Sorin Buga, M.D.

800-826-4673
Sorin-Buga
Supportive Care Medicine Physician
Clinical Expertise
Palliative Medicine
Internal Medicine
Research Area
Education
Other Languages Spoken
Romanian
Appointments
Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
Program Director, COH Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Clinical Teams
Supportive Care Medicine

Sorin Buga, M.D., is a clinical professor in the Department of Supportive Care Medicine, focusing on palliative care medicine. He joined City of Hope in 2013 from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, where he was an assistant member in the Psychosocial and Palliative Care Department. Concurrently, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Oncologic Services at the University of South Florida's College of Medicine.

He is board certified in Hospice and Palliative medicine. He is City of Hope’s representative in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Adult Cancer Pain Panel. He is an active member of many professional organizations including the American Academy of Pain Management, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care. He has published in the peer reviewed literature and has been invited to speak at several scientific meetings.

Dr. Buga earned his medical degree from the Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie in Timisoara, Romania. He completed an internship and subsequent residency in internal medicine at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he served as the chief medical resident.  He went on to further his training and then completed a fellowship in cancer pain and palliative care at the University of South Florida and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.

He is fluent in Romanian, and is known as a highly competent, kind and hard working clinician and colleague. Dr. Buga is available by referral to help patients address issues of pain or other supportive care needs.

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • 2018, Diplomate of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (recertification)

  • California: C55230 active

  • Florida: ME 96668 active

  • New York: 244660 inactive

  • 2006, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine

Degrees

  • 1990, M.D., Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie, Timisoara, Romania

Fellowship

  • 2006-2007, Cancer Pain and Palliative Care Fellowship, University of South Florida and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Residency

  • 2004-2006, Internal Medicine Residency, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

Internship

  • 2003–2004, Internal Medicine internship, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

Professional Experience

  • 2020-present, Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2017-2020, Chief, Division of Supportive Medicine, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2015-2017, Interim Chair, Department of Supportive Care Medicine

  • 2013-2020, Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Supportive Medicine, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2007-2012, Assistant Member, Department of Psychosocial and Palliative Care, Moffitt Cancer Center

  • 2007-2013, Assistant Member (Professor), Department of Psychosocial and Palliative Care, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2023, City of Hope GME Training Program leadership Award

  • 2020, Arti Huria Clinical Teacher of the Year Award

  • 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 LA Top Doctor

  • 2017, Fellow, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

  • 2017, Pasadena Magazine Top Doctor

  • 2015, Biller Star Award, Department of Supportive Care

  • 2013, Fellow, American College of Physicians

Memberships

  • 2022-present, City of Hope Academic Procedures Committee (APC)

  • 2017-present, City of Hope End of Life Option Act Subcommittee

  • 2015-present, City of Hope Clinical Cancer Committee

  • 2014-present, City of Hope Safe Patient Team Committee

  • 2014-present, N.C.C.N. Adult Cancer Pain Panel representative for City of Hope

  • 2013-present, City of Hope Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, member

  • 2013-present, City of Hope Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

  • 2013-present, City of Hope GME Committee

  • 2012-present, Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer

  • 2011-present, International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care

  • 2011-2013, N.C.C.N. Adult Cancer Pain Panel Moffitt Cancer Center representative

  • 2010-present, International Association for the Study of Pain

  • 2007-present, European Association for Palliative Care

  • 2006-present, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

  • 2005-2006, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, chief medical resident

Publications

  • Buga S, Mecusker E. Underrecognized Condition - Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, Journal of the Romanian National Society of Medical Oncology. 51 (2020).
  • Buga S, Mecusker E. Palliative or supportive care? A historical perspective on language in practice, Oncolog-Hematolog.ro. 49 (4) (2019) 12–15.
  • Buga S, Mooney SN, Patel PM, Bitar HN, Hillebrand L, Qamar S, Zachariah F, Banerjee C. Methadone- demystifying an old pain killer (Part 1), Hematolog-Oncolog. 46 (2019) 29–35. /li>
  • Buga S, Mooney SN, Patel PM, Bitar HN, Hillebrand L, Qamar S, Zachariah F, Banerjee C. Methadone- demystifying an old pain killer (Part 2), Hematolog-Oncolog. 47 (2019) 21–25.
  • Buga S, Mecusker E. Palliative or Supportive Care / A historical perspective on language in practice, Journal of the Romanian National Society of Medical Oncology. 49 (2019).
  • Swarm RA, Paice JA, Anghelescu DL, Are M, Bruce JY, Buga S, Chwistek M, Cleeland C, Craig D, Gafford E, Greenlee H, Hansen E, Kamal AH, Kamdar MM, LeGrand S, Mackey S, McDowell MR, Moryl N, Nabell LM, Nesbit S, OConnor N, Rabow MW, Rickerson E, Shatsky R, Sindt J, Urba SG, Youngwerth JM, Hammond LJ, Gurski LA. Adult cancer pain, version 3.2019, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 17 (2019) 977–1007.
  • Mooney SN, Buga S, Patel PM. Bowel Management: Constipation, Obstruction, Diarrhea, and Ascites, Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. 5th edition (2019) 186–205.
  • Mooney SN, Buga S, Patel PM. Bowel Management: Constipation, Obstruction, Diarrhea, and Ascites, Oxford Textbook of Palliative Nursing. 5th edition (2019) 186–205.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Salman J, Cangin M, Zachariah F, Freeman B. Supportive Care for the Head and Neck Cancer Patient, Multidisciplinary Care of the Head and Neck Cancer Patient. Cancer Treatment and Research: 174 (2018) 249–270.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Bitar H, Mooney S, Patel P. Low-dose ketamine in analgesia – a novel approach?, Oncolog-Hematolog.ro (Journal of the Romanian National Society of Medical Oncology). (2018) 20–23.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Bitar HN, Mooney SN, Patel PM. Low-dose ketamine in analgesia- a novel approach?, Hematolog-Oncolog. 44 (2018) 20–25.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Patel P, Zachariah F, Mooney S. Opioid-induced constipation, Oncolog-Hematolog. 43 (2018) 11–15.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Patel PM, Zachariah F, Mooney SN. Opioid-induced constipation, Oncolog-Hematolog.ro. 2 (2018) 11–15.
  • Buga S, Banerjee C, Patel PM, Zachariah F, Mooney SN. Opioid-induced constipation, Oncolog-Hematolog.ro. 2 (2018) 11–15.
  • Clark K, Bergerot CD, Philip EJ, Buga S, Obenchain R, Loscalzo MJ. Biopsychosocial problem-related distress in cancer : examining the role of sex and age, Psycho-Oncology. 26 (2017) 1562–1568.
  • Buga S. Cross addiction a case presentation, Oncolog-Hematolog. 38 (2017).
  • Freeman B, Zachariah F, Buga S, Banerjee C, Mooney SN, Pujanes-Mantor N, Jauwena O. Final Journey: What to Expect and How to Comfort Your Dying Loved One, (2017).
  • Buga S. Chemical Coping: A case study, Oncolog-Hematolog. (2016).
  • J. Knight, C. Whittlesey, S. Buga S. M.D., Put an End to Cancer Pain, Coping with Cancer. 29 (2015) 1.
  • Borneman T, Sun V, Williams AC, Fukinami RF, Del Ferraro C,  Burhenn P,  Irish T, Zachariah F,  van Zyl C, Buga S. Support for Patients and family caregivers in Lung Cancer: Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 08/2015, vol. 17, No. 4
  • Knight J, Whittlesey C, Buga S. Put an End to Cancer Pain: Coping with Cancer, May/June 2015/li>
  • Swarm RA, Abernethy AP, Anghelescu DL, Benedetti C, Buga S, Cleeland C, DeLeon-Casasola OA, Eilers JG, Ferrell B, Green M, Janjan NA, Kamdar MM, Levy MH, Lynch M, McDowell RM, Moryl N, Nesbit SA, Paice JA, Rabow MW, SyrjalaKL, Urba SG, Weinstein SM. Adult cancer pain, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 11 (2013) 992–1022.
  • Buga S, Sarria JE. The Management of Pain in Metastatic Bone Disease, CANCER CONTROL, vol. 19, No. 2, page 154-166, April 2012
  • Buga S, Sarria JE. The management of pain in metastatic bone disease, Cancer Control. 19 (2012) 154–166.
  • Parker J, Buga S, Sarria JE, Spiess PE. Advancements in the management of urologic chronic pelvic pain : What is new and what do we know?, Current Urology Reports. 11 (2010) 286–291.
  • Parker J, Buga S, Sarria J, Spiess P. Advancements in the Management of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain : What Is New and What Do We Know - CURRENT UROLOGY REPORTS, vol. 11, issue 4, page 286-291, July 2010, Pubmed ID 20449695
  • Constantini C, Lansky A, Mehran R, Grines C, Shirai K, Costa R, Cristea E, Fahy M, Buga S, Marginean H, Griffin J, Stone G. Impact of Myocardial Blush Analysis Methodologies in Predicting Short and Long-Term Mortality after Primary Angioplasty - The Cadillac Trial - CIRCULATION, Abstracts from scientific sessions 2003, Vol 108, No 17, page IV-415, October 2003
  • Moussa I, Jaff M, Iyer S, Klein H, Dubova N, Limpijankit T, Pop R, Hjazi I, Buga S, New G, Coplan N, Moses J. Detection of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients Presenting for Coronary Angiography and / or Intervention for Coronary Artery Disease: The Peripheral Arterial Disease in Interventional Patients Study ( PIPS ) -CIRCULATION, Abstracts from scientific sessions 2003, Vol 108, No 17, page IV-634, October 2003