Craig D. Blinderman, MD, MA

I believe in placing the patient at the center of care, ensuring their preferences, values, and goals are not only respected, but also reflected in their treatment plan. Effective communication and collaboration with patients, their families, and the members of their care team are essential to my practice. The people I see are often worried about worsening pain. There are many different types of support that we can offer; I am committed to giving each person in my care the specific kind of support they need while building long-term caring and trusting relationships with my patients and their families.

I see patients, caregivers, family members, friends, and others who are a part of the cancer care journey as deeply interconnected in a web of care relations. This “ethics of care” philosophy is grounded in my understanding of feminist thinkers, like Carol Gilligan and Joan Tronto, as well as in the Buddhist idea of “interbeing.” This concept, perhaps best articulated by Thich Nhat Hanh, underscores the interconnectedness of all living beings through our actions, feelings, and thoughts. The care we provide at MSK is mindful of this interconnectedness. We consider the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of our patients’ well-being. Our approach is intuitive, compassionate, and team-based, with the goal of caring for the whole person— not just their illness

I value the importance of education and research in improving patient care. I actively seek out opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills and actively contribute to advancements in the field through research and teaching. I also have a strong interest in teaching and developing programs to improve clinicians’ skills in communication about serious illness.

Academically, I am interested in:

• Enhancing pain and symptom management in cancer care
• Creating system-wide interventions to provide more timely supportive care to people with cancer
• Bringing the arts and narrative interventions into clinical practice
• Collaborating in psychedelic-assisted therapy research
• Integrating contemplative care and meditation in medicine

I have published articles on early palliative care in people with lung cancer, comfort care, cancer pain management, medical ethics, the role of palliative care in the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other areas. I am currently the section editor for Case Discussions in the Journal of Palliative Medicine and a member of its Editorial Board. I also serve on its Advisory Board and teach at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care in New York City.