As many of you know, accepting the role of vice chancellor at UC San Diego Health Sciences has been a profoundly meaningful homecoming for my family and me.
Early in my career, I spent nearly 15 formative years at UC San Diego — years that included time as an attending physician and participating in the training of young physicians at the UC San Diego Health Hillcrest Medical Campus. For more than 60 years, Hillcrest has served as the heart of the UC San Diego School of Medicine.
It was our first teaching hospital, our original clinical home. Within its halls, thousands of health care professionals — including myself — have been shaped and inspired.
This summer I’m especially proud to celebrate the opening of the McGrath Outpatient Pavilion at UC San Diego Health–Hillcrest Medical Campus, a significant milestone in our commitment to expanding access to world-class, patient-centered care.
This 250,000-square-foot, six-level facility represents the future of outpatient services and is designed to support the health and well-being of our community for generations to come. It includes dedicated space for state-of-the-art imaging, infusion and outpatient surgery suites with expanded access to specialty clinical programs, including oncology, women’s health, neurosurgery, urology, ear nose and throat, and orthopedics.
McGrath not only delivers exceptional care, it also centralizes and expands our real-world learning environment. Here, countless medical students, residents and fellows will gain hands-on experience in outpatient procedures, diagnostics and patient communication — all within a high-volume, multidisciplinary setting.
McGrath Outpatient Pavilion welcomed its first patients July 28, marking an exciting new chapter for Hillcrest and for UC San Diego Health, which recently secured the No. 1 ranking in San Diego on U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey for the sixth consecutive year.
I applaud the leadership of UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent in guiding our expansion across San Diego, including the purchase of the former Alvarado Hospital, the growth of Hillcrest and enhancements to our La Jolla sites. She continues to execute a well-conceived vision to better serve our community.
