Beth S. Ruben, MD
Research and Clinical Interests
Having graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine, I completed medical and surgical internship at California Pacific Medical Center, and then Dermatology Residency at UC Davis. During this time an interest in dermatopathology blossomed, probably fueled during medical school days as a histology teaching assistant and perhaps partly genetic in origin (my father is a pathologist!). I stayed on as faculty in Dermatology there for several years, after the birth of twins, taking time out to complete Dermatopathology Fellowship training at UC San Francisco, from 1996-97. I returned to UC Davis, where I practiced both medical and surgical dermatology and dermatopathology until 2001. I also served as Dermatology residency program director. After a foray into private-practice dermatopathology as part of an enjoyable large pathology group, I returned to the Dermatopathology Service at UCSF as faculty in 2004.
As a dermatology-trained dermatopathologist, I particularly enjoy integrating clinical clues and histologic findings in an effort to reach the most effective diagnosis, especially in complex medical and hospitalized patients. My colleagues and I enjoy interacting with our clinicians, often viewing clinical photographs to provide the highest level of diagnostic acumen. I also have a special interest in pathology of the nail unit. I am a founding member of the International Melanonychia Study group, formed to refine clinical and pathologic diagnostic criteria in these neoplasms.
In addition to my diagnostic duties, I am very involved in the dermatopathology curriculum. Teaching and mentoring dermatology, pathology and dermatopathology trainees are also my great joys. I was awarded “Teacher of the Year” in 2006 by the Department of Dermatology. I enjoy giving lectures at meetings in our specialty, sometimes traveling extensively in the process.
Selected Publications
- Ruben BS. Pigmented lesions of the nail unit: clinical and histopathologic features. Sem Cut Med Surg, Sept 2010, in press.
- Goddard DS, Rogers M, Frieden IJ, Krol AL, White, CR Jr., Jayaraman AG, Robinson-Bostom L, Bruckner AL, and Ruben BS. Widespread Porokeratotic Adnexal Ostial Nevus (PAON): Clinical Features and Proposal of a New Name Unifying Porokeratotic Eccrine Ostial and Dermal Duct Nevus and Porokeratotic Eccrine and Hair Follicle Nevus. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2009 Dec;61(6):1060.e1-14.
- Miller DD, Ruben BS. Pustular porokeratosis. J Cutan Pathol. 2009 Nov;36(11):1191-3. Epub 2009 Jun 4.
- Dubal DB, Mueller S, Ruben BS, Engstrom JW, Josephson SA. T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder following mycophenolate treatment for myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve. 2009 Apr 8;39(6):849-850.
- Naylor ET, Ruben BS, Robinson-Bostom L, Telang GH, Jellinek N. Subungual blue nevus with combined phenotypic features. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Jun;58(6):1021-4.
Additional Information
- Associate Professor and Dermatopathology Fellowship Program Director
- Pathology
- Dermatopathology Service
Specialty Area
Histopathology associated with systemic disease, inpatient dermatopathology and pathology of the nail unit
Contact Information
- beth.ruben@
ucsf.edu - Phone: 415-353-7550
- Fax: 415-353-7553
- 1701 Divisadero Street, Suite 280
- Box 1790
- San Francisco, CA 94115