Christopher Irobunda, MD
Overview
Christopher Irobunda, MD, is an Associate Professor at CUMC and an interventionalist. He is also Vice Chair of the Faculty Development focusing on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion within the Department of Medicine. He trained as a general and interventional cardiologist. Dr. Irobunda has been a full-time faculty since 2003. He obtained his MD/PhD in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. His PhD was in Molecular Pharmacology, specifically on the cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate/beta-adrenergic signal transduction system. He subsequently completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center, followed by his General and Interventional Cardiology Fellowship here at Columbia University Medical Center. After completing his medical training and research study, he shifted his concentration to patient care and the education of aspiring young physicians.
Dr. Irobunda is ardently dedicated to uncompromised patient care and teaching. His primary focus is individualized patient care and patient advocacy. Given his training as a medical scientist, it is hardly surprising that he is a keen diagnostician. He has a penchant for complex cardiac issues and other medical problems that can sometimes mask or aggravate the cardiac disease. His aptitude for unraveling these medical conundrums has led to medical diagnoses for patients who have come to him for second and even third opinions. However, above all else, his true genius is his ability to relate to his patients with intelligence, curiosity, patience, compassion, and humor. His ability to waylay even the most apprehensive of patients with his aura of reassurance and understanding has garnered him a continually growing medical practice. Again and again, individuals will refer family members and friends because of the empathy and level of care constantly provided. Indeed, his unceasing diligence has led him to become a physician member of Columbia University Medical Centers Patient Facilitated Services, an organization directed at patient satisfaction and outreach. Dr. Irobunda has also been the primary cardiologist for patients undergoing liver transplant evaluations at New York Presbyterian since 2004.
When not in his private practice, he takes great pleasure in helping train the new influx of physicians in the only ethical way to practice medicine—patient-centered care. Dr. Irobunda has been a Supervisor and Attending Faculty for the Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine for First Year Medical Students at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons since 2011, a program that endeavors to instill exceptional patient-doctor communication and trust. He encourages future medical practitioners to listen to the patient and learn to interpret and analyze the information being imported; to realize that the seemingly insignificant details sometimes lead to the culprit of an individual's illness. He has been a lecturer with International Postgraduate Organization for Knowledgetransfer, Research, and Teaching Excellent Students (IPOKRaTES) in Europe. IPOKRaTES offers opportunities for physicians from a plethora of countries to observe and gain instruction regarding differing methods in patient care practices. Since the summer of 2012, Dr. Irobunda has become involved in New York Presbyterian Hospital's Lange Youth Program, which seeks to prepare and enumerate the rigors of medical school for high school students.
Dr. Irobunda is active in numerous community outreach organizations-Abyssian Baptist Church (NY), JP Morgan Chase Employee Education Program, Riverside Church Seniors, and Sister to Sister: The Women's Heart Health Foundation, to name a few. He seeks to educate the public on cardiovascular issues and ways to make everyday lifestyle modifications to help reduce these risks. In addition to being an interventional cardiologist who can perform angioplasties and stent placements, he emphasizes the prevention and treatment of heart disease through diet, exercise, and medical therapy.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Angioplasty, Percutaneous, Transluminal
- Cardiology Consultation
- Clinical Cardiology
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Coronary Interventions
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Medicine at CUMC
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
Gender
- Male
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amerigroup of New Jersey
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Columbia University Employee Plan
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- SelectHealth
WellCare
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
- Internship: New York University Medical Center
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
Society of Coronary Angiography and Interventions
American College of Cardiology
Association of Black Cardiologist
Board Certifications
- Cardiovascular Disease
Research
Selected Publications
1. Szatkowski A., C. Ndubuka-Irobunda, S.N. Oesterle, and D. Burkhoff (2002). "Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization: A review of basic and clinical aspects." American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs: 2:255-266.
2. Ndubuka-Irobunda, C., Li, Y. and Rubin, C.S (1993). "Expression of A-Kinase Anchor Protein 75 depletes type II protein kinases from cytoplasm and sequesters the kinases in a particulate pool." Journal of Biological Chemistry. 267:7021-7024.
3. Li, Y., Ndubuka-Irobunda, C. and Rubing, C.S. (1996). "A Kinase Anchor Protein 75 targets regulatory (RII) subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II to the cortical actin cytoskeleton in non-neuronal cells." Journal of Biological Chemistry 271:16862-16869.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov