Dr. David Ruecker is a child psychiatrist based in Encinitas, offering compassionate psychiatric care to children of all ages. He grew up just a block from Flora Vista Elementary “just a stone’s throw from where I practice psychiatry today.”
“I love that the patients I work with attend the same schools that I have had the pleasure of learning from years ago. It makes it all feel organic.”
He wasn’t always practicing here. For two decades he travelled extensively for his education. “I lived and learned in Davis, Manhattan, Los Angeles, Oahu, Oakland — and even Hungary — but Encinitas is the best place for me. Every day feels like a vacation when the beach is so close and the sun rarely hides.”
“It’s impossible to not love Encinitas. If you like living in a place with families and good schools, you can’t find a better place to be. I love that I get referrals for patients from my pediatrician I had as a kid.”
Dr. Ruecker was initially drawn to plastic surgery. However, during his psychiatry rotations in medical school, he discovered his passion for working with people and listening to their unique stories. With a background in daycare work through high school and college, psychiatry with a focus on children felt like the perfect fit.
Today, his practice combines medication management with talk therapy, offering a comprehensive approach to treating mental health challenges. “It’s the stories and dynamic personal engagement that keep me excited about my work day, and it’s the connection that people have with their doctors that is essential for the healing process to occur.”
He is an active member of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce. “I’ve learned so much about the business and political landscape of Encinitas. I’ve met some heartwarmingly kind individuals, made great friends, and always look forward to the entertaining Chamber events. It feels great to contribute back to the community that has given me so much.”
Perfect day in Encinitas?
“Recently, I got up early, worked out at the YMCA, stopped at Pipes for coffee, met a few high school friends for lunch at Stagecoach Park, caught up with an old friend from elementary school, stopped to visit my parents, then visited my brother and his in-laws at a bonfire and made s’mores… finally heading to a local music venue to see a few DJ sets. It was a good day.”
