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Susan Murphy
Health Reporter
Susan Murphy is a multimedia health reporter for KPBS, providing in-depth coverage of a variety of issues that impact San Diego County and the Imperial Valley — from infectious diseases and mental health to health care policy and medical breakthroughs. Susan started working in the KPBS Newsroom in 2003. She graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.
Recent Stories by Susan Murphy
San Diego Hospital To Offer Newly-Approved Nasal Spray For Severe Depression
- March 21
- By Susan Murphy
Five years before the FDA approved a novel antidepressant nasal spray called Esketamine, doctors in San Diego were testing it on patients as part of the drug’s clinical trials.
Mosquito-Borne West Nile Virus Cases Expected To Increase With Spring's Arrival
- March 18
- By Susan Murphy
San Diego County's cool winter temperatures have kept mosquitoes at bay, but as the weather warms up, mosquito growth will accelerate, said Chris Conlan, supervising vector ecologist for the county’s Vector Control Program.
Pediatric Surgeons Use 3D Printing To Help With Complex Operations
- March 13
- By Susan Murphy
Before Lincoln Matthews, 7, underwent his most recent complicated heart surgery, his doctor held a 3D-printed replica of the small boy’s heart in his hands to practice the procedure.
Aggressive New Flu Strain On The Rise In San Diego County
- March 6
- By Susan Murphy
“As more H3N2 is seen, that means it’s more likely that we’ll see older people in our community getting affected by the flu. We can expect more outbreaks," said Eric McDonald, M.D., medical director of epidemiology for the county of San Diego.
Biomedical Nonprofit In San Diego Using Robots To Speed Drug Discovery
- March 5
- By Susan Murphy
Inside a biomedical lab in San Diego, robots are working around the clock to discover medicines to potentially treat diseases like cancer and brain disorders.
Health Officials Warn Parents, Doctors Of Potentially Deadly Kawasaki Disease
- Feb. 18
- By Susan Murphy
“If it’s not treated, eventually it will go away for a period of weeks, but one in four children will be left with permanent, potentially devastating, fatal damage to their heart," said Jane Burns, M.D., director of the Kawasaki Disease Research Center in San Diego.
Heart Disease Remains Top Killer, But Many Cases Are Preventable
- Feb. 13
- By Susan Murphy
Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. live with heart disease or high blood pressure, and every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.
San Diego Neurologist: New Alzheimer's Drug Could Slow Or Halt Disease Progression
- Feb. 11
- By Susan Murphy
There is no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease yet, but researchers at UC San Diego say there is reason to be optimistic.
San Diego Researchers Discover Why Some Children Are Prone To Strep Throat
- Feb. 6
- By Susan Murphy
Every year, thousands of children in the U.S. are infected with strep throat, but some children are hit with the painful bacterial infection over and over again. Now, a study provides details on why repeat infections occur.
Education Leader Urges Opioid Overdose Training In San Diego County Schools
- Feb. 4
- By Susan Murphy
San Diego County teachers are already trained on school shooting drills and identifying sex trafficking victims. Now, they may be tasked with learning to revive students who overdose on opioids.