Daily Business Report: Wednesday, July 6, 2022
Scripps Clinic first to use 3D hologram
technology in shoulder replacement
Scripps Clinic recently became the first health care provider in Southern California to use an innovative mixed reality headset technology that offers surgeons a 3D holographic view of a patient’s preoperative surgical plan during shoulder replacement procedures.
The new system allows surgeons to use hand gestures and voice commands to view and manipulate a hologram of the patient’s preoperative plan from inside the headset lens, while simultaneously maintaining a direct view of the open surgical site. The technology lets doctors superimpose the 3D surgery plan over the patient’s anatomy on the operating table, providing an intricate, personalized level of prosthetic placement.
“Being able to view the entire surgical plan during the operation is a big advantage for patients, because it can help surgeons replicate the pre-op plan with precision,” said Brian Rebolledo, M.D., who is the first Scripps Clinic orthopedic surgeon to use the new system. “Having a detailed 3D model of the patient’s surgical plan directly in our sights in real-time opens up a new window to help further enhance the procedure.”
The surgeon can rotate and zoom in or out of the hologram model, while comparing it in real-time to the patient’s anatomy. The holograms are generated by the system’s software through preoperative CT scans.
Jamul Indian Village chairwoman appointed to
Department of Interior’s Tribal Advisory Committee
Erica M. Pinto, chairwoman of The Jamul Indian Village of California, has been appointed by Secretary Deb Haaland to serve on the Department of Interior’s newly-formed Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).
Pinto is serving as the Pacific Region’s primary member of the STAC, representing more than 100 tribes. Her one-year term began June 15.
Widely recognized as a pre-eminent tribal leader, Pinto has been honored with numerous awards for her leadership and influence—including the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California’s highest honor, the Warrior Award—and she is a nationally sought-after speaker and leader regarding tribal and gaming matters.
The STAC, announced last November at the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, was created to ensure that tribal leaders have direct communication with federal officials.
Members of the STAC will exchange views, share information, and provide advice and recommendations regarding DOI programs, policies, and funding that affect tribal nations.
Pinto has been involved with the JIV Tribal Council since 1997.
In 2015, she was the first woman elected chairwoman, and has led the tribe to make significant economic progress on its path to self-reliance.
San Diego is one of the top rental hotspots in the nation
San Diego is the 16th most sought-after renting spot nationwide, and the third most competitive in California, after Orange County and Central Valley, according to a rental report by RentCafe. RentCafe looked at the number of renters competing for an apartment, the number of days rentals were vacant, the percentage of new apartments built, the share of renters that renewed their leases and occupancy rates.
Here’s why San Diego is a rental hotspot in 2022:
- • San Diego had the third highest number of competing renters for an apartment, 24, after Eastern Los Angeles with 27, and Miami with 30 prospective renters. The nationwide average is 14 prospective renters.
- • The San Diego apartments that became vacant were filled within 31 days, the same as in Orange County. By comparison, the average U.S. apartment that became vacant was filled within 35 days in the first part of the year.
- • Another aspect that makes San Diego hot this season is the occupancy rate, as high as 97 percent. The same as the neighboring markets Orange County and Inland Empire, which had around 97 percent of the rental apartments occupied.
- • In San Diego, the share of new apartments completed in 2022 makes up for 0.7 percent of the entire available stock, keeping up with the national average with the same rate.
- • More than half of the renters, 52 percent, opted to renew their leases rather than move into a new apartment or become homeowners, as finding a rental is getting more difficult. But this is still below the national average of 62 percent. Orange County, the competitive leader of the season, attracted many renters from the neighboring markets.
San Diego’s M.C. Strauss Company acquires
2-building Kearny Mesa office park for $22.8 million
San Diego-based M.C. Strauss Company has acquired Lomas Pacific I and II, a suburban two-building office park in Kearny Mesa for $22.8 million. The seller was Brixton Capital.
The office park totals 88,522 square feet and is located at 9619 Chesapeake Drive and 9444 Farnham St.
Lomas Pacific I & II is situated on nearly 4.0 acres and is comprised of two (3)-story buildings. Project highlights include upgraded common areas such as new restrooms and modern lobbies on each floor. The property also features a large, recently re-slurried surface parking area, with a 4:1000 ratio, plus substantial street parking.
Cushman & Wakefield’s Rick Reeder and Brad Tecca of the firm’s Capital Markets in San Diego represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction. Bill Cavanagh, Duncan Dodd, SIOR and Mike Novkov with Cushman & Wakefield also provided leasing advisory.
Private investor acquires Carlsbad office
property for $6.5 million
390 Oak LLC, a local private investor, has acquired an 11,800-square-foot office property in Carlsbad for $6.5 million. The seller was California Property Brokers Ltd.
Peter Curry, managing director and Duncan Dodd, senior director with Cushman & Wakefield’s Private Capital Group in San Diego, represented both parties in the transaction.
“The downtown district of Carlsbad Village maintains good momentum as a pedestrian-friendly beachside community with easy access to multiple modes of transportation,” said Peter Curry. “390 Oak is a stable asset in an irreplaceable real estate location. Originally constructed in 1974, the buyer intends to make capital improvements to include upgrading the property’s exterior and overall appearance.
MTS offering $5,000 sign-on bonus for bus operators
For a limited time, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) is offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for newly hired bus operators and is actively recruiting for a wide range of jobs to support the system’s growth. This includes dozens of positions for Trolley operators, bus operators, electro-mechanics, station ambassadors, administrative positions, and more.
“Like many businesses, MTS is currently experiencing a workforce shortage,” said Sharon Cooney, MTS chief executive officer. “We hope these sign-on bonuses can serve as an incentive for those seeking a fulfilling career path in transportation, and help MTS continue operating a great system for our region.”
The bonuses MTS is offering are as follows (offered through August 31):
• Bus Operator/Student Bus Operator $5,000 (just increased from $1,000)
•Bus Cleaner $1,000 (just increased from $500)
How to Apply:
Visit the MTS career page, browse job openings, and applications must be submitted through the portal. For more information about the sign-on bonuses and qualification requirements, visit sdmts.com/careers.
General Atomics prepares events in preparation
for 2022 Rim of the Pacific exercise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a series of Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communication Intelligence (COMINT), and Link 16 payload flight test events near Palmdale and Edwards Air Force Base in California in preparation for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 exercise. The sensors were integrated onto the company’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System, which will be featured at RIMPAC 2022.
RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise involving more than 40 ships and 150 aircraft from 27 partner nations. The 2022 exercise will take place late June to early August in Hawaii and Southern California.
“GA-ASI is proud to be participating in the U.S. Navy’s RIMPAC exercise,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development, Patrick Shortsleeve. “SeaGuardian is the ultimate unmanned system for maritime security, with its multi-domain Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), targeting Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), and sonobuoy monitoring and control. The Edwards AFB test flights helped ensure and enhance the accuracy of our systems ahead of the exercise.”
Coalition to launch initiative signature drive
to improve aging libraries and parks in San Diego
A grassroots coalition of neighbors and civic leaders will begin collecting signatures to improve San Diego’s aging libraries and parks at a community launch event on Saturday, July 9 at the North Clairemont Recreation Center.
The Libraries and Parks For Allcommunity initiative will invest in San Diego’s deteriorating public facilities by fixing long-standing issues and historical inequities that have resulted in some communities having access to fewer educational and recreational opportunities.
The group will qualify the measure for the ballot by collecting and submitting at least 82,566 signatures from City of San Diego voters by Dec. 15. Last week, community leaders filed their intent with the San Diego Office of the City Clerk to place an initiative on the 2024 ballot to improve City of San Diego libraries and parks.
The proposal was developed by a diverse and non-partisan group of residents who believe that public spaces are essential to the health, safety and overall quality of life of the community. The grassroots effort to put the measure on the next presidential election ballot is being led by the Library Foundation SD and the San Diego Parks Foundation.
San Diego City Council passes mayor’s
24-hour Safe Parking proposal
The San Diego City Council voted unanimously to approve Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposal to extend operations at one of the city’s Safe Parking lots to 24 hours, allowing for expanded opportunity for residents experiencing homelessness not only to safely live out of their vehicles, but also to access services and get on a path to housing.
The city’s Safe Parking Program, operated under contract by Jewish Family Service of San Diego, includes three facilities – two in Kearny Mesa and one in Mission Valley. Currently, the lots are open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day. The mayor asked the City Council to approve roughly $1.43 million to continue the program through June 30, 2023, with $440,000 going toward extending hours at the Mission Valley site. The effective date of the expanded hours has yet to be determined.
State budget commits $80 million to bolster
STEM education, research in Imperial Valley
San Diego State University Imperial Valley, its Brawley campus and the community they serve are newly poised for a dramatic expansion in STEM education and research, tying into regional plans for major economic development as California’s “Lithium Valley.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed state budget documents for 2022-23 providing $80 million in state funding for a STEM facility on SDSU Imperial Valley’s Brawley campus.
Buoyed in the legislative process by strong local support and a prospect of public-private partnerships, the funding provides for the construction of a 65,000 square-foot facility at Brawley to house science, technology, chemistry, engineering and mathematics programming.
Study reveals the job problems
contributing to physician suicide
Physician burnout and suicide are a growing public health concern, with 1 in 15 physicians experiencing suicidal ideation. Studies consistently show that physicians are more likely than non-physicians to experience work-related stressors prior to suicide. Still, the exact nature of these stressors was unknown.
To better understand and characterize the job stressors that contribute to physician suicide, researchers at UC San Diego Health reviewed the death investigation narratives from 200 physician suicides collected by a national database between 2003 and 2018. The team was able to identify the main issues contributing to physician job stress and suicide.
The study, published June 29, 2022 in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, found six overarching themes in the reports. These included an incapacity to work due to deterioration of physical health, substance use that was jeopardizing employment, the interaction between mental health and work-related issues, relationship conflicts affecting work, legal problems and increased financial stress.
Renowned physian, author to speak
at Palliative Care Conference
Sunita Puri, a palliative medicine physician and author whose work has appeared in the New York Times, will be the keynote speaker at the fifth annual Professional Palliative Care Conference on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.
The conference will take place on Friday, July 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is being held for the first time since 2019 after the last two editions were canceled because of the pandemic.
Puri is the medical director of palliative medicine and supportive care at the Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center of the University of Southern California.
She’s the author of the 2020 book “That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour,” and just last month her essay titled “My Patient Didn’t Die From Covid. He Died Because of It” was published by the New York Times.
Puri graduated from Yale University, attended Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar, completed medical school and residency training in internal medicine at UC San Francisco, and went through fellowship training in hospice and palliative medicine at Stanford University.
The first 100 tickets to the conference sold will include a complimentary copy of her book.
Holland America Line sees surge in demand for Alaska cruising
Premium cruise line Holland America Line is reporting a surge in interest for Alaska, experiencing the highest booking levels for Alaska cruising to the bucket list travel destination during the month of June since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People are excited to travel again while reconnecting with family and friends in a meaningful way,” said Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice president and chief commercial officer for Holland America Line. “We’re seeing the pent-up demand leading to increased booking as guests realize cruising is a hassle-free way to enjoy unique destinations such as Alaska.”
As a bucket-list locale for many travelers, Alaska offers close-to-home departures without the need for overseas air, stunning scenery and wildlife, deep history and culture, and areas like Glacier Bay that are best reached from the water.
