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Cristina L. Sadowsky, M.D.

Cristina L. Sadowsky, M.D.

Headshot of Cristina L. Sadowsky
  • Clinical Director, International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Expertise

Neuromyelitis Optica, Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury, Spinal Cord Dysfunction, Spinal Cord Injury, Spinal Cord Trauma, Transverse Myelitis, Traumatic and Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ...read more

Research Interests

Efficacy of activity-based restoration therapies in helping individuals with long-term spinal cord injury and paralysis recover sensation, movement and independence; Prevention of complications in patients with paralysis ...read more

Locations

Kennedy Krieger Institute

Appointment Phone: 443-923-9230
801 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205 map
Phone: 844-334-3211

Background

Dr. Cristina L. Sadowsky is an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her areas of clinical expertise include spinal cord injury and paralysis restoration.

Dr. Sadowsky is also a founder and the clinical director of the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. This program was built on the philosophy that functional restoration is possible for a long time after an injury, utilizing structured medico-rehabilitative interventions through activity-based restorative therapies (ABRT).

She serves as a section editor for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports and is a recurrent invited reviewer for several peer-reviewed medical journals and government and privately funded competitive grant awards for spinal cord injury related research.

Dr. Sadowsky has organized numerous courses and seminars, and has been invited to lecture in different universities and at national and international meetings, such as the American Academy of PM&R, American Spinal Cord Injury Association, International Spinal Cord Society and many more. She has published several manuscripts in highly regarded peer-reviewed journals and chapters in prominent specialty books.

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Titles

  • Clinical Director, International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Director, Paralysis Restoration Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute
  • Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Departments / Divisions

Centers & Institutes

Education

Degrees

  • M.D.; Inst De Medicine Si Farm - Iasi - Romania (Rumania) (1989)

Additional Training

  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 1997, Physical medicine and rehabilitation; Mediai Huron Hospital / Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 1994, Internal medicine

Research & Publications

Research Summary

Dr. Sadowsky’s research focuses on prevention of complications in patients with paralysis and the efficacy of activity-based restoration therapies in helping individuals with long-term spinal cord injury and paralysis recover sensation, movement and independence.

Selected Publications

View all on PubMed

Cristina Sadowsky, John McDonald. Activity Based Restorative Therapies (ABRT); concepts and applications in spinal cord injury-related neurorehabilitation. Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 15:112-116. 2009.

Choe AS, Belegu V, Yoshida S, Joel S, Sadowsky CL, Smith SA, van Zijl PC, Pekar JJ, McDonald JW. Extensive neurological recovery from a complete spinal cord injury: a case report and hypothesis on the role of cortical plasticity. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013 Jun 25; 7:290. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00290. eCollection 2013. PMID: 23805087

Sadowsky C, Hammond E, Stroll A, Commean P, Eby S, Damiano D, Wingert J, Bae K, McDonald J. Lower extremity functional electrical stimulation cycling promotes physical and functional recovery in chronic spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2013 Nov; 36(6):623-31.

Hammond E, Metcalf H, McDonald J, Sadowsky C. Bone Mass in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Associations with Activity-Based Therapy, Functional and Neurologic Status, a Retrospective Study". Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014; 95:2342-9.

Mulcahey MJ, Calhoun Thielen C, Dent K, Sinko R, Sadowsky C, Martin R, Vogel LC, Davidson L, Taylor H, Bultman J, Gaighan J. Evaluation of the graded redefined assessment of strength, sensibility and prehension (GRASSP) in children with tetraplegia. Spinal Cord (2018); published online 2018-03-26. DOI: 10.1038/s41393-018-0084-0

Contact for Research Inquiries

Kennedy Krieger Institute
716 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205 map
Phone: 443-923-9211

Academic Affiliations & Courses

Courses and Syllabi

  • Program Director Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship
    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
    2007 - 2016

Activities & Honors

Honors

  • Best Doctors in America, 2007 - 2018
  • America's Top Physicians, 2009 - 2018
  • Top Doctors in Baltimore, 2007
  • Outstanding Performance Award from the Spinal Cord Injury Board, Washington University School of Medicine, 2000
  • Best Teaching Attending of the Year, Washington University School of Medicine, 1999
  • Best Resident of the Year in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Washington University School of Medicine, 1998
  • Outstanding Resident Award in Medicine, Meridia Huron Hospital, 1995

Memberships

  • American Medical Association, 1991
  • American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 1996
  • American Paraplegia Society, 1999
  • Association of Academic Physiatrists, 2000
  • Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, 2000
  • International Society for Clinical Densitometry, 2005
  • Maryland State Medical Society Med Chi, 2005 - 2016
  • American Spinal Cord Injury Association, 2011
  • International Spinal Cord Association, 2011
  • American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2013

Professional Activities

  • Section Editor Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports
  • Reviewer, American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2001
  • Reviewer, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2003
  • Reviewer, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2006
  • Co-chair, Pediatric Networking Group, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 2015
  • Board member, Department of Veteran Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D) Scientific Merit Review Board

Videos & Media

  • Play Video:

    Bone Density and Rehabilitation Approaches for Paralysis

  • Play Video:

    Understanding Activity-Based Rehabilitation

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

Bent Out of Shape: What About Contractures? | New Mobility (March 2015)

The Way Forward: The judge helped a quadriplegic man become a lawyer. Could he help her recover from a catastrophic fall? | Washington Post (July 2015)

Aging with rare neuro-immune disorders, TMA Ask the Expert Podcast (May 1, 2018)

Implant helps 3 paralyzed take steps. Clinton Herald (September 26, 2018)

Paralyzed Wisconsin man takes first steps in years with Mayo Clinic implant. Twin Cities Pioneer Press (September 25, 2018)

Family Grapples With Polio-Like Disease In Children Being Treated in Maryland. CBS Baltimore (October 2018)

Parents of children with AFM being treated in Baltimore warn about rare, scary polio-like condition. Washington Post (October 2018)

5 Possible Cases of polio-Like Illness or AFM in Maryland Children, CDC Investigating. CBS Baltimore (October 2018)

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