Office of JEDI Leadership
Linda Aponte-Patel, MD
Vice Chair for Justice, Equity, and Diversity
Dr. Linda Aponte-Patel has been a dedicated member of the Department of Pediatrics since joining the faculty in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in 2013. With a strong foundation in career mentorship, Dr. Aponte-Patel has been instrumental in shaping the educational landscape for pediatric residents and fellows. She has served as an associate program director of the Columbia Pediatrics Residency Program and as director for the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program. Her work on communication within the pediatric intensive care unit, particularly in debriefing after acute events, underscores her commitment to improving patient care and education. In 2020, she was named section chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Hospital Medicine.
In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Aponte-Patel has been a fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our department. She founded the Pediatric Diversity and Inclusion Council (PDIC) in 2013 to support underrepresented trainees in academic medicine. Under her leadership, the PDIC has grown to over 100 members and has implemented a comprehensive housestaff-led diversity curriculum. Recognized for her efforts with awards such as the 2015 Kenneth A. Forde Diversity Alliance Faculty Diversity Award and the 2017 P&S Award for Excellence for Diversity, Dr. Aponte-Patel has made significant strides in fostering an inclusive environment.
In 2020, Dr. Aponte-Patel advanced to the role of associate vice chair for education, diversity, and inclusion, collaborating with Dr. Hetty Cunningham, associate vice chair for education and the learning environment, and Dr. Marina Catallozzi, vice chair of education, to deliver anti-racism training and support educational initiatives. In 2024, she was named vice chair for justice, equity, and diversity in the Department of Pediatrics and tasked with leading the newly established Office for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).
Amanda Esteves, MD, MS
Officer of Community Engagement and Clinical Systems Integration
Dr. Amanda Esteves is a general pediatrician in the NewYork-Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network Broadway Pediatric Practice and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Throughout her training as a pediatric resident, chief resident, and academic pediatric patient safety research fellow at CUIMC, she has been dedicated to understanding and addressing health inequities in the early childhood period. She has had a particular focus on addressing inequitable access to early intervention services, and serves as the physician lead for the Early Intervention Navigation Program and as the director of the ambulatory Reach Out and Read program. She has been a champion for creating workflows for closed loop referrals with community partners in the ambulatory setting. As the officer of community engagement and clinical systems integration within the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion she hopes to use these skillsets to disseminate similar workflows for bridging access to community agencies to address social determinants of health across the Department of Pediatrics.
In addition to her dedication to clinical DEI initiatives, she is also motivated to provide DEI education and training for pediatric trainees and faculty. Through her various roles within the Pediatric Diversity and Inclusion Council and as an associate fellowship director of the Primary Care Research Fellowship, she has facilitated both didactics curricula and programming of larger workshops during the annual Celebration of Diversity Symposium. She aims to continue to develop this programing in collaboration with the PDIC and OMEDI office.
Patrice A. Pryce, MD
Officer of Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Leadership Advancement
Dr. Patrice Pryce is a pediatric intensivist and hospice and palliative care specialist currently serving as an assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has spearheaded numerous programs and research initiatives addressing health disparities, focusing on the influence pre-illness social factors have of health outcomes. During her pediatric critical care fellowship training at NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. Pryce served as one of two inaugural fellow liaisons to the Pediatric Diversity and Inclusion Council (PDIC). In her role, she championed anti-racism and anti-bias initiatives in medicine, supported the career and professional development of underrepresented trainees, and established the annual Fellow Open House for prospective applicants. Dr. Pryce remains dedicated to advancing health equity and DEI initiatives, evidenced in her current roles as faculty liaison to the PDIC, director of the child health disparities curriculum in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, and associate director of the Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program. Her efforts have not only shaped educational initiatives but also influenced policy discussions and clinical practices, reinforcing her commitment to advancing equitable health care practices for all pediatric patients.
Throughout her career, Dr. Pryce has successfully obtained grant funding to create innovative trainee curricula aimed at identifying and mitigating pediatric health disparities. This work has transformed these curricula into valuable resources for nurses, advanced practice practitioners, and pediatric subspecialists at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, emphasizing the impact of bias and social determinants of health on patient care.
Dr. Pryce is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical education and training. As part of her responsibilities within the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, she will enhance, develop, and prioritize DEI initiatives and efforts aimed at improving the clinical environment through mentorship, recruitment, engagement, retention, and leadership advancement.
Jacqueline Outlaw, MS
Lead Administrator
Jakki Outlaw serves as the clinical administrator for medical student education and resident education within the Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Her academic journey includes earning a Bachelor of Science from CUNY/City College of New York and a Master of Science in information management and digital resources from Columbia University, School of Professional Studies. Certified by the Association of American Medical Colleges in Higher Medical Education Administration, Jakki brings a wealth of expertise to her role.
Central to Jakki's professional philosophy is the belief that our experiences shape us, and that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) play pivotal roles in how individuals interact with and learn from their environments. This belief has driven her involvement with the Pediatric Diversity and Inclusion Council since its inception in 2013. As a member and lead administrator, Jakki has been instrumental in fostering a culture that embraces diversity and dismantles barriers to equity and inclusion within the Department of Pediatrics.
As she assumes the lead administrator role within the Office of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Jakki is committed to advancing these principles across the university. Her leadership will focus on strategic planning to promote DEI initiatives, budget management to allocate resources effectively, and personnel oversight to ensure a supportive and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff alike. Additionally, she will continue to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, both within Columbia University and beyond, to drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive educational community.
Shydeka Richards, BBA
Chief Diversity Officer, Department of Pediatrics
Shydeka Richards, human resources, faculty affairs and DEI manager in the Department of Pediatrics, has been with CUIMC since 2012. She received her degree in business management with a concentration in human resources. She has completed multiple certifications in human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion, credentialing, and strategic planning. With over 15 years as an HR professional, she continues to be passionate about serving as a resource for all who cross her path and most importantly continuing to be of service to the community in which she lives and works.
Since 2020 Shydeka has played an instrumental role in assisting leaders at CUIMC to launch the African Black and Caribbean Employee Resource Group, where she remains a leader. She has played a role in the annual diversity summits and has led multiple initiatives across the campus to ensure the campus not only practices diversity, equity, and inclusion, but that all who join have a deep sense of belonging.
Shydeka has a strong commitment to and plays a vital role in advancing and supporting diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging for all staff, faculty, and students within the department and university.