SeaWorld San Diego has long held a special place in the region’s history and heart. For more than 60 years, the iconic theme park and aquarium on Mission Bay has shaped how generations encounter marine life—many San Diegans fondly recall watching the colorful antics of sea lions Seamore and Clyde or discovering, firsthand, that shark skin isn’t quite as smooth as it looks.
What’s less visible, but central to SeaWorld’s mission, is what happens beyond the attractions. Education and conservation drive much of SeaWorld’s operations, both inside and outside its gates. The park’s rescue teams have become a recognizable presence along the coast, especially during sea lion pupping season. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world and has had an outsize impact on wildlife response in the San Diego region, facilitating over 555 animal rescues in 2025 alone, with the goal of returning them back to their natural habitat.
This January, SeaWorld visitors have a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people who make that mission possible. One of the park’s most meaningful event series can sometimes be overlooked amid the high-profile summer and holiday seasons but, over the next two weekends, SeaWorld will highlight the deep connections between SeaWorld’s animals and the dedicated professionals who care for them in its Inside Look series. Guests are invited to talk with rescue team members who provide life-saving care to injured and stranded animals, plus participate in an expanded slate of other interactive experiences. Among the Inside Look series’ highlights are a stop at the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, where scientists focus on sustaining marine ecosystems, and meeting the park’s shark specialists, who will preview SeaWorld’s all-new Shark Encounter opening this spring. Guests can also meet animal ambassadors Spike the alligator and Tater Tot the capybara, hear from otter, dolphin, and orca trainers, and play tic-tac-toe with a diver submerged in Turtle Reef communicating via whiteboard.
Inside Look offers direct access to animal care experts who are eager to share their life’s work with guests and pull the curtain back on what they do every day. Many members of SeaWorld’s animal care team began their own journeys as young visitors—children who met a trainer, saw the one‑on‑one bond between people and marine animals, and felt inspired to follow that path. The result is a truly behind‑the‑scenes experience for anyone interested in marine life, ocean conservation, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of SeaWorld and its core mission. Inside Look sessions are included with park admission and a passport guide is available.
For those interested in going a step further, a limited VIP tour experience offers more exclusive animal access guided by a SeaWorld expert. The park recently launched an Ultimate San Diego VIP Getaway Package, an all-in-one experience that combines luxury and adventure. It includes a three-night stay at the Bahia Resort Hotel, an ultimate VIP tour experience, front-of-the-line access to rides and attractions, and a private city tour by La Jolla Star Transportation, a luxury transportation service.
SeaWorld is also extending its mission of education and conservation into the digital space for those who want a close-up look at the park’s animal inhabitants but can’t make it in person (or who can but are craving more cuteness). For a limited time, viewers can watch SeaWorld’s more than 200 penguins in real time via its Penguin Cam. The live stream from the 25-degree Penguin Encounter habitat features five species of penguins plus interactions with trainers and the daily addition of more than 4,000 pounds of fresh snow. The penguin habitat mimics the Arctic suncycle, so tune in before it goes dark.
For more information on SeaWorld’s programs and offerings, please visit SeaWorldSanDiego.com.
Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.
“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”
Courtesy of Milan Design
Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.
The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.
At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.
Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.
At any given time, there are roughly 200 research investigations and clinical trials being conducted at Scripps Health in as many as 25 medical specialties. Research and patient care go hand-in-hand at Scripps. Those studies can be categorized as clinical trials of a medication or device that are conducted by Scripps physicians and studies designed by Scripps’ physicians and clinicians. Click here to learn about three exciting studies underway at Scripps and the benefits to patients.
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Scripps has recently unveiled new features in the MyScripps patient portal and mobile app to help patients connect with their primary care team and simplify the payment process. Among the recent updates is the addition of primary care E-visits for minor conditions. Patients who have an established primary care physician can schedule an E-visit, complete an online questionnaire and, if needed, send a photo. Their doctor can then advise and prescribe medication, when appropriate. Autopay is also now available through MyScripps. Patients can enable or disable autopay, allowing them to more easily manage payments. Learn more about MyScripps and how it helps patients stay connected here.
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Farrah Adams had a persistent dull ache in her lower back that her massage therapist suggested might be caused by the way she sat or drove. That explanation seemed reasonable, but when coupled with heavy, painful periods led the then 46-year-old to seek answers. When she looks back on it now, she’s beyond grateful she trusted her gut. She made an appointment with a Scripps OB-GYN, who determined she had Stage 3 cervical cancer that had spread to several lymph nodes. Farrah was overwhelmed, but immediately found a “champion” in Scripps Clinic gynecologic oncologist Jo Marie Tran Janco, MD. After undergoing successful treatment at Scripps Cancer Center, Farrah is now using her story to inspire other women to make time for care. Read more of her story here.
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In the last several years, there’s been a surge in FDA approvals for what’s known as oral oncolytics. Oral oncolytics are targeted cancer therapies that come in tablet, capsule or liquid form that patients can take at home, rather than in an infusion clinic. Scripps physicians have seen exponential growth using this approach, with patients citing convenience as a major quality-of-life enhancement in their cancer treatment. This approach also allows treatments to be customized based on specific genetic mutations and a patient’s unique disease biology. Find out more about oral oncolytics here.
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Meet San Diego’s leading healthcare professionals, delivering exceptional medical and dental care through innovation, expertise, and dedication to patients.
Unio Specialty Care is a multi-specialty practice specializing in urology, gastroenterology, and radiation oncology.
Unio’s Radiation Oncology team—Dr. Donald B. Fuller, Dr. Tahir Ijaz, Dr. Reza Shirazi, and Dr. Siavosh Vakilian—combines extensive clinical experience with a commitment to personalized cancer care. The RO team treats cancerous and non-cancerous conditions using precision therapies including SBRT, IGRT, and the CyberKnife® S7 System, the only system of its kind in Southern California. Their expertise spans prostate, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and central nervous system cancers, as well as low-dose radiotherapy for osteoarthritis.
In 2026, Dr. Shirazi and Dr. Vakilian were recognized as San Diego Top Doctors, joining Dr. Fuller and Dr. Ijaz, who have previously received this distinction.
