UCSD will focus on border health issues
The U.S. Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools recently awarded a grant that will support four six-month training internships for qualified Hispanic students to the Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Drive.
“They issued a call for proposals that would focus on border health and training,” said Steffanie Strathdee, professor and Harold Simon Chair Chief for the division at UCSD. “We have already developed some training programs and knew that we would be able to provide these students with an education focusing on HIV at the border, as well as other related health problems like STDs.”
Each of the students selected with be teamed up with a mentor, receive a stipend of $1,600, and have the opportunity to train with researchers who have renowned expertise in these areas.
“One of the things that we have started seeing is that HIV, in particular, as well as tuberculosis and other diseases, are really very high and moving in the wrong direction in the border region,” Strathdee said. “What we are trying to do is train the next generation of researchers to respond to that need, and that would include Hispanic researchers because they have an understanding of the cultural realities.”
For more information see www.ucsd.edu.

Sea Lodge makes transition, changes name
After 36 years, the Sea Lodge Hotel in La Jolla, positioned on 2 acres of beachfront property in the La Jolla Shores community, has begun to undergo some improvements to make the resort more inviting to both locals and tourists.
Along with structural, architectural and landscaping upgrades, the hotel will officially change its name to La Jolla Shores Hotel as of Jan. 1, 2007.
“They just felt that La Jolla Shores designated the property and gives it a much fresher feel,” said Elizabeth Ranta, marketing director for La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club (LJBTC) Inc., which owns and operates the resort. “It defines our location ” basically, the location on the ocean and in the La Jolla Shores community. We are so involved in that community, as well.”
LJBTC owns several shorefront properties, including the Sea Lodge/La Jolla Shores Hotel and the famed Marine Room restaurant.
The hotel’s onsite restaurant, The Shores, was renovated earlier this year and a new menu has been put in place. Future projects will include exterior building improvements, interior décor and guest room enhancements.
A name change also serves as a way for the hotel to be more consumer friendly, said John Campbell, La Jolla Shores general manager.
“We aren’t necessarily trying to increase sales ” we are just trying to make the consumer more aware of our product,” Campbell said. “We want our name to reflect what we offer.”
The Sea Lodge/La Jolla Shores Hotel is located at 8110 Camino del Oro and can be reached by calling (858) 459-8271. For more information, visit www.ljshoreshotel.com.