Manuela Orjuela-Grimm is an associate professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at the Columbia University Medical Center. Her migration related research examines the intersection of nutrition, food insecurity, violence and mental health in overland migrants from Latin America, including a focus on adolescents migrating as unaccompanied minors. 

Manuela is a cofounder of a multisectorial working group which seeks to improve assessment and to understand contributors and outcomes related to food /nutrition/ and water insecurity during overland migration. She serves on the executive committee of the Institute for Latin American Studies and is a member of a UNICEF funded working group examining the intersection of gender based violence and nutrition outcomes in women and girls in fragile settings, and a Bielefeld University working group examining home making and mental health among forced migrants. She also participates in the Columbia Climate School's Food 4 Humanity Initiative.