Matthaios Haby
My AI Training
Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership
Organization Facts
The Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership (CHHMP) is a student-run free clinic serving unhoused, uninsured, underinsured, and underserved individuals in West Harlem, Manhattan.
CHHMP was established in May 2007 by Columbia University medical students in partnership with the Center for Family and Community Medicine (CFCM).
The clinic operates from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 521 West 126th Street and welcomes patients regardless of financial or insurance status.
Its free services include primary care, dental care, occupational therapy, social work support, and other resources designed to address the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations.
Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership
About the Organization
CHHMP is dedicated to ensuring that people experiencing homelessness, inadequate insurance coverage, or other barriers to healthcare can receive high-quality medical services at no cost.
The clinic emphasizes continuity of care, with the same groups of medical students, residents, and attending physicians regularly working together to develop stronger relationships with patients.
Medical students work under physician supervision and have time to gather extensive social histories, allowing care teams to better understand the circumstances affecting each patient's health.
CHHMP simultaneously serves as a community healthcare resource and an experiential learning environment where future healthcare professionals develop experience caring for medically underserved populations.
Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership
Community Involvement
CHHMP is operated by students from Columbia University Irving Medical Center with clinical supervision and support from faculty physicians, family medicine physicians, and residents affiliated with the Center for Family and Community Medicine.
Its longstanding partnership with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church provides a community-based location where patients can receive care within West Harlem.
The clinic engages students interested in its volunteer mission and currently also accepts qualified Spanish- and French-speaking certified medical interpreters to help facilitate patient care.
CHHMP's collaborative model connects Columbia students, faculty physicians, residents, interpreters, and community partners to improve healthcare accessibility while strengthening medical education and service.
Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership
Funding Source
CHHMP is supported through tax-deductible charitable donations made through Columbia University’s VP&S Club Fund, with donors designating their contributions specifically to CHHMP.
Supporters can contribute financially online or by check through Columbia University to help sustain the clinic’s free healthcare mission.
The clinic also accepts in-kind donations, including clothing, shoes, and other needed items that can directly support the populations it serves.
These charitable contributions help CHHMP continue providing medical and supportive services without requiring patients to pay for care or maintain insurance coverage.
My AI Proposal
Throughout the AI & Medical Innovation Internship, I worked closely with Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership to understand its operating model, goals, current patient intake system, and growth opportunities. Alongside Dr. Daniel Spar and Dr. Omar Aljawfi, I learned the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and explored how emerging AI technologies can be strategically applied to address real-world medical operational challenges, including patient intake, community awareness campaigns, patient-interface systems, and more.
Throughout the week, my team approached Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership as business consultants, analyzing its existing processes, identifying operational vulnerabilities, and evaluating areas where artificial intelligence could create meaningful value. We considered the organization’s specific needs and researched potential AI applications that could improve efficiency, strengthen operations, support patients, and contribute to long-term growth.
Using our research and analysis, my team developed a comprehensive AI business proposal tailored specifically to Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership. Our recommendations outlined practical strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into the organization while considering implementation, potential risks, and ethical and legal frameworks. The final proposal, shown alongside this description, represents the culmination of our week-long consulting process and demonstrates how AI can be applied strategically to solve real medical challenges.
My AI Proposal Presentation
During the AI & Medical Innovation Internship, I worked with Dr. Daniel Spar and Dr. Omar Aljawfi to learn about the basics of artificial intelligence and the potential medical applications it possesses.
Throughout the week, I worked with a clinic named Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership to develop AI solutions to support their operations and healthcare offerings. I worked with my team to analyze the opportunities for growth as well as their current vulnerabilities.
At the end of the week, I presented my AI proposal to a panel of judges and the LI Grant Committee, and I received grant money to implement the solution to support the clinic, their healthcare services, and the broader health of their community.
Internship Highlights
Throughout my internship, I participated in multiple hands-on labs that allowed me to utilize technology and artificial intelligence to create solutions for optimization in various healthcare settings.
These labs were created to replicate real-world scenarios and enabled me to develop applicable solutions to complex problems. This immersive experience allowed me to develop proficiencies in programming languages, implementing CNNs for image classification in the context of diagnostics, and the use of predictive analytics in healthcare.
Each session required attention to detail and the utilization of my skills in collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability to learn in a fast-paced setting. This was an invaluable experience that allowed me to translate theoretical knowledge into tangible solutions.
Virtual and augmented reality have transformed healthcare delivery, allowing medical professionals and students to learn and perform select diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in a remote setting.
During this internship, I had the opportunity to learn about the uses of virtual reality in medicine. I also participated in hands-on activities that allowed me to learn about the applications of virtual reality in surgery and radiation oncology planning.
Many people live in areas where access to quality care of specialty services is limited. Virtual reality and technology have been instrumental in bridging this gap. These activities helped broaden our understanding of this complex issue, and this new knowledge will be applied to the solutions we develop for our clinical partners.
During my internship, I gained valuable insight into the world of robotics from Dr. Laura Stegner, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The George Washington University. She introduced the concepts behind a wide range of technology that facilitates the delivery of more precise, efficient, and minimally invasive patient care.
Dr. Stegner, alongside lectures from MedStar faculty, including Dr. Omar Aljawfi, covered the growing potential of medical innovation and the increasing demand due to the aging patient population. Current applications include surgical robotics, rehabilitation and exoskeleton technology, automation in laboratory settings, and remote care robotics.
Additionally, we researched the logistical and regulatory challenges associated with implementing medical technology and innovation into day-to-day practice. These challenges include the high cost associated with the machinery and the specialized training required for operation.
Understanding the logistical, financial, and medical implications of this technology enabled me to strengthen my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, allowing us to apply this knowledge to our clinical partnership.
During my internship, I had the opportunity to apply my training in AI consulting by working directly with clinics around the United States. Meeting with Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership allowed me to gain a clear understanding of their goals, challenges, and long-term vision, giving me the chance to explore how artificial intelligence could provide meaningful solutions.
Working alongside their leadership, I developed tailored recommendations on how AI tools could streamline operations, improve patient relations, and improve healthcare offerings. This included analyzing areas where automation could reduce inefficiencies, identifying opportunities for predictive analytics, and suggesting ways to incorporate AI-driven patient strategies.
Through this hands-on consulting experience, I not only strengthened my ability to assess patient and clinic needs and translate them into actionable strategies but also learned the importance of aligning AI solutions with each clinic’s unique context. By applying these skills, I was able to deliver practical recommendations that could support Columbia-Harlem Health and Medical Partnership in reaching its goals and preparing for long-term success in an increasingly data-driven economy.