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About Tamara Rubenzik, MD

Tamara Rubenzik, MD, is a board-certified nephrologist and palliative care physician. She works in both the Departments of Nephrology and Palliative Care at UC San Diego Health.

As a nephrologist, Dr. Rubenzik treats individuals with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end stage renal disease in the clinic and inpatient settings. She enjoys caring for patients along the spectrum of kidney disease, and aims to use her palliative care background to also ensure the best possible quality of life in her patients with kidney disease.

As a palliative care physician, Dr. Rubenzik also cares for patients with life-limiting and chronic conditions. Palliative medicine focuses on symptom management in addition to psychological, social, and spiritual support in order to improve the quality of life for patients.

Dr. Rubenzik completed fellowships in nephrology and hospice and palliative medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine, where she also completed a residency in internal medicine. She earned her medical degree from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. She is board certified in internal medicine, nephrology and hospice and palliative medicine.

She is a member of the American Society of Nephrology, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Coalition for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients.

When not at work, Dr. Rubenzik enjoys reading, the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and three sons.

UC San Diego Health Links

For more information, see Kidney Care (Nephrology) and Palliative Care.

Medical DegreeThomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PAFellowshipUC San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CAFellowshipUC San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CAResidencyUniversity of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA
GenderFemale
Date Joined Staff2018-07-01
Board Certifications
American Board of Internal MedicineNephrologyHospice and Palliative Medicine
Conditions and Treatments
  • Acute Kidney Injury
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
  • Life-Limiting Illness
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Supportive Care
  • Chronic Illness

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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. Rubenzik