Adrian Cristian, MD

Adrian Cristian, M.D., is a physiatrist and the chief of cancer rehabilitation at Miami Cancer Institute. Dr. Cristian specializes in the treatment of physical impairments affecting the neurologic, musculoskeletal and lymphatic systems of persons undergoing cancer treatment as well as cancer survivors. His professional interests include loss of muscle mass associated with cancer and cancer treatment, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, lymphedema and cancer related fatigue.

Prior to joining Miami Cancer Institute in 2018, Dr. Cristian has more than 20 years of experience in physical medicine and rehabilitation and has been in multiple leadership and academic roles. He has served as chief of rehabilitation medicine and pain medicine at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York, service chief at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, vice-chairman and residency program director at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Northwell Glen Cove Hospital and currently as chief of cancer rehabilitation Miami Cancer Institute.

Dr. Cristian has held academic appointments at several medical schools in New York City, including Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell Medical College and Hofstra School of Medicine. He is currently a professor at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University.

Along with his medical degree, Dr. Cristian holds a master’s degree in healthcare management from Harvard University School of Public Health. He has authored publications and edited several books in various aspects of rehabilitation medicine, including cancer rehabilitation of the central nervous system, breast and gynecologic cancer rehabilitation, lung cancer rehabilitation, medical education in rehabilitation medicine, patient safety in rehabilitation medicine, as well as written books for the lay public on amputee care and spinal cord injury. He has lectured on several topics in rehabilitation medicine, including cancer rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation, patient safety and quality improvement in rehabilitation medicine both at regional and national conferences and has received awards for clinical excellence and teaching in rehabilitation medicine.

Dr. Cristian’s approach to patient care is to design comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plans that help maximize patients’ independence in activities of daily living and improve their quality of life.

He speaks the languages English, Romanian and Spanish.

When he is not treating patients, Dr. Cristian likes to spend time with his family and friends.