As our health care system continues to evolve, opportunities to come together, learn from one another, and discuss the challenges ahead are more important than ever. Registration is now open for the 2026 HASD&IC Annual Meeting, and I hope you’ll join us.
A triplet pregnancy came as a surprise not just to Mikayla Toney, but also her doctor. That’s because Toney experienced a spontaneously conceived monochorionic triamniotic pregnancy — three babies sharing a single placenta, a condition that occurs in roughly one in 100,000 births. Under the care of Sean Daneshmand, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine at Scripps Clinic, Toney, gave birth to healthy triplets following this exceptionally rare and high-risk pregnancy. The triplets received specialized care and spent about six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla before going home health.
July 1 marked an important moment for health care in San Diego County as two significant partnerships officially took effect in North County, bringing together Tri-City Medical Center and Sharp HealthCare in Oceanside and Palomar Health and UC San Diego Health in Escondido and Poway.
As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, we are reminded that this holiday represents more than parades, barbecues, and fireworks. At its core, the Fourth of July reflects our nation’s enduring commitment to service, shared responsibility, and strengthening the communities we call home.
San Diego’s health care community played a quiet but critical role in April’s historic moment for space exploration. When the Artemis II astronauts returned to Earth earlier this spring, local Navy Medicine teams were there to support the successful recovery of the crew and the Orion spacecraft.
Last week, the San Diego County Health and Safety Act (a measure that would raise the sales tax by a half-cent across San Diego County) qualified for the November ballot. This citizens’ initiative — which is supported by nonprofit and labor organizations, including HASD&IC — is focused on protecting health care, childcare and public safety, and addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
During this Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that behavioral health is an essential part of overall health. Increasingly, the pressures facing our communities — from economic instability to policy changes affecting access to basic needs like nutrition support, including loss of CalFresh benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — are contributing to heightened stress and mental health challenges.
Sunny Sharma, MD, is used to advising his patients to do their research — and when he experienced hearing loss after having a viral infection, he followed his own advice. After an MRI revealed an acoustic neuroma, Dr. Sharma read research articles, met with several local doctors for referrals, and joined support groups to learn more. UC San Diego Health’s name came kept coming up, so he turned to their acoustic neuroma experts for care. Eventually, he was able to reclaim his dream of running the Chicago Marathon.
It’s safe to say there has been no shortage of discussion lately about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While deeply problematic, this legislation is just the latest in a long line of mounting pressures hospitals are being asked to absorb. That reality is why HASD&IC and our member hospitals have been engaged in conversations across the region about what federal policy changes could mean for health care in San Diego and Imperial counties.
When Charles Hamori, MD, an internal medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, recognized the sudden signs of a stroke, he acted fast — seeking care that would ultimately save his life. Thanks to Kaiser Permanente’s telestroke program, a neurologist was able to assess him immediately by video in the emergency department and deliver clot‑busting treatment within 30 minutes of Dr. Hamori’s arrival at the hospital.
