Rafael Cruz

Dr. Rafael F. Cruz MD is a specialist at the clinic where his work centers on physician led Regenerative, Functional and Integrative Medicine approaches for complex medical challenges including but not limited to off-label therapies for Stroke, TBI, Parkinson's, ALS, MS, CRPS, Neuropathy, Treatment Resistant Depression, Heart Disease, HRT, Sexual Wellness, Stress incontinence.  Dr. Cruz received training in all the listed areas of medicine with residency training in Emergency Medicine and Anesthesia pain relief procedures.  He has over 30 years of clinical experience and is a worthwhile second opinion especially if you have been told nothing can be done or your only option is surgery.  The clinic receives veterans suffering from treatment-resistant depression.  Qualifying veterans are able to receive ketamine therapy at no charge when referred by their VA medical team. His clinical model is built on combining mind-body support with targeted medical interventions, and the clinic describes him as a skillful clinician, educator, researcher, and inventor of the “cruzcric” the first pocket-sized emergency surgical airway device. For international patients, the practical advantage is that the clinic offers both in-person and telemedicine/Zoom consultations, so you can start the evaluation process quickly.

Education

• 1997–2017 — Board certification with the American Board of Emergency Medicine (board certification period stated; not currently practicing emergency medicine).
• 2002–2004 — University of Louisville, Anesthesia and Pain Relief Procedure Training using Ultrasound & Fluoroscopic Guided Injections.
• Perispinal etanercept (PSE) therapy training under Edward Tobinick, MD (internist).

Work experience

Kentuckiana Integrative Medicine (Louisville) Medical Director 

Kentuckiana Ketamine Institute 

Emergency Medicine Practice — American Board of Emergency Medicine certification period 1997–2017 (not currently practicing emergency medicine).

Clinical focus and techniques

Care is delivered through a combination of physician-monitored infusions, targeted regenerative injections, and image-guided procedures designed to improve accuracy and consistency.

• Physician-monitored ketamine therapy (IV/IM ketamine referenced).
• Perispinal etanercept (PSE) therapy for brain injury and stroke-related symptoms.
• Personal High Dose Hyper-concentrated Photobiomodulated Platelet Rich Plasma (PBM-PRP).
• Regenerative Personal Human Harvested Messenger Signaling “Stem” Cellular Injection Therapy.
• Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) with enhanced personal, proprietary, high-dose, hyper-concentrated bio-modulated PRP.
• Image-guided hyaluronic gel injections using fluoroscopic X-ray or ultrasound guidance, including Orthoscan technology.
• Ultrasound & fluoroscopic guided injections.
• IV Chelation and IV Plaquex (heavy metal toxicity certification referenced) plus IV Vitamin C and IV Ozone.
• Prolotherapy / Prolozone injections and PRP injections.
• Ketamine Reset & Restore Formulas (listed as proprietary formulas used in the clinic’s ketamine model).

Professional societies and certifications

• American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) — Board Certified (1997 & 2017) not currently practicing emergency medicine).
• National Board of Physician and Surgeons — member.
• American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians — member.
• Independent Medical Alliance — member.
• American Academy for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM) — member.
• IV Plaquex & IV Chelation Certification — Heavy Metal Toxicity (certification listed)
• Fellow and founding member — American Academy of Ozone Therapists.

Awards and recognition

Rafael F. Cruz’s clinic model also includes education and patient empowerment, with the clinic describing breathwork, meditative techniques, and coping skills as part of its holistic approach. The clinic offers prompt telemedicine/Zoom options for consultations, and it serves patients beyond the Kentuckiana region. dr. Cruz speaks fluently in English and Spanish and some French.