Overcoming financial challenges that take a budget balance sheet from the red into the black is nothing new to Mark Laret, chief executive officer of UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. He’s been there, done that.

Even with its research prowess and all the patients it serves, UCSF first and foremost exists to provide its students with the highest caliber of health sciences education.

As the worlds of health care, research and higher education undergo seismic economic shifts, UC San Francisco is uniquely well positioned to excel and even capitalize on the changes, University leaders say.

In this editorial, two physicians with the UCSF Division of Geriatrics address the importance of delivering patient-centered care through collaboration between inpatient and outpatient providers. Specifically, the editorial discusses whether the hospital is an appropriate place to start long-term medications for chronic conditions.

Researchers worldwide will now have access to genetic data linked to medical information on a diverse group of more than 78,000 people, enabling investigations into many diseases and conditions.

A UC San Francisco medical student thought of an idea that is now a bill, and could one day become law in California. Tom Gaither, a first year student at the UCSF School of Medicine, suggests putting the following warning label on sugary beverage containers that have 75 or more calories per 12 ounces: “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.”

UCSF and Walgreens have opened a unique Walgreens store that aims to improve medication safety, decrease health care costs and help patients use medicines more effectively.