Reporter

Paul Sisson

Paul Sisson is a reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune and has covered health care in San Diego County since 2010. He is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and earned a journalism degree from Augustana University.

People smoke marijuana as Kevin Bice, top, makes balloon animals and figures at the annual 4/20 gathering on Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park, Monday, April 20, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Marijuana study affirms drug’s negative effect on youth

April 21, 2026 at 3:37 p.m.

Analysis of data from 11,000 youth shows slower cognitive progress for those who used cannabis

Study detects dementia risk decades before symptoms appear

March 21, 2026 at 7:10 a.m.

Researchers examined blood samples collected in the 1990s to detect a key biomarker's presence.

A new clinical trial launched by Scripps Research will investigate using tirzepatide, a popular diabetes and weight loss drug made by Eli Lilly, to treat long COVID. This drug is marketed under the trade name Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro, pictured in the injectable pen form, for treating type 2 diabetes.

Can a weight loss and diabetes drug treat long COVID?

November 5, 2025 at 12:44 p.m.

New Scripps Research trial will explore the effects of Lilly's GLP-1 drug on reducing the symptoms of the debilitating disease.

U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion's (LCAC) unload equipment onto the beach as U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys and CH-53 Super Stallions fly overhead during the America's Marines 250 event at Camp Pendleton's Red Beach on Oct. 18, 2025 in Oceanside, California. The U.S. Marines are marking their 250th anniversary with a live amphibious assault demonstration and visits from Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Key Camp Pendleton document has no approved artillery firing locations west of I-5

October 22, 2025 at 3:53 p.m.

State says it has no record of any over-freeway fire prior to Saturday's amphibious capabilities demonstration that temporarily closed the freeway.

New deal announced to maintain Blue Shield patients’ access to UC health

July 9, 2025 at 11:16 a.m.

Contract said to last for three years, though final details are still being completed

Long-lasting insulin takes another step forward with latest clinical trial results

June 25, 2025 at 9:46 a.m.

Scripps researcher delivers findings for Lilly drug expected to request approval from FDA soon

3d illustration of the human heart and artery with high blood pressure and hypertension. (Getty)

Blood pressure-lowering medication shows promise in new trial results

April 29, 2025 at 11:51 a.m.

Hypertension is said to affect more than 120 million Americans.

a registered nurse attaches an IV line to the intravenous port implanted in Nicole Baca's chest

Nurse can’t shake COVID-19’s unrelenting grip: ‘I have lost relationships’

March 28, 2025 at 4:48 a.m.

New cases of the debilitating syndrome known as long COVID are still being diagnosed daily.

People hold signs during the Stand Up for Science rally, one of several dozen nationwide protesting federal cuts to science, on the UC San Diego campus on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

UCSD, facing federal cuts, will no longer guarantee funding for incoming grad students

March 19, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.

The school warns admitted first-year students that their support packages are contingent on state and federal funding.

Rady Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Orange are merging. (Peggy Peattie / UT File – Jeff Gritchen / OCR)

Attorney General approves Rady Children’s-CHOC merger

November 7, 2024 at 12:58 p.m.

Announced in 2023, new organization would be called Rady Children's Health

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