About
James R. Malinak, MD earned his medical degree in 1981 from Northwestern University, where he gained admission to the prestigious Honors Program in Medical Education. He completed his internal medicine internship and residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota. He then trained in rheumatology through a fellowship at UCLA. Northwestern also recognized him with membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
Dr. Malinak holds board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. He has practiced in La Mesa since 1986, focusing on rheumatology and primary care throughout his career. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and holds memberships in the California Medical Association and the San Diego County Medical Society. Over the past 20 years, he has served as principal investigator on multiple clinical studies and has lectured widely to educate fellow physicians. He has led 10 medical missions to Tijuana, providing care for underserved patients and teaching medical students. Sharp Community Medical Group recognized him with its Top Physician Patient Experience Award in both 2015 and 2017. Outside of medicine, Dr. Malinak grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He has been married for 34 years, has two children, and enjoys hiking with his dog, tennis, and road cycling.
Education & Training
Medical School
Northwestern University (Honors Program in Medical Education), MD 1981
Residency
Internal Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota
Fellowship
Rheumatology, UCLA
Additional Training
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society; principal investigator for multiple clinical studies over 20 years
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Malinak right for?
Dr. Malinak suits patients who need both rheumatologic and primary care from a single physician. Adults managing arthritis, autoimmune diseases, or inflammatory conditions benefit most from his dual specialization. He also treats chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Patients who value unhurried appointments and direct physician access will find his concierge model a strong match.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Malinak treats a broad range of rheumatologic and primary care conditions. On the rheumatology side, he manages arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and other inflammatory conditions. For primary care, he treats high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, migraines, and urinary tract infections. He also handles chronic condition management and acute illness care.
Yes. Dr. Malinak holds board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology. He earned his MD from Northwestern University in 1981 and completed fellowship training in rheumatology at UCLA.
Dr. Malinak earned his MD from Northwestern University through the Honors Program in Medical Education. He completed his internal medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota. He then finished a rheumatology fellowship at UCLA before establishing his La Mesa practice in 1986.
Dr. Malinak has practiced medicine in La Mesa since 1986, giving him nearly four decades of experience in rheumatology and primary care. He currently serves on staff at Grossmont Hospital and has served as principal investigator on multiple clinical studies over the past 20 years.
Yes. Sharp Community Medical Group named Dr. Malinak a recipient of its Top Physician Patient Experience Award in both 2015 and 2017. Northwestern University's Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society also recognized him during his medical education. Patients consistently describe him as thorough, caring, and unhurried.
Dr. Malinak has contributed broadly to medicine outside of patient care. He has served on multiple committees focused on advances in patient care and delivered numerous lectures to educate physicians. He has also led 10 medical missions to Tijuana, where he provided care for underserved patients and taught medical students.
Dr. Malinak delivers rheumatology, primary care, and preventive care. His services include chronic condition management, cancer screenings, immunizations, EKGs, spirometry, acute illness care, health counseling, and wellness program development. He tailors care plans to each patient's individual health goals.
Doctor profile last updated September 17, 2026