Robert M. Koch

Dr. Cassandra Simmons is the Chief of General Obstetrics & Gynecology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). In this role, Dr. Simmons directs clinical operations for the division of General Ob/Gyn, with the goal to deliver the highest quality of care to patients. Before joining the faculty at CUIMC, Dr. Simmons practiced as an Ob/Gyn in many states across the country, including California, Georgia, New Jersey, and the New York Metropolitan Area. This diverse breadth of professional experience has given her an idea of what Ob/Gyn care could, and should, look like for patients. Informed by these experiences, Dr. Simmons emphasizes the importance of building trusting patient-provider relationships and improving processes that support continuity of care. In her clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Simmons is passionate about addressing the myriad determinants of health that can shape outcomes for women and their families. Specifically, Dr. Simmons is focused on the accessibility of preventative care as a means for mitigating health disparities among vulnerable populations. Outside of her work at CUIMC, Dr. Simmons is a proud mother of three children.

Dr. Christine Rohde is the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Columbia. She graduated from Harvard Medical School in 2000. Following her medical school education, she began her general surgery training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After three years of general surgery training, Dr. Rohde accepted a plastic and reconstructive surgery residency position at Montefiore Medical Center. Interested in microsurgery, Dr. Rohde completed a microsurgical fellowship at New York University Medical School’s Institute of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery in 2006. Her research focuses primarily on outcomes of plastic surgical interventions, particularly as they relate to cancer reconstruction and post-surgical care. In 2013, Dr. Rohde graduated from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with a Masters in Public Health, focusing on comparative effectiveness research. A highly skilled clinician, researcher and teacher, Dr. Rohde is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, specializing in microsurgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, body contouring, cosmetic surgery, and breast, trauma, and cancer reconstruction. She has numerous publications and presentations in the field of plastic surgery, and is a frequently-requested speaker. She has also been seen on the Carol Alt FoxNews Show, “A Healthy You” and WABC, discussing her research and breast cancer reconstruction.