Grand Rounds Series

The theme for the 2025-2026 Grand Rounds series is Public Health Responses to a Changing World. As our world evolves, so do the challenges we face in safeguarding public health. Through this series, we will explore how public health professionals and the systems they engage with can adapt to emerging threats and explore the critical health responses required to protect and promote community well-being. The focus will be on understanding how these large-scale shifts affect communities at the local level and, most importantly, how local community research is shaping effective, sustainable health responses for positive change in the cities that surround us.

Grand Rounds was initiated in 2008 at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health to create an intellectual space within which to explore national and global public health challenges and the innovative approaches needed to transform the public’s health in the 21st century. 

To recommend topics for future Grand Rounds, please email Alyssa LiSanti, Director of Special Events, at ag3093@cumc.columbia.edu.

Advancing Suicide Prevention in a Digital World

Thursday, October 23, 2025 
11:45 AM - 12:45 AM

Safeguarding population mental health in an era of rapid technological transformation requires rigorous interdisciplinary collaboration. The emergence of digital assets introduces both significant opportunities and profound concerns, particularly in areas such as ethical application and the responsible use of digital tools. This session will bring together faculty across disciplines to share their experiences conducting mental health research and examine how technology can intersect with suicide prevention. The moderated discussion will also consider how responsible future innovation may enable digital platforms to play a constructive role in advancing suicide prevention and overall mental health. Particular attention will be given to the benefits and limitations of current social media and AI-driven approaches, their application to vulnerable global populations, and the critical issues that must guide future research questions.  

The event comes as the second Grand Rounds in the quarterly event series, spotlighting WHO's World Mental Health Day, on October 10, and Columbia Mailman's collaboration efforts in interdisciplinary mental health.  

This program is in partnership with the Columbia University Seminar on Global Mental Health.

Introduction by:

Kathleen J. Sikkema, PhD
Interim Dean
Barbara and Bruce P. Dohrenwend Professor of Sociomedical Sciences
Director, Global and Population Mental Health

Panel Discussion by:

Hanga Galfalvy, PhD
Associate Professor of Biostatistics (in Psychiatry) at CUMC

Katherine M. Keyes, PhD, MPH
Professor of Epidemiology

Moderated by:

Kathryn Lovero, PhD
Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences

The Riverview Lounge welcomes outside food and drinks. Lunch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is limited. Register Today.

Building Together: Collaboration with Communities

Wednesday, August 27, 2025 
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

As our world evolves, so do the challenges we face in safeguarding public health in local communities. This session will bring together professors across disciplines to discuss their experiences conducting research that directly engages communities, shapes policy, and addresses real-world challenges. Discussions will include how public health professionals explore critical health responses required to protect and promote community well-being.

Introduction and Moderation by:

Kathleen J. Sikkema, PhD
Interim Dean
Director of Global and Population Mental Health
Professor of Sociomedical Sciences

Panel Discussion by:

Sorcha A. Brophy, PhD
Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management

Daniel P. Giovenco, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences

Ami Zota, ScD
Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

This event was held during new student orientation week, and was open to Columbia Mailman students, faculty, and staff.