Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion at UC San Diego Health

05/06/2026

As Alzheimer's disease and other dementias continue to rise nationwide, new research shows that equipping primary care providers with focused dementia training and embedding clinical decision-support tools directly into the electronic medical record (EMR) can significantly improve dementia diagnosis and care.

Ian Neel, MD, geriatrician at UC San Diego Health, co-chair of the San Diego Alzheimer's Project and corresponding author of the study, has helped lead a county-wide effort to standardize dementia screening and improve early diagnosis across the region. During May's Mental Health Awareness Month, Neel highlights research to equip primary care physicians with the tools and training needed to detect and manage cognitive decline earlier:

New research shows that equipping primary care providers with dementia training and electronic medial record tools can improve dementia diagnosis and care.

05/04/2026

This Nurses Week, we celebrate nurses like Rod Salaysay, RN, who heal beyond medicine. 💙

Through music, compassion and connection, Rod brings comfort to post‑surgery patients — uplifting spirits, easing anxiety and turning care into something truly personal.

2K likes, 185 comments. "UC San Diego nurse goes viral for singing to patients"

05/01/2026

When it comes to stroke, every second counts.

J. Scott Pannell, MD, director of neurointerventional surgery, endovascular neurosurgeon and neurointerventional radiologist at UC San Diego Health, shares why you need to BE FAST when experiencing a stroke, as it can make the difference in your chances for survival and a successful recovery.

Director of neurointerventional surgery answers questions about stroke, including symptoms, treatments and what caretakers can expect during recovery.

04/30/2026

More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and one donor can save up to eight lives.

In this Q&A, Megan Del Vecchio, MSN, nurse practitioner for the liver transplant program at UC San Diego Health, shares how organ donation works, what patients can expect before and after transplant and the powerful impact of saying “yes” to donation.

Choosing to become an organ donor is the ultimate gift of life to those currently waiting on the national organ transplant list

04/30/2026

What does the power of altruism look like?

It looks like a little girl ringing a transplant bell, and the woman who made it possible watching nearby.

Born with a rare genetic disorder, Ailani spent her early years fighting to survive. Then an anonymous living donor made a selfless choice, giving part of her liver to a child she had never met. Months later, that gift brought two families together in a moment that says everything about compassion, connection, and second chances.

https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/the-power-of-altruism-ailanis-life-saving-gift/

Video description:
A little girl walks through hospital hallways, surrounded by signs, pom poms and cheering staff as she rings the transplant bell. Her parents thank hospital workers outside, holding a box that carried the organ that saved their daughter’s life.
Moments from the journey unfold: recovery after surgery, quiet time in a hospital bed and the long road to healing. Photo collages show reunions, celebrations and the bond formed between two families through one selfless gift. The girl rings the bell again, marking hope, gratitude and a future made possible by compassion.

04/29/2026

A familiar hospital, reimagined for the future.

What many knew as Alvarado Hospital is now UC San Diego Health’s East Campus Medical Center and is preparing for improvements focused on better serving patients and the San Diego community.

You may know it as Alvarado Hospital, but UC San Diego Health took over in 2023 and it’s now called East Campus Medical Center. They even renamed the MTS trolley stop. NBC 7’s Joe Little has details on how the Medical Center is also about to undergo a $322 million upgrade.

04/28/2026

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a transplant social worker looks like?

Vanessa Mulsow, LCSW, CCTSW, abdominal transplant social work supervisor, takes us behind the scenes at the Center for Transplantation at UC San Diego Health, where she supports patients navigating one of the most life‑changing journeys they’ll ever take.

At UC San Diego Health, our transplant social workers are embedded across organ programs, partnering closely with the care team to support patients before, during and after transplant. From connecting patients to vital resources to helping them build realistic, sustainable plans for life after transplant, their work goes far beyond the operating room.

health.ucsd.edu/transplant

Video description: A woman prepares for the day at home, packing children’s lunches, helping a child get dressed, pouring coffee, and leaving the house. The day continues with her driving to work, followed by walking inside a hospital with exterior and interior signage, busy hallways, and patient care areas. She speaks with members of a medical care team, uses a phone, works at a computer while walking on a treadmill desk, and selects a book from a staff library. She returns to the home setting, showing her driving children to after‑school activities, helping them get ready for bed, and tidying up. The day ends with her sitting in bed, reading on an e‑reader, and turning off the light.

04/27/2026

A major milestone in spine care.

UC San Diego Health is the first health system on the West Coast to perform spine surgery using a new AI‑powered robotic system with advanced imaging and guidance. The launch was led by Joseph Osorio, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Health, whose expertise in complex spine surgery and commitment to innovation continue to bring leading‑edge care to patients.

"This platform fundamentally changes how we think about spine surgery," said Osorio, who is also an associate professor of neurological surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "For the first time, we are bringing together artificial intelligence, data-driven alignment planning, patient-specific implants, navigation and robotic screw delivery within a single system. That level of precision and coordination allows us to operate more efficiently while significantly enhancing safety for our patients."

First West Coast AI-driven robotic spine surgery performed at UC San Diego Health, improving precision and recovery for patients.

04/27/2026

Nurse Rod brings heart, healing and harmony to patient care. 🎶💙

04/27/2026

Leading the way in ALS research and care.

Dominic Ferrey, MD, neurologist at UC San Diego Health, speaks with FOX 5 San Diego about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the advancements in research and care at UC San Diego Health, progress that continues to bring hope to patients and families.

Dominic Ferrey, MD, talks about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the advances being made in research and care at UCSD.

04/24/2026

Crafts with a purpose.

Meet the incredible volunteers behind Crafts for a Cause, a volunteer‑led initiative that hand‑assembles monthly craft kits to brighten patients’ days. From coloring and bracelet making to origami and collage, each kit includes personalized notes, stickers and QR codes with how‑to videos.

This is the power of creativity, compassion and community.

health.ucsd.edu/volunteer

Video description: The video shows a volunteer introducing a Crafts for a Cause kit and presenting it to a patient. It then cuts to volunteers assembling the kits, followed by the patient exploring the materials inside and expressing appreciation for the thoughtful items included.