The University of San Diego Welcomes Its Newest Students Nina Dameri eagerly opened her new residence hall door in Founders Hall on the University of San Diego (USD) campus, with her mom following closely behind. The new USD student from Northern California had carefully organized her belongings for the trek to USD and chronicled her […]
The University of San Diego Welcomes Its Newest Students
Nina Dameri eagerly opened her new residence hall door in Founders Hall on the University of San Diego (USD) campus, with her mom following closely behind. The new USD student from Northern California had carefully organized her belongings for the trek to USD and chronicled her first few days on Instagram.
USD was proud to welcome its newest first-year and transfer students and kicked off the school year in September with its orientation event, known as OLÉ! Weekend — an exciting time filled with students meeting friends, moving into residence halls, celebrating the Mass of Welcome and filling the sold-out stadium to cheer on the Torero football team.
This year’s incoming class was chosen from the largest pool of applicants in USD history and arrived with an impressive, average weighted GPA of 4.02. The students represent 17 different faith traditions and come to the campus from 40 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 22 countries and three U.S. territories or military bases around the world and 25% are the first in their families to attend college.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Class of 2029. At USD, we have much to celebrate,” President James T. Harris III, DEd, told the students and their parents during the weekend’s new student and family welcome address. “Just this summer Ollie Tarvet, a member of our men’s tennis team and a rising senior, qualified for Wimbledon and made it to the second round and played the defending Wimbledon champion, Carlos Alcaraz, on center court. We also enjoyed watching our USD women’s volleyball team represent the United States at the world university games in Berlin, Germany this July.”
The president also recognized other notable USD alumni, including Jonathan Kim ’12 who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in mathematics and went on to become an astronaut who’s currently orbiting Earth on the International Space Station. He also mentioned Matthew Dominick ’05, who graduated from USD with a degree in electrical engineering and previously commanded the International Space Station.
“So, we can proudly say that we are not only a global university, we are also intergalactic!” the president exclaimed, to an arena of cheering students.
And, while USD continues to celebrate the Class of 2029, the university has already set its sights on the application cycle for the Class of 2030. Melore Nielsen, USD’s inaugural vice provost for enrollment management, recently announced that the university will offer both early decision and early action options for first-year applicants, beginning with those who plan to apply for the Fall 2026 semester.
“This strategic change aligns us with our peer institutions and reflects our commitment to providing students and families with earlier, more personalized engagement,” Nielsen said. “Offering early options strengthens our ability to build deeper, earlier relationships with students and families and give them more time to engage with USD, explore our community, and take advantage of special visit opportunities designed just for admitted students in February.”
USD, named recently by Niche among the Top 10 Best Catholic Colleges in the nation, is now accepting applications. Prospective students who are ready to make USD their first choice (early decision) or who want the benefit of an early admission decision without the binding commitment (early action), may apply by Nov. 1, 2025. USD’s deadline for regular decision admission is Jan. 15, 2026.
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.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
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.
