UC San Diego Health - Surgical Services

10/04/2025

“During the past few years, we have had a resurgence in measles with rates we haven’t seen since the 1990s,” says Francesca Torriani, MD, infectious disease specialist at UC San Diego Health. “There also have been the deaths of two school-age children during the outbreak earlier this year.”

The CDC recommends the first MMR dose at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years (sometimes earlier for travel). Protect your child and community — learn what experts like Dr. Torriani have to say about measles vaccines for children. ⬇️

Here’s what to know about the recent resurgence of this disease so you can protect your children.

10/03/2025

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At UC San Diego Health, we are committed to supporting safe, healthy relationships. Violence is more common than many realize, but no one has to face it alone. If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse, help is available 24/7:

📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) | Text START to 88788 | thehotline.org

📞 San Diego – Your Safe Place
Call 619-533-6000 | sandiego.gov/yoursafeplace

📞 North County – One Safe Place
Call 760-290-3690 | onesafeplacenorth.org

10/02/2025

Game 3 in Chicago, here we go!

San Diego Padres team physicians Bryan Leek, MD and Kenneth Taylor, MD, are keeping the Padres healthy and cheering on the team from the sidelines in Chicago. As the official health care providers of the Padres, we’re wishing the team the best of luck — let’s bring it home!

health.ucsd.edu

10/02/2025

It’s game time, Padres! Let’s crush it!

Let’s play three.

10/02/2025

Breast cancer care starts with understanding. Hear from Rebecca Shatsky, MD, medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health, as she shares easy-to-understand answers about breast cancer — how common it is, how it’s found, the different types and treatment options.

UC San Diego Health doesn’t just treat cancer; we prioritize healing the whole person, offering rehabilitation, emotional and family support and access to the newest clinical trials. You are never just a diagnosis; you are a partner in your care. health.ucsd.edu/cancer

Rebecca Shatsky, MD, medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health, answers your questions about breast cancer prevalence, diagnosis and treatment.Learn more abo...

10/01/2025

Check out the new light pole banners across our Hillcrest medical campus!
Each U-C-S-D banner showcases the purposes that guide our work at UC San Diego Health every day.

⭐ Unifying
⭐ Connecting
⭐ Seeing
⭐ Discovering

Some banners feature our incredible staff and patients, while others reflect our broader values. All of them speak to our commitment to compassionate, personalized care at the region’s only academic health system.

health.ucsd.edu

10/01/2025

We’re proud to celebrate more than 100 UC San Diego Health physicians named Top Docs in San Diego Magazine’s annual “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” survey.

Recognized by their peers across 50 specialties, our doctors are honored for their clinical expertise, innovation and compassionate care. Congratulations to our Top Docs for continuing to set the standard for excellence in San Diego and beyond.

San Diego Magazine’s annual peer survey recognizes more than 100 UC San Diego Health physicians for providing the highest quality patient care.

09/30/2025

Your official playoff prescription, straight from UC San Diego Health:

✅ Hydrate frequently
✅ Stretch before cheering
✅ Take deep breaths during close innings
✅ Celebrate every run responsibly

As the official health care provider of the San Diego Padres, we’re cheering them on every step of the way. Good luck, Padres!

health.ucsd.edu/padres

09/30/2025

Please join us in congratulating our 2025 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) of the Year:

Physician Assistant: Christina Lindemann
Nurse Practitioner: Samantha Gambles Farr
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: Libby Patton
Certified Nurse Midwife: Hope Gunther

At UC San Diego Health, our APPs play an essential role in advancing patient care, supporting our teams and making a difference every day. We’re grateful for their dedication and proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions.

09/27/2025

A virtual transition of care clinic helps patients connect with their care team after leaving the hospital, making recovery safer and smoother from home.

A new UC San Diego School of Medicine study found that patients who used this virtual follow-up had a 14.9% readmission rate, compared to 20.1% with standard care.

"With our virtual transition of care clinic, we are providing patients with the right care, at the right place, at the right time. With the convenience of meeting virtually, we’re able to reach patients much more efficiently," said Sarah Horman, MD, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Another way we’re using innovation to improve health outcomes and keep patients where they belong — at home.

Physicians with UC San Diego Health launch a virtual transitions of care clinic that improves patient outcomes and shows a reduction in hospital readmissions.

09/26/2025

Meet Brian Graham — a surfer, athlete and aspiring physician whose life was transformed by robot-assisted spine surgery at UC San Diego Health. Diagnosed with bulging discs as a teenager, Graham endured years of debilitating back pain that disrupted his active lifestyle and daily life.

After exhausting nonsurgical treatments, Graham found hope through the neurological spine care program at UC San Diego Health and Dr. Martin Pham, a neurosurgeon specializing in minimally invasive procedures. He received a personalized treatment plan that included robotic spinal fusion surgery. Within six months, the pain was gone and he was back to surfing, lifting weights and living fully.

His journey was celebrated at Petco Park, where he threw out the honorary first pitch during a San Diego Padres game.

UC San Diego Health is proud to be the Official Health Care Provider of the San Diego Padres, a partnership that goes beyond treating elite athletes. Through initiatives like Health Care Home Runs, we also shine a light on patients and health care professionals who exemplify compassion, teamwork and perseverance.

Read more on Brian's story: https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/robotic-spine-surgery-restores-young-mans-active-lifestyle

09/25/2025

Bruce Paul Allen set out to donate a kidney to a stranger, a selfless act of generosity, when doctors at UC San Diego Health discovered a hidden tumor during his evaluation. That lifesaving discovery meant he first needed surgery to protect his own health.

"Suddenly, I went from being a healthy individual trying to donate a kidney, to feeling like I was fighting for my life," Bruce said. "If I hadn’t started the donor process, I would have never known. I likely would not be alive today."

Today, Bruce is not only healthy, but he also went on to fulfill his original wish: donating a kidney to help someone in need. His story is a powerful reminder that organ donation saves two lives — the one who gives, and the one who receives.

“Bruce’s case is remarkable from a clinical standpoint," said Andrew Lowy, MD, clinical director for cancer surgery at UC San Diego Health. His proactive approach to donation led to an early diagnosis before the tumor cells had become invasive, and his overall health allowed us to perform a lifesaving procedure. It’s a powerful example of how early detection and expert care can change outcomes.”

We’re grateful for patients like Bruce, whose courage and compassion inspire hope for so many.

health.ucsd.edu/care/transplant-programs/

Bruce Paul Allen’s kidney donor testing uncovered a pancreatic tumor, allowing timely, lifesaving care.