Olajide A. Williams, MD, MS

Stroke & Cerebrovascular Neurology
Neurology
More specialties
Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Overview

Olajide Williams, MD, MS is a Professor of Neurology and Vice Dean of Community Health at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is also Vice Chair of the Department of Neurology and a specialist in the treatment of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases. Dr. Williams is an attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and a clinical neurologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He attained his medical degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and completed his neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship training at The Neurological Institute of New York. Dr. Williams also holds a Master of Science degree from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Williams is a world-renowned leader in stroke disparities and community-based behavioral intervention research. He is founder and chair of Hip Hop Public Health, an internationally recognized organization that creates and implements multimedia public health interventions that target and engage young people in the health of their families and communities. He is a principal investigator of multiple NIH investigator-initiated awards, and MPI of the Cancer/CVD Center to Improve disease Outcomes through Multi-level and Multi-generational approaches Unifying Novel Interventions and Training health EquiTy (COMMINTY) in New York.

An influential clinician-educator, Dr. Williams is a member of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) Virginia Apgar Academy of Medical Educators, and an inaugural member of the VP&S Academy of Community and Public Service. In addition to teaching courses on clinical practice and neuroscience to VP&S medical students, he is actively engaged in addressing healthcare disparities and promoting greater diversity and inclusion in academic medicine. Dr. Williams is co-director of the Columbia Center for Community Health at the Jerome Green Science Center where he leads pioneering initiatives including the Community Health Worker Stroke Prevention program.

Dr. Williams has published numerous scholarly articles, including the book "Stroke Diaries", and received many prestigious international, national, and regional awards, such as the European Stroke Research Foundation Investigator of the Year award, two-time Columbia University Outstanding Teacher of the Year award for the Major Clinical Year, American Heart Association’s Trailblazer award, and a National Humanism in Medicine award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr. Williams has been named on Fast Company Magazine’s 100 Most Creative People list, Root 100’s most influential Blacks in America list, and New York Magazine's Best Doctors list. He sits on several nonprofit boards including the Board of Directors for the Partnership for a Healthier America, whose honorary chair is former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Acute Stroke
  • Cerebral Ischemia
  • Stroke
  • Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
  • Vascular/Stroke Neurology

Academic Appointments

  • Professor of Neurology

Administrative Titles

  • Vice Dean of Community Health, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Vice Chair, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Director, Columbia Center for Community Health, Jerome L. Greene Science Center
  • Co-chair, Community Advisory Council, Columbia University
  • Co-chair, Task Force for Addressing Structural Racism, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Co-chair, Academy of Community and Public Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Co-director, Community Engagement Core Resource, Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research

Hospital Affiliations

  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester

Gender

  • Male

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Virtual Visits/Telehealth

Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.

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Phone Appointments

New and Existing Patients:

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Location(s)

710 West 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
Primary

Insurance Accepted

Aetna

  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • NYP Employee Plan
  • NY Signature
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Student Health

Affinity Health Plan

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

AgeWell

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Special Needs

Amida Care

  • Special Needs

Cigna

  • EPO
  • Great West (National)
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO

Emblem/GHI

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Emblem/HIP

  • ConnectiCare
  • EPO
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Select Care (Exchange)
  • Vytra

Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Fidelis Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • 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
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Quality Health Management

  • Quality Health Management

RiverSpring

  • Special Needs

UnitedHealthcare

  • Compass (Exchange)
  • Empire Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid (Community Plan)
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford HMO
  • Oxford Liberty
  • POS
  • PPO

VNSNY CHOICE

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • SelectHealth
  • Special Needs

WellCare

  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

World Trade Center Health Plan

  • World Trade Center Health Plan

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • University of Lagos College of Medicine (Nigeria)
  • Internship: Harlem Hospital Center
  • Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
  • Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

Board Certifications

  • Neurology
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor

Research

Selected Publications

Gutierrez J, Williams O. A decade of racial and ethnic stroke disparities in the US. Neurology. 2014 Mar 25;82(12):1080-2

Williams O, Hecht M, DeSorbo A, Huq S, Gerin W, Noble J. The effect of a novel video game on stroke knowledge of 9-10 year old low-income children. Stroke. Stroke. 2014 Mar;45(3):889-92.

Williams O, DeSorbo A, Noble J, Gerin W. Child Mediated Stroke Communication: Findings from Hip Hop Stroke. Stroke 2012, 43:163-169

Williams O, DeSorbo A, Shafer M, Noble J, Gerin W. Long-term learning of stroke knowledge among low-income children: Findings from Hip Hop Stroke. Neurology Aug 2012 79 (8) 802-806

Cohn E, Araujo C, Sawyer V, Larson E, *Williams O. Calorie postings in chain restaurants in a low-income urban neighborhood: measuring practical and legislative compliance. Journal of Urban Health. vol. 89 issue 4 August 2012. p. 587 - 597

DeSorbo A, Noble J, Shafer M, Gerin W, *Williams O. The use of an audience response system in an elementary school based health education program. Health Educ Behav. 2012 Oct 19.

Willey J, Williams O, Boden-Albala B. Stroke Literacy in Central Harlem: a high risk population. Neurology. 2009 Dec 8; 73(23): 1950-6

Williams O, Noble JM. "Hip-Hop" Stroke: A Stroke Educational Program for Elementary School Children Living in a High-Risk Community. Stroke. 2008 Oct; 39(10): 2809-16.

Lo TS, Williams O*. Unilateral acroparesthesias: an unusual presentation of an acute stroke. Neurology 2006:22; 67 (4): E9

Williams O. African Americans and Stroke: a public health crisis. Med-Gen-Med 2006:10;8(1): 65-66.

Williams O. Brust JCM. Hypertensive Encephalopathy. Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med. 2004 Jun; 6(3): 209-216

DeSorbo A, Noble J, Shaffer M, Noble J, Gerin W, Williams O.The Perception of Food Purchase influence among African American Child-Parent Dyads. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice. In Press

Noble J, Hedmann M, Williams O. Improving dementia health literacy using the FLOW mnemonic: pilot findings from the Old S.C.H.O.O.L. Hip Hop Program. Health Ed & Behavior. In Press

Marilyn M Rymer, Craig Anderson, Masafumi Harada, Jozef Jarosz, Ning Ma, Howard Rowley, Debbie Summers, Kylie Tastula, Olajide Williams, Natan Bornstein. Acute stroke: How can we improve and measure outcomes? Consensus summary from a global stroke forum. Acta Scandinavia. In Press

Global Health Activities

Executive Board of Directors - World Neurology Foundation