Lisa F Imundo, MD
On the web
Overview
Dr. Imundo has 20 years of experience as a pediatric rheumatologist with a busy and complex clinic practice; she is engaged in clinical care, education, and research. Dr. Imundo is the founder and director of the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology, which provides care for children and adolescents with chronic rheumatic disease with a focus on helping teens and young adults become more prepared and independent to successfully transition from pediatric to adult care. Research demonstrates that despite having programs in place at pediatric centers, teens and young adults are not consistent in managing their diseases and have worse outcomes and increased medical complications. At the Center for Adolescent Rheumatology, pediatric and adult providers work together and collect data on effective ways to educate teens and measure teen readiness to become independent. New, innovative, disease-specific collaborative clinics staffed with pediatric and adult rheumatologists will help all families support their children and help them become prepared for transition.
Dr. Imundo's mentor Dr. Jerry Jacobs established Pediatric Rheumatology in 1960 at Columbia, under the mentorship of Charles Raean, the Chairman of Medicine, and Charles Christian,the Chairman of Adult Rheumatology. Dr. Jacobs wrote the first textbook in the field, "Pediatric Rheumatology for the Practitioner," and defined new entities which today have genetic, cellular, and molecular foundations. Dr. Jacobs' former fellows, among them Dr. Imundo, wrote the continuing textbook "Arthritis in Children and Adolescents" (I. Szer, ed.).
At Columbia University Dr. Imundo was appointed both Division Director and Fellowship Director shortly after completing her Chief Residency and Fellowship. Under her leadership, her Division of Pediatric Rheumatology (1997-2014) expanded to provide care for thousands of children with complex and often mysterious autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, both on the inpatient and on the outpatient service, a record unmatched in the USA. She continues in the footsteps of Dr. Jacobs defining new entities and conducting cutting-edge research in the efficacy of molecularly specific medications. Like Dr. Jacob's before her, Dr. Imundo is available continuously to treat the sick children of the tri-state area, and like Dr. Jacob's before her, Dr. Imundo's patients become part of her family, and she very frequently part of theirs.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lupus
- Lyme Disease
- Scleroderma
- Young Adults
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Pediatrics (in Medicine) at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director of Adolescent Rheumatology
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Languages
- Spanish
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amerigroup of New Jersey
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
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 HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- 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
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
UnitedHealthcare
- Columbia University Employee Plan
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
WellCare
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- State University of New York - Downstate Health Sciences Center
- Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
She currently represents Pediatric Rheumatology on the American Board of Pediatrics, the Committee of Pediatric Subspecialists and she is President of the American Academy of Pediatric Executive Committee on Pediatric Rheumatology.
Board Certifications
- Pediatric Rheumatology
Research
Dr. Imundo's research involves finding more effective and less toxic regimens for treating children. She has actively participated in over twenty-five medication trials to introduce new treatments for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, childhood onset lupus, vasculitis, and dermatomyositis. She has also participated in efforts to gather information about safety and effectiveness of medications already used to treat children – because children are not just little adults.
Dr. Imundo participates in several collaborative investigator initiated networks. These networks collect information across multiple centers and these collaborations lead to accelerated progress.
- Pediatric Rheumatology Center Study Group (PRCSG) works to optimize studies being done by the pharmaceutical industry to obtain more FDA approved medications for children and adolescent patients.
- Childhood Arthritis & Research Rheumatology Alliance (CARRA). This network has a long-term database to gather information about children with rheumatic disease and to gather information about outcomes. Pragmatic and observational trials are being initiated across this network.
- International Myositis Outcomes Assessment Collaborative Study Group, and the Childhood Myositis Heterogeneity Collaborative Study Group
- ARChiVe (A Registry for Childhood Vasculitis)
Dr. Imundo has also been involved with improving the field of pediatric rheumatology. She led the American College of Rheumatology pediatric workforce/manpower study that highlighted the current shortage of pediatric rheumatologists and the looming crisis ahead for the United States as patients become less and less able to access care. Finally, the field of rheumatology has been changed and revolutionized and Dr. Imundo worked with several professional organizations including the American Board of Pediatrics to update the curriculum and professional standards for Board Certification.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov