Advanced, Comprehensive Treatments for Breast Cancer at Sharp
Sharp Memorial Hospital’s nationally recognized Breast Health Center is dedicated to the prevention, early detection and advanced treatment of all breast conditions.
Each year, an estimated 240,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer — the most common cancer in women after skin cancer. Sharp Memorial Hospital’s nationally recognized Breast Health Center is dedicated to the prevention, early detection and advanced treatment of all breast conditions.Anna Techentin, MD, a family medicine doctor with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, experienced occasional tenderness in her right breast for six months. Her primary care doctor ordered a diagnostic mammogram, which included an ultrasound. “The reality set in that this likely was the beginning of my breast cancer story,” says Dr. Techentin.From provider to patientThe mammogram detected a lesion (abnormal tissue) larger than a marble. A biopsy was performed, and several days later Dr. Techentin had an MRI scan. Hundreds of thoughts filled Dr. Techentin’s mind: How long can I continue to work? How soon can I begin my treatment? Will I survive?Her worries eased a week later during her breast cancer consultation with Noran Barry, MD, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon at Sharp Memorial and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns. The diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma — the most common type of breast cancer — which affects the milk ducts and breast tissue.“I have explained breast cancer to my patients before,” says Dr. Techentin. “But now, being a breast cancer patient myself, I appreciate the process even more.”The journey to good health beginsDr. Techentin had multiple surgeries on the same day at Sharp Mary Birch. Dr. Barry first performed a bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy, which removed all the breast tissue on both sides. She also performed reverse lymphatic mapping to spare the lymph nodes that drain the arms, and a sentinel lymph node biopsy to determine whether the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Thankfully, the cancer had not spread.
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Shortly after, Alfonso Camberos, MD, a plastic surgeon with Sharp Rees-Stealy, performed a tissue expansion surgery to prepare the breasts for future reconstruction. Dr. Techentin stayed for two nights at Sharp Mary Birch, which offers the latest surgical options for breast cancer and a special area solely for women recovering from surgical procedures — the only such unit in San Diego.“My final memory before waking up in recovery was Dr. Barry giving me a wink before my surgery,” Dr. Techentin says.Continued care for overall wellnessAlthough Dr. Techentin’s type of breast cancer can progress relatively slowly, it had estrogen and progesterone receptors — meaning either of these hormones can cause cancer growth. To address this, Dr. Techentin received a robotic-assisted bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy from Lisa Johnston, MD, co-medical director at Sharp Mary Birch. In this outpatient procedure, the ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed to reduce the production of estrogen and progesterone.Dr. Techentin has also received endocrine therapy from her oncologist. This treatment involves taking medication to block estrogen in breast cancer cells.Since her procedures, Dr. Techentin has taken advantage of Sharp’s full suite of support services available to patients with cancer, including support groups, classes, and integrative and complementary therapies, such as meditation.“Having breast cancer is humbling, and I know at Sharp I’m getting the best care,” says Dr. Techentin.Sharp has breast cancer specialists across San Diego County focused on helping people improve their health. To learn more, visit sharp.com/breastcancercare or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Studio S
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Courtesy of UC San Diego | Photo Cred: Erik Jensen
“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”
That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.
“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.
Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.
The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall.
ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation.
Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.
“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”
The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.
Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.
Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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