Dr. James Rubenstein is a hematologist-oncologist or blood disorders specialist, whose expertise is treating patients with neurologic complications from cancer, in particular patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the brain, called central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. In his research, he is interested in immunologic tools to improve tumor response to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, to minimize toxicity from treatment and the development of tumor biomarkers to diagnose brain tumors.

Rubenstein earned a medical degree at Cornell University Medical College in New York and completed a residency in internal medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. He earned a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular neurosciences at Rockefeller University in New York and completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at UCSF, including training in neuro-oncology. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Association of Cancer Research. He won a Scholar in Clinical Research Award from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and a Research Career Award from the National Cancer Institute. He is an assistant professor of medicine, in residence.