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Craig Blinderman, MD, Family Medicine, New York, NY

CraigDavidBlindermanMDMA, FAAHPM

Family Medicine New York, NY

Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Chief, Supportive Care Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

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  • Office

    601 W 168th Street
    Suite 38
    New York, NY 10032
    Phone+1 212-305-6299

Summary

  • Dr. Craig D. Blinderman is the Chief of the Supportive Care Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). He previously served as Director of the Adult Palliative Care Service at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for 13 years.

    Dr. Blinderman has spent his entire professional career in academic medicine, first at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, then at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. His goals as a physician have always been to help alleviate patient distress and improve the experience and quality of life of patients and their families.

    Dr. Blinderman’s research has always centered around ways to improve the care of patients with serious illness. Currently, his academic interests include creating system-wide interventions to provide more timely supportive care to people with serious illness; enhancing pain and symptom management in cancer care; bringing the arts and narrative interventions into clinical practice; collaborative research in psychedelic-assisted therapy; and integrating contemplative care and meditation in patient care. In addition, he has a strong interest in teaching and developing programs to improve clinicians’ skills in communication about serious illness.

    Dr. Blinderman has published numerous articles on early palliative care in people with lung cancer (NEJM, 2010), comfort care for the dying (NEJM, 2015), cancer pain management, medical ethics, the role of palliative care in the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other areas. He is the section editor for Case Discussions in the Journal of Palliative Medicine and a member of its Editorial Board. He also serves on the Advisory Board and teaches at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care in New York City.
  • Craig D. Blinderman Named Chief of Supportive Care Service at Memorial Sloan Ket

    Dr. Blinderman is a national leader in supportive care.

Education & Training

  • Harvard Medical School
    Harvard Medical SchoolMedical Ethics Fellowship, 2006 - 2007
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Beth Israel)
    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Beth Israel)Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2005 - 2006
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Mount Sinai Hospital)
    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Mount Sinai Hospital)Residency, Family Medicine, 2002 - 2005
  • Ben Gurion University of the Negev
    Ben Gurion University of the NegevClass of 2002
  • Columbia University
    Columbia UniversityMA, Philosophy, 1997 - 1998
  • Boston University
    Boston UniversityBA, Chemistry/Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, 1992 - 1996

Certifications & Licensure

  • FL State Medical License
    FL State Medical License 2021 - Present
  • NJ State Medical License
    NJ State Medical License 2024 - 2025
  • NY State Medical License
    NY State Medical License 2005 - 2025
  • MA State Medical License
    MA State Medical License 2006 - 2011
  • American Board of Family Medicine Family Medicine
  • American Board of Family Medicine Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • American Academy of Hospice and Palliative MedicineAAHPM Board Certification

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Fellow American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 2015
  • Gynecologic Oncology Teacher of the Year Award Massachusetts General Hospital, 2009
  • Award for Best Abstract for Young Investigators in the Junior Faculty Category American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), 2006
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Early Intervention of Palliative Care in the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic  
    Jihae Lee, Liliya Abrukin, Stefan Flores, Marie-Laure Romney, Craig D Blinderman, JAMA Internal Medicine
  • Fast Facts and Concepts #279: Cannabis for symptom control  
    Aggarwal SK, Blinderman CD, J Palliat Med, 1/1/2014
  • Ethical dilemmas encountered with the use of ECMO in adults  
    Abrams DC, Prager K, Blinderman CD, Burkart KM, Brodie D, Chest, 1/1/2014
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Books/Book Chapters

Abstracts/Posters

  • Successful Hospice Transition for a Patient with an LVAD: A Case Report.
    Nakagawa S, Heller F, Blinderman CD, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), Philadelphia, PA, 1/1/2015
  • Palliative Care Needs Are Highly Prevalent and Persistent Among Older Intensive Care Survivors, and Independent of 3-Month Mortality.
    Westlake AA, Granieri EC, MPH; Raza, U, Warmington MA, Blinderman CD, Goldstein NE, Maurer MS, Reid MC, Baldwin MR, American Geriatrics Society Meeting, 1/1/2013
  • Illness Understanding in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer.
    Temel JS, Greer J, Admane S, Jackson VA, Billings JA, Dahlin CM, Jacobsen JC, Blinderman CD, Lynch TJ, Pirl WF, Funded by the ASCO Career Development Award. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 1/29/2009
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Lectures

  • Palliative Care and End of Life Care 
    Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons - 1/1/2015
  • A practical, Safe and Ethical Approach to Ambulatory Pain Management 
    Javitz Convention Center, New York , NY - 1/9/2014
  • Palliative Care 1: Hospice, palliation, and decisions at the end of life. 
    Columbia University, New York, NY - 1/1/2014
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Other

  • What can medicine learn from the Buddha? 
    Blinderman CD, TEDMED Day CUMC
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaWDxt3SlRo
    1/8/2013
  • The marijuana Rx for sick New Yorkers. 
    Blinderman C, Aggarwal SK, New York Daily News Op
    1/5/2013
  • Killing Pain Safely. (Letter to the Editor) 
    Blinderman C, Boston Globe
    1/28/2008

Authored Content

  • Early Intervention of Palliative Care in the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 PandemicJune 2020
  • Early Intervention of Palliative Care in the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 PandemicJune 2020

Press Mentions

  • 10 Ways to Improve Cancer Patients' Transition to Skilled Nursing Facilities: Viewpoint
    10 Ways to Improve Cancer Patients' Transition to Skilled Nursing Facilities: ViewpointSeptember 5th, 2024
  • Cancer Health 25: Craig D. Blinderman, MD
    Cancer Health 25: Craig D. Blinderman, MDJune 15th, 2022
  • Columbia Students Provide Companionship and Live Music for Hospitalized Patients Through Music Therapy
    Columbia Students Provide Companionship and Live Music for Hospitalized Patients Through Music TherapyMarch 10th, 2021
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Committees

  • Member, Ethics Committee 2010 - Present
  • Member, Optimum Care Committee, Massachusetts General Hospital 2006 - 2010

Professional Memberships

Other Languages

  • Hebrew