Clinical updates, plenary addresses from D.C. heavyweights, and special-interest forums—sure, those are necessary parts of SHM’s annual meeting in San Diego.
But a local hospitalist’s favorite restaurant? That’s downright important.
“You know, I’d have to say my son and I’s is Casa Guadalajara in Old Town,” says Pedro Ramos, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at San Diego. “He loves the bean burritos. It’s sort of a slower pace, so when you go, it’s going to take some time, but the food’s really good.”
HM12 is a perfect chance to learn about San Diego. (Did you know it is the eighth-largest city in the U.S., with 1.3 million residents?) San Diego offers a plethora of attractions for those with time to explore, and the San Diego Convention Center’s location—along San Diego Bay—is a big reason why (as is the average high temperature: 68 degrees in April). Hospitalists and their families will be within walking distance of:
- The Gaslamp Quarter, a national historic district and entertainment destination. The trendy neighborhood offers scores of dining options, from elbows-on-the-table relaxation to white-linen prix fixe.
- Petco Park, the baseball stadium for the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home opener on April 4, the start of a four-game series with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Just north of the village are two museums of note for sailors: the USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The USS Midway offers tours of an aircraft carrier; MMSD visitors experience the world’s oldest active ship, the Star of India.
- Coronado: A ferry brings visitors and locals alike to a luxury resort area whose name in Spanish means “the crowned one.” Sometimes called Coronado Island—though the land mass is technically a peninsula—visitors can rent bikes to tour its streets. A particular highlight is Hotel Del Coronado, built in 1888 and now a historic landmark. The property has been featured in major motion pictures, including the Marilyn Monroe classic “Some Like it Hot.”
—Pedro Ramos, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine, University of California at San Diego
And that’s just the pedestrian-friendly parts of the city. Board a trolley, a pedi-cab, or a light-rail train, and Dr. Ramos says a few other jewels are a few minutes away.
First up is Old Town San Diego, where Dr. Ramos and his son go for those burritos. The neighborhood is a mix of historic buildings, eateries, and two of the city’s best-known recreation areas: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and Presidio Park.
Second, and perhaps more prized to Dr. Ramos, is the city’s namesake zoo and its environs. “It’s a short cab ride away,” he says, “and it’s connected to Balboa Park, which has these great museums, a huge park, lots of beautiful things to see there.”
To get involved, visit www.hospitalmedicine2012.org/family_activities