UC San Diego Health - Internal Medicine

10/04/2026

Every pregnancy journey is different, and some require specialized care. Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, MD, perinatologist at UC San Diego Health, shares her path from immigrating from Peru and overcoming setbacks on her journey to medicine to becoming a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UC San Diego Health.

Today, she cares for patients with complex pregnancies, using her bilingual skills and cultural understanding to build trust, support families and help achieve healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D., is a UC San Diego Health perinatologist and professor who cares for patients with complex pregnancies, including those affected by diabetes. She explains how immigrating from Peru, learning from her grandmother and wanting to serve Spanish-speaking communities shaped her....

10/03/2026

What if cancer treatment was designed for your cancer and no one else’s?

A groundbreaking study led by Jason Sicklick, MD, surgical oncologist at UC San Diego Health and professor of surgery and pharmacology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, found that tailoring treatment based on the unique DNA of a patient’s tumor can significantly improve outcomes. In the first clinical trial of its kind, researchers showed that personalized, biomarker-guided therapies were safe, effective and associated with better response and survival rates. This research brings us one step closer to a future of truly individualized cancer care.

First global trial shows tumor DNA-guided cancer therapy is safe and effective, improving outcomes through personalized drug combinations in oncology care.

10/02/2026

As chronic brain bleeds become increasingly common among older adults, UC San Diego Health is bringing the latest advances in minimally invasive neurosurgery to patients who need them most.

As the first health system on the West Coast to use new technologies for treating chronic subdural hematoma, a common type of brain bleed, UC San Diego Health is expanding treatment options and helping shape the future of neurological care. These innovations may help reduce the need for repeat procedures, improve patient outcomes and give physicians more flexibility to tailor treatment to each individual's needs.

"Chronic subdural hematoma is an increasingly common condition in neurosurgery and patients benefit from minimally invasive approaches that can reduce the need for repeat operations," said Santiago-Dieppa, MD, cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgeon at UC San Diego Health.

"The patient at UC San Diego Health treated with this new coil technology is recovering well, which is encouraging as we continue to evaluate its potential. At the same time, advances in both coil-based and liquid embolization technologies are giving physicians more options to tailor treatment to each patient's anatomy and clinical needs. Our hope is that these innovations will help us more consistently treat the source of these brain bleeds and improve outcomes for patients."

Learn more about how our experts are helping shape the future of brain care:

Novel treatments may improve outcomes for chronic subdural hematoma, a common brain bleed, by enabling more complete artery closure.

10/01/2026

When physicians across San Diego County are asked who they would trust to care for their own family members, more than 115 UC San Diego Health doctors earned recognition as San Diego Top Doctors.

This peer-selected honor highlights the extraordinary expertise, innovation and compassion our physicians bring to patients every day across nearly 50 specialties.

“To be recognized by fellow physicians is an especially meaningful honor, because it demonstrates the respect and trust earned from peers who understand the rigors of practicing medicine — and the dedication required to excel in it,” said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. “This distinction is an affirmation of our doctors’ commitment to improving patients’ lives through groundbreaking research, innovation, and compassionate care.”

More than 115 UC San Diego Health physicians celebrated as the best on the annual San Diego Magazine Top Docs peer rankings.

10/01/2026

As both a cancer survivor and a leader helping expand access to world-class cancer care, Danielle McLaughlin brings a deeply personal perspective to work at UC San Diego Health.

Before joining UC San Diego Health as a staff member, McLaughlin was a patient. She experienced firsthand the uncertainty and life-changing decisions of a major health event when she was diagnosed at age 16 with a rare soft tissue cancer called synovial sarcoma.

Today, she remains a patient within the health system, relying on a network of providers that includes primary care, orthopedics and cancer specialists. Those decades of experience as a patient informed a unique perspective on the importance of coordinated, compassionate care and continue to shape her work as the director of patient access, clinical operations and supportive cancer care.

This summer, McLaughlin’s personal and professional journeys converged in an unforgettable way.

Through Health Care Home Runs, a program managed between the San Diego Padres and UC San Diego Health, she was recognized for her resilience and dedication to helping others. The honor included a VIP pregame experience at Petco Park and the opportunity to throw the honorary first pitch.

For McLaughlin, a longtime Padres fan, the recognition was especially meaningful.

Read her full story:

Diagnosed with cancer as a teenager, Danielle McLaughlin now helps expand access to care and supportive services for patients facing similar journeys.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to the Padres on making the playoffs, and making San Diego proud.

For nearly a decade, the San Diego Padres have trusted UC San Diego Health to deliver top-tier orthopedic, sports medicine and specialty care. We’re honored to be among the Friar Faithful, this year and every year.

See what major league care can do for you at: health.ucsd.edu/stayinthegame

09/28/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 APPs of the Year!

Advanced Practice Providers are essential members of the health care team, helping improve access to care, enhance patient outcomes and deliver exceptional experiences across our health system. Today, we proudly recognize four APPs whose dedication and commitment embody the very best of UC San Diego Health.

🌟 Physician Assistant: Angela Bautista, PA-C
🌟 Nurse Practitioner: Joycelle Martinez, ANP-BC
🌟 Nurse Anesthetist: Lisa Gonzalez, CRNA
🌟 Nurse Midwife: Amanda Bradshaw, CNM

Thank you for your leadership, expertise and unwavering commitment to our patients.

09/28/2026

What if a routine primary care checkup could save your life?

When Doug Elmore’s primary care physician recommended one more screening test, it revealed a hidden heart condition that could have gone undetected until it was too late.

"If Dr. Diaz hadn't urged me to get the coronary calcium score test, I would have had no idea how much risk I was facing," said Elmore, a former nurse practitioner at UC San Diego Health who is now retired. "If I didn't have a trusted primary care doctor, I probably would have continued to brush off further testing and could have easily become a statistic. I'm grateful that he pushed."

Discover how proactive care made all the difference:

A trusted relationship with a patient's trusted primary care physician pinpointed coronary artery disease before it became an emergency.

09/26/2026

Why do some patients experience dramatic weight loss on GLP-1 medications while others see more modest results? Emerging research is helping experts better understand the factors that may influence response to these treatments.

Eduardo Grunvald, MD, obesity medicine physician at UC San Diego Health, shares insights into the growing phenomenon of GLP-1 “super-responders” and what it could mean for the future of personalized obesity care.

What makes GLP-1 super responders — patients who rapidly exceed normal weight loss on these agents — unique?

09/25/2026

UC San Diego Health is the first hospital in the nation to offer an FDA-cleared radioactive skin cancer bandage, giving select patients with early-stage non-melanoma skin cancer a new, non-surgical treatment option that can be worn for just a few days.

"This is a really exciting new tool in a big box of tools that we use to very effectively treat non-melanoma skin cancer," said Parag Sanghvi, MD, MSPH, radiation oncologist at UC San Diego Health and professor and vice chair of radiation medicine and applied sciences at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Brachytherapy provides near-equal outcomes to surgery and external radiation, so it is a very appealing option for patients who don't want to undergo surgery or who have a cancer in a cosmetically or functionally sensitive spot.”

UC San Diego Health brachytherapy team is launching the CivaDerm bandage to treat some forms of skin cancer at home.