During open enrollment, choose San Diego's best health care. Get started.

About Kira A. Skavinski, DO

Kira Skavinski, DO, is a board-certified palliative care physician who helps relieve suffering in people with life-limiting and chronic illnesses. She provides pain and symptom management, and aims to optimize quality of life for her patients and their families while addressing their medical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Dr. Skavinski also assists patients and their families with discussions regarding advance care planning and goals.

As a palliative medicine physician, Dr. Skavinski enjoys the ability to meet patients earlier in their stage of illness, develop a relationship with them over time and provide continuity of care.

Dr. Skavinski is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, where she instructs medical students, residents and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Her research interests focus on the use of ketamine for pain management.

Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Skavinski cared for patients at University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She was also the director of Palliative Care Education at UC Irvine Health, where she developed and implemented a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship and served as the fellowship's associate director.

Dr. Skavinski completed a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine and a residency in family medicine at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey. She earned her medical degree from New York Institute College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. Dr. Skavinski is board certified in family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine.

She is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the American Osteopathic Association.

Outside of work, Dr. Skavinski enjoys sports, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Palliative Care.

Medical DegreeNew York Institute College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NYFellowshipSan Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine, San Diego, CAResidencyOverlook Medical Center, Summit, NJ
GenderFemale
Date Joined Staff2015-11-01
Board Certifications
American Board of Family MedicineHospice and Palliative Medicine

Is My Insurance Accepted?

We accept most major insurance plans at UC San Diego Health. Find out if your insurance is accepted.

Open Payments Program Notification

For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires that detailed information about payment and other payments of value worth over ten dollars ($10) from manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and biologics to physicians and teaching hospitals be made available to the public.

View Open Payments Data for Dr. Skavinski