UC San Diego Health - Primary Care Family Medicine

25/07/2025

Personalized care, extraordinary results.

No two cancers—and no two patients—are exactly alike. Precision medicine takes a personalized approach to treatment by leveraging advanced technologies to analyze your tumor's unique genetic profile. Molecular testing is the cornerstone of this approach, enabling the selection of therapies specifically targeted to your cancer.

At UC San Diego Health, we’re leading the way in precision medicine, combining the power of genetic testing and immunologic profiling to achieve better health outcomes for you and your loved ones.

Personalized cancer therapy, also called precision medicine, is available for many tumor types at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. We specialize in clinical trials, genomics and immunotherapy.l

24/07/2025

A new chapter in patient care is coming to San Diego.

Marking a significant achievement in the ongoing redevelopment of the Hillcrest medical campus, the new McGrath Outpatient Pavilion at UC San Diego Health will bring together advanced technology, expanded specialty care and patient-centered design to transform outpatient services for San Diego. As a key component of a multi-phase, 62-acre revitalization project, the pavilion embodies the UC San Diego Health commitment to modernizing infrastructure and enhancing clinical capabilities.

Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Rhodes reflects on the construction of the McGrath Outpatient Pavilion at UC San Diego Health and the impact the opening will have on patient care.

Behind the scenes with Lisa Rhodes as she shares what it took to bring McGrath Outpatient Pavilion to life and what it means for the future of health care.

23/07/2025

Ian Neel, MD, didn’t realize that volunteering in an assisted living facility as an eighth-grade student would shape the trajectory of his career. Yet he quickly became fascinated by dementia while planning activities for people dealing with cognitive decline as a teen.

As co-chair of the San Diego Alzheimer’s Project and a geriatrician at UC San Diego Health, Dr. Neel is working to empower primary care physicians with the tools to detect cognitive decline early and help patients live fuller lives.

Read this insightful Q&A with Dr. Neel, where he shares the early warning signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s, the vital role geriatricians play in memory care and how he’s helping to shape the future of dementia care through the San Diego Alzheimer’s Project.

As we age, our health needs evolve. Whether you're managing chronic conditions, seeking preventive care or simply looking for a provider who truly understands the aging process, our geriatricians are here to listen, guide and care for you: health.ucsd.edu/care/primary-care/geriatrics/

Ian Neel, MD, has been named co-chair of the San Diego Alzheimer’s Project. In this Q&A, he reflects on his journey to cognitive care for older adults.

18/07/2025

When it comes to protecting your skin under the San Diego sun, local dermatologists know best. Experts like Swati Kannan, MD, dermatologist at UC San Diego Health, share their top tips for a sun-safe skincare routine that keeps your glow without the burn.

Your skin deserves expert care. From routine skin checks to advanced therapies, let our specialists help you feel confident in your skin, every step of the way: health.ucsd.edu/care/dermatology/

Keep your skin safe this summer with expert sun protection tips, dermatologist-approved skincare routines, and smart ways to avoid sun damage

17/07/2025

When Julie Hudash was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a rare, noncancerous tumor also known as a vestibular schwannoma, she knew she needed more than just expert medical care. She needed to feel seen, heard and genuinely cared for.

At UC San Diego Health, she found exactly that. As the health system that treats the most patients with acoustic neuroma in the region, UC San Diego Health offers not only leading-edge surgical expertise, but also deeply personalized and compassionate care.

“I didn’t just come to UC San Diego Health to get brain surgery, I came to get my life back. And I did.” Julie shared.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, learn more about your treatment options and the support offered at UC San Diego Health: health.ucsd.edu/care/ent/acoustic-neuroma/

UC San Diego Health treats the most patients with acoustic neuroma (also known as a vestibular schwannoma) and also provides personalized, compassionate care...

16/07/2025

UC San Diego Health is now offering a groundbreaking, incision-free outpatient procedure for prostate cancer.

Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation (TULSA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses MRI guidance and a urethral probe to deliver focused ultrasound energy, precisely destroying cancerous tissue while preserving urinary and sexual function.

For patients like Mark Nicholson, age 66, the innovative treatment approach provided a welcome alternative to ongoing monitoring, radiation or full prostate removal. “My quality of life is completely unaffected. It is a wonderful procedure that left me with a fully working prostate,” said Nicholson. “I feel incredibly grateful to be alive in a time when this is available as a treatment option.”

UC San Diego Health is leading the region in offering a novel treatment for prostate cancer called transurethral ultrasound ablation or TULSA.

15/07/2025

UV rays can damage your eyesight, so don't leave home without donning a pair of shades. Not only will you look fashion forward, but you'll minimize the risk for eye cancer, cataracts, inflammation and even blindness.

Concerned about your eye health or just not sure where to start? The caring experts at Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health are here to help you protect your vision and see life clearly, now and in the future: health.ucsd.edu/care/eye-care/

It’s summertime and for many that means lots of time outside. So, while you’re slathering on the sunscreen to protect your skin, don’t forget to protect your...

11/07/2025

Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and UC San Diego Health announced the expansion of the Transition Support Team (TST) Pilot Program, a groundbreaking initiative connecting patients in crisis with compassionate, coordinated care.

Launched in 2024 to address the growing overlap between serious mental illness and substance use in San Diego, the initiative connects individuals in emergency rooms with addiction support services including peer navigators, treatment pathways and coordinated follow-up care.

Now, through an expansion of the program through a $1.1 million allocation from the City’s Opioid Settlement Funds, an innovative psych pharmacist consultation model in UC San Diego Emergency Departments will be established, as well as to external partners specifically working with the unhoused. It will also introduce a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to work with a psych pharmacist in UC San Diego Health Emergency Departments.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand how this pilot program has transformed lives by meeting patients at a critical moment in the emergency department and surrounding them with compassionate, coordinated care," said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. "Our successful partnership with the City of San Diego is addressing the opioid crisis with solutions that not only reduce readmissions, but also build lasting connections to care, restore hope, and empower individuals to thrive.”

10/07/2025

Where breakthroughs begin — Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health is leading the global cancer fight.

Diane Simeone, MD, an internationally recognized pancreatic cancer expert, marks just over a year as director of Moores Cancer Center, and her impact is already being felt. Under her leadership, the center is expanding access to clinical trials, strengthening community outreach and deepening collaborations across UC San Diego and beyond.

As the region’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center is accelerating the delivery of innovative therapies through stronger collaboration between scientists and clinicians, expanded industry partnerships and a commitment to reaching more patients.

If you or someone you love is facing cancer, consider UC San Diego Health for expert care, innovative treatment options and a team who sees the whole person, not just the diagnosis. health.ucsd.edu/cancer

09/07/2025

A new chapter in vascular care is here.

We’re thrilled to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our newly expanded vascular and endovascular surgery clinic at UC San Diego Health, a space thoughtfully designed with our patients and their families at heart.

This expansion means more room to listen, heal and deliver advanced care for conditions like aneurysms, stroke risk and peripheral artery disease. Our expert team, led by Mahmoud B. Malas, MD, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery, is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality care.

health.ucsd.edu/care/vascular-and-endovascular-surgery/