Dr. Rafael F. Cruz, MD

My original career was in emergency medicine, which I practiced for about 10 years. During that time, I had some exposure to ketamine in various medical procedures, such as sedating children for repairs or intubating patients in respiratory distress. Later on, I pursued a second residency in anesthesia, where I gained more experience with ketamine. However, it wasn’t until my father, who is a urologist, mentioned ketamine’s potential for mental health issues that I began researching its applications. With a personal history of anxiety and depression, as well as my mother’s struggles with mental health, I was highly interested in finding a new approach that could be quick and effective.

After creating a protocol and personally experiencing the benefits of ketamine, I started offering it in my practice. Over the past eight years, we have seen remarkable improvements in patients, with only a small percentage not responding to ketamine. It has been a rewarding journey to witness the positive impact this therapy can have.