Vel Sivapalan

Dr. Vel Sivapalan was born in Sri Lanka and earned his medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) from the University of Colombo in 1975. He later immigrated to the United States to pursue advanced medical training, completing a residency in Internal Medicine at Harlem Hospital Center in New York, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Disease at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease.

In 1989, following the completion of his training, Dr. Sivapalan joined Columbia University as a full-time consultant physician in Infectious Disease and a Clinical Instructor at Harlem Hospital Center, an affiliated teaching hospital. He retired from Columbia University in 2010 with the academic title of Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine but continues to contribute to medical education as a Special Lecturer, teaching Columbia University medical students.

Dr. Sivapalan currently practices with the Physician Affiliate Group of New York (PAGNY) at Harlem Hospital Center. His responsibilities include providing Infectious Disease consultations and teaching medical students, physician assistant students, internal medicine residents, and infectious disease fellows.

Honors Conferred
  • Elected Fellow of the American College of Physicians
  • Elected Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
  • Physician of the Year Award, 2023, Harlem Hospital Center

Current Roles at Harlem Hospital Center (Affiliate of Columbia University)
  • Director, Infectious Disease Fellowship Training Program and Education (since 2005)
  • Course Director, Columbia University Clinical Infectious Disease Elective at Harlem Hospital Center (since 2005)

Selected Past Roles
  • Director, Nicholas A. Rango HIV Scholars Training Program (2001–2009)
  • Course Director, Columbia University Major Clinical Year Medicine Clerkship (2010–2015)
  • Chairperson, Infection Control Committee, Harlem Hospital Center (1998–2008)
  • Physician Consultant, Emergency Preparedness Program, Harlem Hospital Center (2002–2010)
  • Member, Medical and Dental Board Executive Committee, Harlem Hospital Center
  • Mentor to the 2009 HIVMA Minority Clinical Fellow, awarded by the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA)


Updated June 2, 2025