Chad M. Craig, MD
Dr. Chad Craig obtained his Medical Degree at Boston University School of Medicine. Subsequently, he completed his internship and residency training in internal medicine at UCLA Medical Center. He has worked as an internist since completing residency, and has previous appointments as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons. At Columbia University Medical Center he oversaw the inpatient medicine consultation and perioperative services, and remained actively involved in residency education in these areas. He has worked on a variety of inpatient service lines, and led transformation efforts in the areas of interdisciplinary care and perioperative guidelines.
Dr. Craig transitioned to Hospital for Special Surgery in 2014, to become the Medical Director of the Spine Service. He partners closely with the spine surgeons to provide medical consultation for this complex surgical population. He actively serves on several quality, educational and informational technology councils. He remains involved in educational efforts through the Weill Cornell Medical College, where he is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, and is also on staff at New York-Presbyterian’s Weill Cornell Medical Center. He serves on several committees for the North American Spine Society, is a Co-Chairman of the Spine/Orthopedics Committee of the American Society for Enhanced Recovery, and an editorial board member of SpineLine. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Given Dr. Craig’s central role in the medical care of spinal surgery patients, his research focuses on improving patient outcomes and perioperative care. Investigative studies he is involved with at HSS include the examination of enhanced recovery pathways and optimization of pre-operative bone health. He is the principal investigator of a randomized clinical trial investigating the use of intravenous acetaminophen to enhance perioperative pain management and limit opioid dependence. In addition, he is an institutional co-investigator in the STRIVE Study, a worldwide randomized clinical trial examining an investigational vaccine administered prior to spinal surgery to help prevent infections.
Back in the Game Patient Stories
Appointments
Assistant Attending Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery
Attending Physician, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Faculty of the American College of Physicians
Specialty
Perioperative Medicine
Spine
Internal Medicine
Special Expertise
Medical education, perioperative medicine, quality and value-based assessments
Insurance Information
Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO HMO POS
Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathway
Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathway Enhanced
Cigna
Connecticare
Emblem Selectcare
HIP
Medicare
Oxford
Oxford Medicare
United Healthcare
United Healthcare Compass
Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. You may still have coverage subject to the availability of 'out-of-network' benefits.
Education
Internship
Residency
Certification
ABIM, 2009
State Licensure
New York State
For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Research Description
STRIVE Study
HSS, along with medical centers around the country, in Europe, Japan, and Canada, is taking part in a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an investigational vaccine when administered to adults undergoing a spinal fusion surgical procedure. The research is part of the HSS commitment to quality by continually striving to improve long-term outcomes.
The goal of the study is to investigate whether a single vaccination given 10-60 days before spinal surgery can prevent Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infections. Although rare, affecting only 1 to 3% of patients nationwide, an infection is always serious and any measure that could potentially prevent an infection could improve patient outcomes.
The safety and tolerability of the current investigational vaccine for Staphylococcus aureus have already been studied in healthy adult participants in four previous clinical trials.
The next step is to study the safety and efficacy of this investigational vaccine in patients planning a spinal fusion surgical procedure.
The study is open to adults 18 to 85 years of age meeting certain criteria. Please consult your physician for more information.
Research Interests
Perioperative medicine
Directions to The Pavilion
My office is located at The Pavilion, 541 East 71st St. The main entrance to The Pavilion is on the north side of 71st Street underneath the sky bridge that connects the main hospital to the Belaire Building.
Please see directions from other HSS locations:
- From the Main Hospital (535 East 70th St):
Enter the main entrance and take the first set of elevators (West Elevators) to the 2nd Floor. Upon exiting the elevator, turn right and continue down the hallway and over the sky bridge. Once across the sky bridge, you will see a set of elevators on your left. Take the elevator to my office.- From the Belaire Building Main Entrance (525 East 71st St):
Take the front elevators in the Belaire lobby to the 2nd Floor. Upon exiting the elevator, turn left and follow the hallway around until you see another set of elevators on your right. Take the elevator to my office.- From the Belaire Building 72nd Street Entrance (524 East 72nd St):
Enter the Belaire building and walk down the stairs (or use the wheelchair accessible lift). Follow the hallway around, past the first set of elevators on your left. Continue down the hall and past the windows until you reach a set of elevators on your right for The Pavilion. Take the elevator to my office.