Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management (NOPM) program recently hosted its 2025 Winter Symposium, At the Crossroads: Nonprofits Shaping Health Policy in Times of Structural Challenge. The event, co-hosted by Columbia Community Service (CCS), featured eight experienced industry leaders and two current NOPM students, offering unique perspectives and illuminating discussions for attendees. The event focused on the intersection of nonprofit work and the healthcare industry during tumultuous times.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Dr. Basil A. Smikle Jr., NOPM program director and professor of practice, followed by panel discussions, student presentations, and a networking session. Alongside Dr. Smikle, current NOPM student Sa’mya Monique Wilson and Dr. Sayantani DasGupta, a writer and senior lecturer in Columbia’s M.S. in Narrative Medicine program, welcomed the enthusiastic cohort of attendees to a day filled with learning, growth, and passion for nonprofit work.
“We focused our attention today on healthcare and public health because we wanted to talk about and address several themes,” Dr. Smikle said as he kicked off the symposium. “As we have conversations today, we will hopefully be able to provide a call to action. What do we do now? I don’t want to leave today with more questions; I want to get some hard answers.”
Wilson, a first-year NOPM student, began the symposium by underscoring its importance for professionals and aspiring nonprofit industry leaders. As a student, practitioner, and activist, she brings to the program and her community a strong background in leadership, community engagement, and nonprofit service. Wilson has recently embarked on a new journey—serving as a Nonprofit Management program representative for the Columbia University SPS Student Government (SPSSG).
“As students preparing to lead in these spaces, we have a responsibility to understand and influence how policy decisions shape the work of beloved nonprofits,” she said. “Today gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding by learning from practitioners, scholars, and partners who are doing this work in real-time.”
Dr. DasGupta closed the welcome remarks by posing critical questions that the event would be exploring: “The healthcare landscape is both marked by systemic breakdown and fundamental lack of imagination,” she said. “What happens after this disruption? How can we answer the challenges of this time?”
Dr. Smikle moderated the first panel, which featured leaders who have established themselves in their respective nonprofit sectors. Catherine Chen, executive director of the Asian American Federation, and Craig Minassian, chief content, communications, and marketing officer of the Clinton Foundation and former White House assistant press secretary, offered distinctive insights into their roles, responsibilities, and career trajectories. They discussed the implications of federal health policy changes and how their respective subsectors and organizations have addressed these challenges.
The panelists also discussed the current climate of charitable giving and large cuts to federal aid that have historically benefited many. The inspiring conversation created a sense of hope for the future, thanks to the resilience, passion, and dedication of industry leaders.
“We need to tell stories of the everyday impact the current political climate is having in our communities,” said Dr. Ashwin Vasan, senior advisor of Commonweal Ventures and former NYC health commissioner.
NOPM student Aidan Coffey’s talk focused on the intersection of public health policies and the nonprofit industry, while Rini Chakravoty, senior director of the Four Freedoms Fund at Neo Philanthropy, discussed mass incarceration as a health crisis and offered nonprofit and policy solutions.
“While it is incredibly important to note the significance of funding for cures and preventative treatments, it does not provide an excuse to ignore the 70 million adults living with disabilities in our country,” Coffey said. His presentation highlighted the various models and theories that contextualize modern public health, the gaps in current policies, and solutions.
Ramcess Jean-Louis moderated the second panel of nonprofit leaders in the healthcare space. As the global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at Pfizer, Jean-Louis has extensive experience leading and developing strategies to execute Pfizer’s enterprise-wide efforts to increase inclusivity in the healthcare industry. The panel featured Dr. Duclas M. Charles, founder of Black Health Connect; Dr. Torian Easterling, senior vice president of population and community health and chief strategic and innovation officer of One Brooklyn Health; and Camille Jimenez, global patient equity research lead at Pfizer—all leaders within the healthcare industry.
“We always have to center trust and relationship building,” Easterling said. “You work in institutions and organizations to continue to advance on the deliverables of these organizations, but you always have to remember the priorities of the communities in which you serve.”
The event concluded with reflections from Dr. Smikle on the symposium’s resounding success, met with enthusiastic applause that signaled renewed excitement for the future of nonprofit work.
For more illuminating discussions with leaders in the nonprofit space and information, learn more about Nonprofit Management's upcoming events.
About the Program
Columbia University’s M.S. in Nonprofit Management prepares graduates for leadership roles within mission-driven organizations in a wide variety of contexts, including global and community nonprofits, foundations, education, healthcare, the arts, or as fundraising and development experts.
Learn more about the program here. The program is available part-time, full-time, on-campus, and online.
