ColumbiaDoctors to Hold “Soft Opening” for Expanded 880 3rd Avenue Location

Three Columbia specialties — Dermatology, Ophthalmology, and Otolaryngology — are taking up residence in our expanded East Side location at 880 3rd Avenue. With a “soft opening” at the beginning of March, the natural synergies of the patient base will benefit all three specialties.

Two major services for ColumbiaDoctors will be unveiled at this location. Mohs micrographic surgery, a specialized surgical procedure used to remove many types of skin cancer under local anesthesia, will be offered under the leadership of Faramarz Samie, MD, PhD, the department’s new vice-chair for clinical affairs and associate professor of dermatology.

Ophthalmic oncology, a complex and demanding subspecialty, will be led by Brian Marr, MD, one of only a small number of surgeons nationwide with comprehensive expertise and training in the rarest of ocular cancers. Dr. Marr will join the Columbia faculty from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in mid-May.

In addition, The ColumbiaDoctors Voice & Swallowing Institute, which caters to professional singers and others with vocal dysfunction, will relocate to the 880 3rd Avenue location from their current office at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown. 

The Columbia University Laser Vision Center also will re-launch in the 880 3rd Avenue location. Specialists treat a range of refractive errors, such as nearsightedness and astigmatism.

ColumbiaDoctors will collaborate with the three departments to create ongoing marketing efforts to raise the profile of the new location. The faculty practice plans to launch an advertising program when the “soft launch” is complete and will hold a ribbon-cutting event in the spring.

“We have a very successful ophthalmology practice already in this location on the second floor, and we needed more space. Our expansion to the third floor will now open up additional space. Meanwhile, the East Side is new territory in recent history for dermatology and otolaryngology. The new office is very close to Grand Central, making it an ideal spot to capture commuters who fall within our patient demographic,” said George A. “Jack” Cioffi, MD, president of the faculty practice.

The site will be managed by Christine Gonzalez. In addition to her current oversight of our operations on the second floor, Christine will manage the administrative staff for the joint practice on the third floor and will work closely with the other two departments as the on-site liaison. A listing of the clinicians on site, by service, as well as the appointment number for each department, is provided below.

Department of Dermatology appointment line: 212-305-5293
Mohs Micrographic Surgery appointment line: 212-305-3625

Cosmetic Dermatology:

• Lindsey Bordone, MD
• Larissa Geskin, MD
• Filamer Kabigting, MD
• Jesse Lewin, MD

Cutaneous Oncology:

• Larisa Geskin, MD

General Dermatology:

• David R. Bickers, MD
• Lindsey Bordone, MD
• Filamer Kabigting, MD
• Jesse Lewin, MD

Mohs Micrographic Surgery:

• Jesse M. Lewin, MD
• Faramarz H. Samie, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology appointment line: (212) 305-9535

Comprehensive Ophthalmology:

• James Auran, MD

Cornea and Refractive Surgery:

• Leejee Suh, MD
• Danielle Trief, MD, MSc
• Stephen Trokel, MD

Optometry and Contact Lens:

• Suzanne Sherman, OD, FAAO

Ocular Oncology:

• Brian Marr, MD

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery appointment line: 212-305-8555

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:

• Jason A. Moche, MD

Head & Neck Surgical Oncology:

• Rahmatullah Rahmati, MD
• Scott Troob, MD

The Voice and Swallowing Institute:

• Carly Cantor, MS, CCC-SLP
• Amy Cooper, MS, CCC-SLP
• Michael J. Pitman, MD