intricately linked to community health. The Wellness Center will also leverage Dr. Fullilove's unparalleled leadership in all things which promote health equity,

Fullilove will support additional initiatives associated with the Wellness Center by deepening relationships with local Church-Based Organizations (CBOs). He will also expand the Center's community health programming to include other marginalized groups, such as formerly incarcerated residents who have shown leadership in community advocacy.

In addition, Fullilove will provide leadership in reforming the current Wellness Center model that focuses on Community Health Worker (CHW) training. He is looking forward to building a larger group of well-trained CHWs. They will become on-the-ground partners in advancing community health (physical and mental) and addressing social determinants of health. These trusted CHWs will deliver the community benefit with ever greater penetration.

"After more than three decades of doing community public health in Harlem and Washington Heights, I am thrilled with the opportunity to join the Columbia Wellness Center and its tireless efforts to promote the efforts of community health workers to promote health and prevent disease in communities of color," said Fullilove of the opportunity.

Fullilove joins Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS, Professor and Chief of Staff of the Department of Neurology at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, as co-director of the Center. Williams has served as co-director of the Center for the past four years, since the Center's founding in 2018. 

"Dr. Fullilove is a community health icon, and I am honored to have him join me as a co-director of the Wellness Center," Williams said. "Under his leadership, our impact on our local community will be even greater."