A specialty is the branch of medicine in which a doctor has completed advanced clinical training and education. Most doctors are board certified in their specialty. To receive the best healthcare for your needs, consider choosing a doctor who specializes in your particular medical condition. A specialist will concentrate on your specific needs and will be familiar with the best treatment methods.
A specialty is the branch of medicine in which a doctor has completed advanced clinical training and education. Most doctors are board certified in their specialty. To receive the best healthcare for your needs, consider choosing a doctor who specializes in your particular medical condition. A specialist will concentrate on your specific needs and will be familiar with the best methods of treatment.
Examples of specialists are a pediatrician who focuses on the physical, emotional, and social health of children from birth to young adulthood; or a cardiologist who specializes in diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels.
A doctor may have more than one specialty, along with one or more subspecialties. For instance, a doctor could specialize in internal medicine and have a subspecialty in infectious disease. A subspecialty is a concentration within a specialty.
Your primary care doctor (who is often a specialist in family medicine or internal medicine) can help you choose the right type of specialist. In fact, some health insurance plans require a referral from your primary care doctor before you visit a specialist.
Dr. Ruben's License & Board Certification
Licensed in Arizona
Licensed in California
Why is Board Certification Important?
Board certification requires extensive training and a rigorous review of a doctor’s knowledge, experience and skill in a medical specialty. Board certification also means that a doctor is actively improving his or her practice of medicine through continuing education. A board-certified doctor is more likely than a non-board-certified doctor to have the most current skills and knowledge about how to treat your medical condition.
Board certification requires extensive training and a rigorous review of a doctor’s knowledge, experience and skill in a medical specialty. Board certification also means that a doctor is actively improving his or her practice of medicine through continuing education. A board-certified doctor is more likely than a non-board-certified doctor to have the most current skills and knowledge about how to treat your medical condition.
A doctor who is board certified has taken an important step beyond getting a required state medical license to practice. Some doctors choose not to apply for board certification. A doctor who is not board certified may be an excellent doctor who is fully licensed to practice medicine in his or her state.
If you are considering a doctor who is not board certified, consider asking the doctor why he or she is not certified. This information might provide you important background information to help you decide whether or not to see that doctor.
Procedures Performed By Dr. Ruben
Common Conditions Treated by Adolescent Psychiatrists & Pediatric Psychiatrists
Alcohol Abuse
Depression
Eating Disorders
Substance Abuse
Dr. Ruben's Education & Training
Medical Schools:
University Of Arizona College Of Medicine
Graduated: 1974
Internship Hospital:
University Wisc
Graduated: 1976
Residency Hospital:
University Wisc
Graduated: 1978
Fellowship Hospital:
University Wisc
Graduated: 1979
What Is a Residency?
Residency is a medical training program that a doctor completes to gain expertise in a specialty. To receive the best healthcare for your needs, consider choosing a doctor who has completed a residency and therefore specializes in the area of your particular medical condition. A specialist will concentrate on your specific needs and will be familiar with the best treatment methods.Read More
Residency is a medical training program that a doctor completes to gain expertise in a specialty. To receive the best healthcare for your needs, consider choosing a doctor who has completed a residency and therefore specializes in the area of your particular medical condition. A specialist will concentrate on your specific needs and will be familiar with the best treatment methods.
Examples of specialists are a pediatrician who focuses on the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood; or a cardiologist who specializes in diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels.
Residency training takes place in accredited hospitals or other healthcare facilities under the supervision of experienced doctors. Residency training lasts from three to seven years, and the exact duration varies from specialty to specialty. Residency is required for specialty board certification.
Dr. Ruben's Background Check
Malpractice
Healthgrades does not collect malpractice information for Arizona
Medical malpractice is issued when negligence by a doctor causes injury to a patient. For example, a doctor may improperly diagnose, treat or medicate outside the standard of medical care. The three types of malpractice are: a settlement, an arbitration award, or a judgment.
If your doctor has a malpractice claim, evaluate the information and determine if the action could potentially impact your quality of care. Claim settlements and arbitration awards may occur for a variety of reasons, which should not necessarily reflect negatively on the doctor's professional competence or conduct. You may want to use this information to start a discussion with the doctor about his or her history and specific ability to provide healthcare for you.
Healthgrades reports details of a doctor’s malpractice history when the doctor has at least one closed medical malpractice claim within the last five years, even if he or she no longer practices in that state.
Healthgrades collects malpractice information from California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. If your doctor has a malpractice claim, evaluate the information and determine if the action could potentially impact your quality of care. Sometimes multiple states report the same claim. If a provider practices in a state where data is unavailable, please reach out to your local state legislature to help make this data publically available.
Sanctions
Sanctions history found
Disciplinary action in another state (5/16/2011)
Action Taken: Probation
Allegation of Complaint: Please reference the following Document
State: California
Professional Misconduct (1/31/2011)
Action Taken: Reprimand
Allegation of Complaint: Dr. David Alan Ruben; License # G44789
Nature of Complaint:
The physician has been the subject of disciplinary action in another state. The Arizona Medical Board issued a Consent Agreement against the physician’s medical license resulting in a Letter of Reprimand and one year probation. The Arizona Medical Board found that the physician engaged in unprofessional conduct in his care and treatment of one patient. The physician prescribed high doses of pain medications for his patient without proper medical indication, and after he had learned that the patient was abusing drugs, he failed to properly monitor the patient.
Action Taken:
The Medical Board of California has issued the physician a Public Reprimiand.
State: California
Failure to keep adequate medical records (6/10/2010)
Action Taken: Probation
Allegation of Complaint: Dr. David Alan Ruben; License # 11382
Nature of Complaint:
The respondent failed or refused to maintain adequate medical records on patients.
Action Taken:
It is hereby Ordered that the respondent is issued a Decree of Censure. The respondent is prohibited from prescribing any opioids for a period of 1 year. The respondent is placed on probation for a period of 2 years, subject to the following terms and conditions:
The respondent shall enter into a contract with Affiliated Monitors to provide all monitoring services.
The respondent is to complete the PACE prescribing course within 6 months of this Order.
The respondent shall obey all laws and all rules governing the practice of medicine in the State of Arizona.
State: Arizona
Misprescribing or Overprescribing Drugs (4/1/2009)
Action Taken: Probation
Allegation of Complaint: Dr. David Alan Ruben; License # 11382
Nature of Complaint:
The physician prescribed high dose opioids to a patient without proper indications. The physician also failed to obtain urine drug tests to assess the patient's compliance with treatment after the physician was aware of the patient's cocaine addiction.
Action Taken:
The physician has been issued a Letter of Reprimand from the board. The board has placed the physician's license to practice medicine in the State of Arizona on Probation for a period of one year subject to the following terms and conditions:
The physician shall complete 15-20 hours of continuing medical education in pain management.
The physician shall be subject to periodic chart reviews .
The physician shall obey all laws and all rules governing the practice of medicine in the State of Arizona.
A sanction, also known as a disciplinary action, is an action taken to punish or restrict a doctor who has demonstrated professional misconduct. Sanctions may be imposed by a state medical board, professional medical licensing organization, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
If a doctor has a sanction, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is a poor-quality doctor. Some sanctions are not related to medical care, and involve a doctor’s finances or administrative activities. Before you make any choices about changing your doctor, we recommend that you evaluate the doctor’s sanction information and determine how severe or relevant you think the sanction cause and action were.
Healthgrades reports state and federal sanctions from the previous five years, except when a doctor's license has been revoked or surrendered. Healthgrades displays all actions for doctors whose licenses have been revoked or surrendered.
Healthgrades collects sanction history from all 50 U.S. states. Physicians with a disciplinary action in one state may move to another state where they have a clean record. Since Healthgrades painstakingly compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, Healthgrades website will show if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.
Board Actions
Board action history found
Failure to keep adequate medical records (2/15/2011)
Action Taken: Other
Allegation of Complaint: Dr. David Alan Ruben; License # 11382
Nature of Complaint:
The respondent inappropriately prescribed early refills of opioid medications, and kept inadequate medical records.
Action Taken:
The Arizona Medical Board has issued the respondent an Advisory Letter. This is a non-disciplinary action.
Board actions are non-disciplinary actions imposed upon a doctor based on a complaint investigation. A patient or medical colleague may file a complaint with that state medical board or professional licensing organization, which then investigates the complaint. Board actions are intended to ensure that a doctor is able to perform safe medical and health care tasks.
If a doctor has a board action, it means he or she has had a non-disciplinary action imposed upon him or her. It does not necessarily mean that he or she is a poor quality doctor. Before you make any choices about changing your doctor, evaluate the doctor’s board action information and determine how severe or relevant you think the cause and action were.
Healthgrades reports non-disciplinary board action history from for the previous five years, except when a doctor's license has been revoked or surrendered. Healthgrades displays all actions for doctors whose licenses have been revoked or surrendered.