Dr. David Putrino
Rehabilitation researcher, founder of Mt. Sinai Long COVID clinic
Long COVID clinical treatment • dysautonomia rehabilitation • post-exertional malaise • patient-centered care • remote monitoring technology
About the expert
Focus: Pioneering clinical treatment protocols for Long COVID grounded in dysautonomia rehabilitation, with strong patient-collaboration emphasis
Director of Rehabilitation Innovation at Mount Sinai Health System and founder of one of the largest Long COVID clinics in the US (the Mt. Sinai Center for Post-COVID Care). Pioneered a three-phase Long COVID rehabilitation protocol: symptom stabilization, breathwork-based 'prehab', then gentle low-intensity autonomic exercises designed to avoid post-exertional malaise. Leverages existing dysautonomia treatment frameworks adapted for Long COVID. Strong advocate for patient-centered research where patient lived experience shapes clinical protocols. Mainstream rehabilitation medicine credentials with Long COVID clinical leadership.
Why this matters
Helps explain what Long COVID treatment actually looks like at a leading specialized clinic: the three-phase rehabilitation protocol (stabilize symptoms, add breathwork, slowly rebuild activity), why post-exertional malaise has to be avoided, and how dysautonomia frameworks translate to Long COVID care. Also advocates for taking Long COVID symptoms seriously as a clinical condition, especially when routine tests are normal. Strongest on translating Long COVID research into rehabilitation practice. Mainstream rehabilitation medicine; the patient-centered framing is increasingly mainstream in Long COVID circles but still debated in some clinical settings.