Kristine Cruz
MD, FACS
Get to Know Dr. Cruz
Dr. Kristine Cruz joins CVR after 16 years of experience with minimally invasive procedures. This follows five years with New York Bariatrics and Laparoscopy P.C. where she specialized in Obesity medicine.
Dr. Cruz's Credentials
Certifications
- American Board of Surgery
Education
- Universidad Iberoamericana
- Internship at Stony Brook University Medical Center (SUNY) (Stony Brook, NY)
- Fellowship at St. Francis Hospital (Hartford, CT)
Associations
- American College Of Surgeons
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- Nassau County New York Medical Society
- Hartford Connecticut Medical Society
Specialties
- Phlebology
- Spider Veins
- Varicose Veins
- Vascular Surgery
- Venous Insufficiency
Languages
- English
- Spanish
More About Dr. Cruz
Dr. Cruz began her medical career in 2002 when she graduated with her MD from Universidad Iberoamericana (Unibe), Dominican Republic. She completed a medical internship in 2004 with Nassau University Medical Center, in Long Island, NY, as well as a surgical internship with Stony Brook University Medical Center (SUNY) in Stony Brook, NY in 2005. Her residency was also at Stony Brook, where she was chief resident from 2008-2009.
In 2010, after her Laparoscopic Surgery fellowship at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT, Dr. Cruz dedicated her career to the practice of and research around minimally invasive procedures. She has presented on the “Past, Present and Future of Minimally Invasive Surgery” (2010) and on the subject of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) multiple times. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a member of the American College of Surgeons.
In 2018, she joined CVR to focus on the minimally invasive vein closure modalities used to treat venous insufficiency (vein disease). CVR continuously redefines the care of patients with venous disorders. Our doctors are trained in a wide variety of treatment options to provide each patient with personalized care.
For Dr. Cruz, treating vein disease is about positively impacting the lives of her patients. “You are not only addressing the cosmetic issues with treatment,” says Dr. Cruz, “Venous insufficiency, if not treated on time, can lead to complications like infection, blood clots and ulcers.”
As a widely published and respected member of the Obesity Medicine Association, Dr. Cruz understands the reciprocal relationship of vein disorders and weight. People who are overweight are more likely to develop vein disease, while the immobility caused by symptoms like leg pain and heaviness or venous ulcers may lead to obesity.
“I chose to become a venous surgeon to treat this often overlooked and underestimated disorder. I am extremely grateful for the privilege of improving my patient’s quality of life.”
Dr. Cruz is a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, American College of Physicians, Nassau County New York Medical Society and Hartford Connecticut Medical Society. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.
- "Center for Vein Restoration Welcomes Experienced, Bilingual Surgeon – Kristine Cruz, MD, FACS"- Center for Vein Restoration, 2019
