Diana D. Cardenas, MD, MS, MHA, FACRM

Professor
Rehabilitation Physician
Chief, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, UWMC
Director, Spinal Cord Injury Clinic
Director, Adult Spina Bifida Clinic

Patient Care
Dr. Cardenas works primarily with patients who have had a spinal cord injury (SCI).

"My patients are a constant source of inspiration and have taught me much about living with disabilities. I try to live up to the trust they place in me."

Dr. Cardenas is rated one of America's best doctors by the Castle Connolly Guide.

Research
Dr. Cardenas' research interests include chronic pain in spinal cord injuries, prevention of urinary tract infections in people with spinal cord injuries, and bladder management. She is the Project Director of the Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System.

Teaching
Dr. Cardenas teaches PM&R residents and medical students. She is a member of the University of Washington School of Medicine Appointments and Promotions Council, the Medical Staff Administrative Committee of UWMC, and the Medical Quality Improvement Committee. She also serves on the University of Washington Academic Medical Center Board Joint Conference Committee.

Training
Dr. Cardenas earned her B.A. degree at the University of Texas and her medical degree at Southwestern Medical School. She earned her M.S. (1976), and M.H.A. (2001) degrees and completed her residency in PM&R (1976) at the University of Washington.

Selected Publications:

Cardenas DD, Hooton TM. Urinary Tract Infection in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 75(3):272-280, 1995.

Cardenas DD, Mayo ME, Turner LR. Lower Urinary Changes Over Time in Suprasacral Spinal Cord Injury. Paraplegia 33:326-329, 1995.

Standaert C, Cardenas DD, Anderson P. Charcot Spine as a Late Complication of Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 78(2):221-224, 1997.

Isik FF, Engrav LH, Rand RP, Cardenas DD. Reducing the Period of Immobilization Following Pressure Sore Surgery. A Prospective Randomized Trial. Plast Reconstr Surg 100(2):350-354, 1997.

Dalyan M, Cardenas DD, Gerard B. Upper Extremity Pain after Spinal Cord Injury. Spinal Cord 1999.

Cardenas DD, Doctor JN. Cost-Effectiveness and Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation. Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Critical Reviews Phys Rehab Med 10:359-367, 1998.

Cardenas DD, Warms CA, Turner JA, et. al, Efficacy of amitriptyline for relief of pain in spinal cord injury: results of a randomized controlled trial. Pain 96: 365-373, 2002.