Maxim Crasta, MSc, PhD

With over 30 years of experience in teaching and mentoring, Dr. Crasta specializes in medical physiology, pathophysiology, medical education, and research. He earned both his MS and PhD degrees from Manipal University in India and obtained his Clinical Research Associate certification from McMaster University, Canada in 2013. To further bolster his expertise, Dr. Crasta completed a postgraduate diploma in Clinical Research at the Academy of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences in Toronto, Canada. Additionally, he received training focused on the study of human eye at the Keenan Research Centre within the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Crasta has undertaken multiple roles in his career, including teaching, leadership, and advisory positions at St. James School of Medicine in St. Vincent, American University of Antigua, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in NY. His responsibilities have included serving as coordinator and curriculum head to create active learning components for small group activities. Dr. Crasta’s steadfast dedication to teaching excellence has garnered him considerable recognition, reflected in the many awards and honors he has received over the years.

Courses Teaching:

• Medical Physiology & Pathophysiology

Membership and Affiliation:

• Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME)
• International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE
• American Physiological Society (APS
• The Microcirculatory Society, Inc.
• National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
• Society for Endocrinology
• American Medical Association
• American Clinical Neurophysiology Society

Awards and Recognition: 

• Editor-Journal of Pulmonary & Respiratory Sciences, ISSN 2642-1143
• Editor-Journal of Bioscience and Medicine, ISSN 2327-5081
• Teacher of the year award -St. James school of Medicine, St. Vincent
• Professional Leadership in Education Award – International American University, St. Lucia
• Best Preclinical Teaching award by SGA, AUA, Antigua
• ICMR research fellowship award - National Institute of Nutrition, India
• Master Mentor recognition, AIMST, Malaysia
• Best conference poster/presentations multiple times
• Three seed research grants -LECOM, NY

Research /Areas of Interest:

• Autonomic Nervous System responses following Osteopathic Manipulation
• Exercise-induced bioelectrical activity and body responses using physiological measurements (EMG, EKG, breathing rates, volume, and efficiency using a spirometry / respiratory belt and oxygen consumption (VO2), muscular force, skin temperature, blood pressure and reaction times.)
• Cross-Sectional Observational studies
• Stress and Physiological Correlates

Recent Publications:

• Faustine Viri, Roqaya Wafa, Kristina Cummings, Maxim Crasta. From Manipulation to Modulation: Evaluating the Effect of Osteopathic Rib Raising Technique on Cardiac Autonomic Activity Through QT Interval and Heart Rate Variability Analysis. Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine. 9 (2025): 344-354. DOI: 10.26502/fccm.92920458
• Amelia Freeman, Govindi Harricharran, Maxim Crasta. The Intricate Gut-Heart Connection; Role of Gut Microbiota in the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Disease. Archives of Internal Medicine Research. 7 (2024): 241-252. https://www.doi.org/10.26502/aimr.0181
• Ryan Witczak, Jennifer Kachelmeyer, Kristina Cummings, Maxim Crasta. Effects of Suboccipital Release Osteopathic Manipulation on Autonomic Nervous System: Insights from Short- Term QT Interval Measurements in Healthy Young Adults. Journal of Spine Research and Surgery. 6 (2024): 41-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.26502/fjsrs0074
• Vasilkova T, Fiore VF, Clum A, Wong A, Kabir N, Costello E, Crasta M Assessment of Autonomic Nervous System Activity Using Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability After Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy in Patients with Sleep Apnea. Cureus. 2024 Jan 6;16(1): e51735. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38187017/ Crasta, M., Alam, Z. and Lakhani, S. (2023) Modulation of Respiratory Neural Drive by Physiological Loads in COVID-19 Patients with Dyspnea. Neuroscience and Medicine, 14, 29- 46. https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2023.143003
• Sengupta, P., Adieb, M., Maksimyan, S. and Crasta, M. (2023) Awareness of the Importance of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills Following the Sudden Cardiac Arrest of Damar Hamlin during a Buffalo Bills Game. Journal of Biosciences and Medicine, 11, 161-170. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2023.116013 
• Elizabeth Costello, Maxim Crasta, Alicia Clum (2024) Analysis of Autonomic Activity After CPAP Therapy Using Heart Rate Spectral Analysis Sleep, Volume 47, Issue Supplement_1, May 2024, Page A236, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae067.0552