Craig David Blinderman, MD

Overview
Dr. Blinderman is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Adult Palliative Medicine Service at Columbia University Medical Center/New-York Presbyterian Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. He was previously an attending physician on the Palliative Care Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital and co-directed the MGH Cancer Pain Clinic from 2007-2010.
Dr. Blinderman received his undergraduate degree in chemistry (Boston University) and a M.A. in philosophy (Columbia) before earning his medical degree from Ben Gurion University in Israel. He completed both a residency in Family Medicine and a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in NY. He then went on to complete a Medical Ethics fellowship at Harvard Medical School..
Dr. Blinderman has published numerous original articles, reviews and chapters in the following areas: comfort care (Blinderman CD, Billings JA. NEJM, 2015) early palliative care in lung cancer patients (Temel et al. NEJM 2010), comfort care for the dying patient (NEJM, 2015), medical ethics, existential distress, symptom assessment and quality of life in chronic lung and heart failure patients, as well as cancer pain management, and the management of pain in patients with a history of substance abuse.
He currently is the section editor for Case Discussions in the Journal of Palliative Medicine.
His academic interests include: decision-making at the end of life, the role of palliative care in public health, palliative care in developing countries, medical ethics, and the integration of contemplative care and meditation in medical practice. He also has a strong interest in teaching and developing programs to improve students’ and residents' skills in communication and care for the dying. Dr. Blinderman also serves on the advisory board and teaches at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Pain Medicine/Pain Management
- Palliative Care (Hospice Care)
- Research Studies
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Medicine at CUMC
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- Hebrew
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
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
- 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
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Columbia University Employee Plan
- Compass (Exchange)
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Internship: Beth Israel Medical Center, NY
- Fellowship: Beth Israel Medical Center, NY
Board Certifications
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- Family Medicine
Honors & Awards
- 2005 Society of Teachers of Family Medicine: Resident Teacher Award
- 2005 John J. Falenki Memorial Award Department of Family Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center
- 2005 Guest Speaker at Ben Gurion University-Columbia University Medical School for International Health’s Physician Oath Ceremony
- 2006 Award for Best Abstract for Young Investigators in the Junior Faculty Category: American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
- 2009 MGH Gynecologic Oncology Teacher of the Year Award
- 2015 Fellow, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
- 2016-2019 Best Doctors in New York, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, New York Magazine