Dr. Cristina Berteanu,
PhD, Senior ICU Physician, Medical Director, Memorial Romania
For Dr. Cristina Berteanu, every day represents a new opportunity to make a difference. A new chance to demonstrate that medicine is not only about treating disease, but also about opening new horizons where patients, professionals, and communities can build hope, trust, and a better future together. Throughout her career, she has remained faithful to the same mission: to create, develop, and expand medical ecosystems in which professional excellence is accompanied by empathy, innovation, and responsibility toward people.
The anesthesiologist who, in 1997, co-founded the Romanian Society of Regional Anesthesia alongside Professor Albert Van Steenberge, former President of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia, is today one of the leaders actively contributing to the transformation of private healthcare and the development of modern models of integrated medical care. As Medical Director, she currently oversees the development of Memorial Romania, continuing to expand a healthcare ecosystem built around a clear vision: access to state-of-the-art technology, a multidisciplinary approach, and genuine patient-centered care.
The year 2025 marked another important milestone in this journey. Under her coordination, Memorial City Gate, the new wing of Memorial Romania, was inaugurated—a project that redefines the concept of a multidisciplinary medical center. Designed as an integrated healthcare hub, Memorial City Gate brings together the expertise of complementary specialties, advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, and a patient-centered approach, offering a model of care in which high-performance medicine is complemented by comfort, accessibility, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Innovation remains one of the defining pillars of her professional activity. Over the years, Dr. Cristina Berteanu has supported the introduction and development of advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, contributing to the integration of high-precision radiotherapy, advanced medical imaging, and psychological support services into the therapeutic pathway of oncology patients.
A new chapter in this direction is the development of interventional radiology services within Memorial Romania through the integration of the expertise and infrastructure developed by ARES. Under the coordination of the renowned interventional radiologist Dr. Ștefăniță Dima, this new service line provides patients with access to state-of- the-art minimally invasive procedures that reduce recovery times and contribute to a better quality of life. Through this strategic investment, Memorial Romania further strengthens its multidisciplinary approach to oncology care and expands access to modern treatments delivered at international standards.
During the same period, Dr. Cristina Berteanu has been actively involved in research projects developed under Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), contributing to the country’s capacity to develop innovative solutions in oncology and personalized medicine. These projects demonstrate that medical progress cannot exist without research, collaboration, and continuous investment in knowledge.
Her work extends far beyond medical management and institutional development. Over the past year, Dr. Cristina Berteanu has participated in several important platforms dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare, contributing to essential debates on access to innovation, prevention, and the improvement of patient pathways. Among these were the event “Ovarian Cancer: Impact on Patients and on the Healthcare System,” organized by the Embassy of the United States of America in Romania; the conference “Equitable Access. Real Innovation. Health for All Women,” organized by “Politici de Sănătate” Magazine and the “Echitate în Sănătate” Association under the auspices of the Romanian Senate and the National Institute of Public Health; and the ONCOHEART Summit, organized by MediaUno. Through this sustained engagement, she advocates for the development of modern healthcare policies and a medical system in which innovation, collaboration, and equity translate into tangible benefits for patients.
The academic dimension of her work further complements the profile of a leader who builds and inspires. With more than 200 published scientific papers, contributions to specialized volumes, medical patents, and participation in international conferences, Dr. Cristina Berteanu continues to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and the training of future generations of healthcare professionals. As Editor of the Romanian Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and mentor to numerous early-career physicians, she consistently promotes continuing medical education and applied research.
Her strategic involvement is also reflected in her contributions to national initiatives dedicated to cancer control and the development of oncology research, as well as in her work within professional organizations and advisory structures relevant to the healthcare system. Through these roles, she promotes collaboration between the public and private sectors, convinced that medical progress is the result of a collective effort.
At the same time, the human dimension remains one of the most important aspects of her activity. As a founding member of the R.O.Z. Association – Patience, Optimism, Smile, Dr. Cristina Berteanu continues to support oncology patients and their families through psychological, social, and educational assistance programs, contributing to the development of a healthcare culture in which patients are treated as whole individuals, not merely through the lens of a diagnosis.
Through everything she builds, develops, and supports, Dr. Cristina Berteanu demonstrates that medicine can be more than a system of services. It can become a universe of technology, collaboration, progress, and hope. And this ability to transform vision into reality and to create environments where people can make a difference together is perhaps her most valuable contribution to the future of Romanian medicine.
