Stuart Rubenstein, MD

First time here & everyone was amazing. The lovely ladies behind the counter were all smiles & they made me feel very comfortable. Dr. R understands the LGBT community & was wonderful with my child. Having had a bad experience with another Ped doc regarding their acceptance of the LGBT community it was so refreshing to be welcomed with open arms.

Excellent bedside manner. A superb diagnostician. Very accessible and organized. Genuine commitment to high-​quality pediatric care. Equanimity.
That’s how I’d sum up my several years of experience with Dr. Rubenstein and his team.
He’s cared for our 2 boys since they were born, and he’s done a great job with their routine and acute care. Dr. Rubenstein has skillfully sorted-​out and managed some perplexing illnesses to uneventful and full recoveries.
Scheduling has been easy and convenient, and office wait times have been minimal. He has a busy practice, but he’s organized and doesn’t overbook. We appreciate that.
We’ve recommended him to friends, and all of them have been very pleased with his compassion, professionalism, and quality of care.

Sorry to go against the grain here but I think this place is awful. My daughter was born in June and I developed quite severe postnatal anxiety and thought everything was wrong with her. Ok I did make some unnecessary appointments but the dr and staff made me feel even worse for wasting their time. Dr asked if I was normally an anxious person, I said no, and no more was said about it. No suggestions, referrals, help groups etc.
On top of that I have heard the dr and nurses discussing a couple that brought their newborn on for diaper rash. They were pretty arrogant in their comments. Obviously every new parent has the same level of knowledge and experience as the medical staff then!
Stay away from here if you are a new parent. They only accept child development experts it would seem.

Dr. Rubenstein is the best of the best when it comes to circumcisions! we had our son circumcised about a month and a half ago and we were extremely nervous. Our previous experience with circumcision with our older son left us a bit traumatized so when it came time to go through it again, we were worried. Dr. Was extremely friendly and immediately made us feel comfortable by explaining every step of the procedure to us and was very down to earth. He used lidocaine to numb the area and sugar water for our son to suck on. He didnt cry once during the entire procedure! the office was nice and has a completely seperate waiting room for sick childeren. The procedure room was heated so the babies dont get cold. Our entire experience with Dr. R was amazing and I highly reccommend him! when it comes to cicumcisions, you want the best and Dr. Rubenstein is the one! Dont go anywhere else!

Dr. Rubenstein and the entire staff were amazing. I took my son in for a circumcision today, and I was incredibly nervous. He put me at ease with his excellent tableside manner. He worked very quickly and took his time with the explanation of the aftercare instructions. The medical assistant and RN were pleasant and patient with the instructions. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. from the bottom of my heart.

Dr. Rubenstein was referred to us by our doula for our son’s circumcision. He is very popular with both the «crunchy» community as well as the «regular» community. I was hesitant to have my son circumcised, but ultimately decided that if I was going to do it I wanted the best doctor who provided my son with the kind of comfort necessary. Enter who is known as «The Penis Whisperer» or «King of Circ’s»…I called the office to make the appt and was given Dr. R’s home office number since we weren’t current patients of his. I left a message and it was returned by him that night! The appt was made. Dr. R was patient, kind, and loving with me, as I was very emotional in the procedure room — my husband was with us and chose to stand and watch while I sat and waited. The nurse was incredibly gentle with my son, sitting with him and giving him sugar water on her finger, speaking to him in a soft, comforting voice. I think the only reason my son cried was because he was naked and restrained — I cried more than him, I am sure! Dr. R explained everything in great detail before the procedure, again during, and then gave us detailed after-​care instructions both verbally and on paper. We were not rushed out of the room — in fact we were there for at least 30 minutes to nurse and have the incision looked at before we left. The procedure itself lasted less than 5 minutes. If we didn’t live so far away from his office, I would switch to his care in a heartbeat.

I was referred to Dr. Rubenstein by my son’s pediatrician for his circumcision…
This is our first child and understandably, my husband and I were both very anxious before this appointment.
When we arrived at the office, I was happy to see it was very clean and there were two separate waiting rooms– one for sick kids and one for well children! This was a huge plus in our book!
We only waited about 15 min until we were called back. Dr. Rubenstein was extremely professional and kind. He let us watch the procedure and explained in detail what he was doing and why. Our son barely fussed, and it was a very quick process.
Dr. Rubenstein was also thorough with the after care instructions.
It’s been a week and our son is doing better than ever! We are very pleased with the results. I seriously considered changing insurances so Dr. Rubenstein could be his primary pediatrician! Too bad he’s all the way in Carmel valley… :(

Dr. Rubenstein has been our pediatrician for the last 10 years. He takes his time with each appointment and never rushes. He has called the house late in the evening to check on a sick child and has always been caring, calm and compassionate. His office nurse is also excellent. He gets two thumbs up from our family. He’s no nonsense and straight forward. If you want your child to run around with a pacifier in their mouths till they are 5, then this is NOT the doctor for you. If you want someone with sound medical advice and honest answers, then this IS the doctor for you. My 3 girls adore him and he’s great with all ages. He is worth the wait!

Stuart Rubenstein has been my 4-​year-​old daughter’s pediatrician since birth. He came to see her in the hospital when she was a day old, and we have been going to him ever since.
The office is very busy, and long waits/​delays are common. But, whenever we have had an urgent visit, they have found a way to fit my daughter in – so I would imagine this is just two sides of the same coin.
Dr. Rubenstein is straightforward, direct, and answers all our questions without making us feel like we’re wasting his time. My daughter is finally getting to the point where she doesn’t burst into tears the minute he walks in, but he has always endured her frightened crying with a no-​nonsense yet compassionate attitude. We value his role in her life, and see no reason to switch.

We were first introduced to Dr. Rubenstein after he performed our son’s circumcision (he did a fabulous job, btw). After that, we decided we would drive out to Carmel Valley even though it was a bit of a commute for us. It was well worth it! Dr. Rubenstein possesses all the important characteristics of a wonderful pediatrician — he is patient, kind, loving, and thorough.
As a side note, during the first six months, his office was on my speed dial. My calls were always returned promply and questions answered by knowledgeable nurses. We were sad to lose Dr. Rubenstein as our pediatrician after we changed insurance carriers; I would go back to him in a heartbeat!

My first child was born in 1994 and he came unexpectedly early. I hadn’t chosen a pediatrician yet so when my very longtime OB asked me during labor who my pediatrician was, I told him that I didn’t have one yet and that I trusted him to choose a good one for me.
He chose Dr. Rubenstein and so that’s how he came to be our doctor. My second son was born in 1997 and Dr. Rubenstein is his doctor also.
My first son was born with multiple congenital medical problems and Dr. Rubenstein got us hooked up with the right people. Because of his medical problems, we’ve spent more time than average at the doctor’s and Dr. Rubenstein’s office has supported and helped us all along the way.
It’s not perfect, the office is much more crowded than it was in the 90’s, they used to have evening hours and we’ve experienced long waits. Dr. Rubenstein offers his advice and opinion on things other than the medical issue you came to see him for like time on the computer, gaming, drugs, sex and the like and I’ve disagreed with him on some issues but it’s like any relationship, you will never agree all the time but maybe you can learn from each other.
I get the feeling that some of the folks who wrote the negative reviews don’t like that but I’m fine with it, we as parents need to be educated and sometimes our kids need to hear it from someone besides us.
In the end it’s the care we get that matters and now going on 18 years later I am still thankful for the support and excellent care we get from Dr. Rubenstein and all the doctors in the Carmel Valley office and the staff. When we’ve really needed them, they’ve stepped up.

Dr. R is just freaking amazing. I hesitated to post this since he already has a very busy practice. I am a single working mom and my ex is absent in the care of our kids. My son is 13 and Dr. R has been his doctor for a few of years now. My son lacks a strong male role model but for once a year, during our annual checkup, Dr. R gives my son the attention and guidance that’s absent in his life. Dr. R not only make sure that he’s on track medically, but Dr. R has a checklist of items that he addresses with my son — about drugs, nutrition, safety, behavioral, grades. He speaks firmly, respectfully and directly to my son. If my son is slacking in any areas, Dr. R would speak to him a little further on the subject. At the end of the exam, he again goes through the to do list with my son. I know Dr. R is effective because my son does what he agreed with Dr. R.
I’ve also taken my son to see Dr. R when my son hurt his foot. My son was pretty scared. Dr. R thoroughly examined his foot and made sure nothing serious was going on. He told me son that the pain should go away within 5 days and if not, he wants my son back in his office. Just like magic, the pain was gone within 5 days.
It is very rare to meet a physician like Dr. R these days — he actually cares and is competent. Like I said, Dr R is just freaking amazing!

Dr. Rubenstein was unbelievably arrogant! I went for a simple circumcision for my son and he proceeded to belittle me for not wanting to watch it and for nursing my son prior to the procedure (they were almost an hour late and he was hungry). I felt rushed after the procedure as well as they hurried me out of the room while I nursed my baby. Overall, a great lack of compassion from everyone. So glad this isn’t my kids’ primary pediatrician. I have never been so upset and disappointed.

Expect an 80 minute wait if you come to the Saturday clinic… expect a 60 minute wait if you come for a regular visit… as you wait your baby is crying… other people’s babies are crying… the television is blaring the type of cartoons that make children hyper… children are getting hyper… the parents are getting impatient… the staff is impatient… and snippy… but can you blame the staff… everyone is asking HOW MUCH LONGER… parents wondering aloud «maybe I should just take my child home without seeing the doctor… my child is probably getting more sick being here crying and upset»… and all the staff can say… like automatons repeating why they are told to say… «you will be next» «you are next…» but it’s been 90 minutes… «just be patient you are next…» the doctors are knowledgable and appear concerned… it’s just that they are trying to earn more money than the modern practice of medicine allows by cutting corners in service… probably would be the same with any doctor in this medical group.

Such an amazing doctor. My son Zayne has had a few little health issues since he was born and Dr Rubenstein is wonderful about being his health advocate and getting us to the proper specialists. The office staff is nice and gets the kiddos in and out :) Which is what I like.
My son has also seen Dr. Tolba and Dr. Wilson– both are great :)
The tricky thing is, you gotta get in while you are STILL pregnant if you want to have him as your childs pediatrician.

My oldest son went to Dr. Rubenstein from birth through 18 months. We switched to a doctor in Poway since that’s where we lived. We had another son and stayed with Pediatricians in Poway. We were never really as happy as when we’d had Dr. Rubenstein so we’re back. He’s simply the best and worth the drive to Del Mar from Poway.