UCSD - University of California - San Diego

01/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/27/2026 11:21

A Year to Explore Something New

Published Date

January 27, 2026

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For many of us, January offers what feels like a clean slate. It's a time when many people set out to learn a new skill, move their bodies in a different way or explore a long-held curiosity. While new goals can be motivating, simply promising yourself that you will begin something new often isn't enough to create lasting habits.

"To increase your chances of being able to start a new behavior pattern, it's better to find a group of people to do that behavior with you," said Cassandra Vieten, PhD, professor of family medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and executive director of the Center for Mindfulness at the UC San Diego Centers for Integrative Health. "We are social animals and what motivates a lot of us is being a member of something."

Read on for ways that the School of Medicine community members have found community in new hobbies, cultivated skills and created habits that bring joy and purpose to their daily life.

Aikido

Kama Guluma, MD, associate dean of admissions and student affairs and professor of emergency medicine

Kama Guluma, in white, demonstrating a defensive move in Aikido.

Nearly 20 years ago, Kama Guluma, MD was working as a resident intern in an urban emergency department when one of the attending physicians mentioned the benefits of martial arts, specifically Aikido. Intrigued, Guluma researched the Japanese martial art, which focuses on harmonizing with an attacker's energy rather than meeting it force to force, and began practicing it.

Today, he continues to train, teach and share Aikido with others, finding it valuable not just for physical skills, but for cultivating awareness, patience and a thoughtful approach to challenges.

Aikido attracts people who have a curious and analytical mindset because it takes patience, practice and a willingness to grow. Because it doesn't rely on brute strength or extreme physical conditioning, it can be practiced throughout one's lifetime. For anyone interested in learning more about Aikido, Guluma suggests first defining your personal goals and understanding the training landscape. Different dojos (training facilities) have different focuses.

"The world of Aikido is diverse, featuring various lineages, cultures, and teaching methodologies," said Guluma. "I would look for a dojo whose culture and approach align with your needs."

Bee Keeping

Kylie Joe, first-year medical student

Drawn by a desire to increase native flora in Los Angeles, first-year medical student Kylie Joe became a certified beekeeper while studying at UCLA. She says bees are "friends to be revered, not feared," and enjoys watching them move from flower-to-flower, knowing each tiny worker contributes to a thriving hive.

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Beyond a Hobby

Aikido has proven to be so impactful on Guluma, that he developed a dedicated session for fourth-year medical students specific to the clinical environment that blends evidence-based cognitive approaches and safety strategies. Students are taught anatomically effective defense responses to common types of physical assault that can occur in the clinical setting. The seminar involves a mental and physical approach to safety.

The course was born out of an incident where a medical student faced a potentially dangerous situation. "In the health care environment, we don't always know a patient's mental health status and temperament ahead of time," said Guluma. "Thankfully, in the original incident that sparked this session, the student was able to leave the exam room without injury. The event prompted us to think about how we could give medical students a bit of training to help handle these types of situations."

Kylie Joe took up beekeeping to help the environment.

"Bees are the foundation for all of our agriculture, foods, and the beautiful nature that so many of us draw energy from," said Joe.

Beyond the bees themselves, she found a welcoming human community-local groups eager to share knowledge and help newcomers get started.

She added that there are several local beekeeping groups full of people who are willing to teach newcomers to the hobby.

Distance Running

Burton Ober, director of student affairs

Burton Ober ran his first marathon in 1982 alongside his dad. They most recently ran a half marathon together in 2023.

Burton Ober, director of student affairs, recently completed his 38th marathon. But this most recent marathon was not just a marathon; he completed the Ironman California triathlon. The course covered 140.6 miles-a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run. No, he is not a glutton for punishment, rather, he loves the community and the health benefits that he gets from being physically active.

Running is a family tradition for Ober. He ran his first marathon at 15 years old when his dad unknowingly signed Ober up to run alongside him. More than 40 years later, Ober and his dad are both still running, even running a half-marathon together in 2023.

"The thing that I think is most important about running, cycling and swimming is the camaraderie of it," said Ober. "As I've gotten older, I really appreciate the friendships I have formed through running clubs. The events and competitions are fun, but the real blessing is in the training process with other people."

Knitting and making music

Michael Orcutt, DO, emergency medicine resident

What started as way to keep entertained on back country ski trips has turned into a way to make thoughtful gifts for friends and a means to staying balanced. Michael Orcutt, DO, PGY-2 emergency medicine resident, brings his knitting needles with him almost everywhere these days. In addition to being a conversation starter in the airport, especially among older women, he finds the hobby helps him process the things he experiences daily in the hospital.

"Doing something creative-whether making music, sewing or knitting-after a shift helps me contextualize my experiences and changes the way I understand my work," said Orcutt, who also plays guitar and sings. "We have jobs that we often feel demand perfection. Hobbies should be an outlet where we can make mistakes and embrace them. A missed stitch makes a hat more interesting; a missed note-that's jazz, baby."

Professional jump roping

Brett Schuhler, first-year medical student

Michael Orcutt performing with his dad in a backyard concert.

For first-year medical student Brett Schuhler, the term "jumping for joy" has literal truth. From a kindergarten talent show to professional events, he has jumped recreationally and competitively for most of his life.

He qualified for a national championship every year from middle school through his first year as an undergraduate at Purdue University and even turned his love for jumping into a stint as a cheerleader in college. After graduation, he moved from his home in the Midwest to Seattle to join a professional jump roping team. As a professional, Schuhler has performed at basketball halftime shows for both NCAA and NBA games. In addition to the obvious cardiovascular benefits, Schuhler says that the lifelong friendships he has formed are unmatched.

"Beyond those benefits, it is also incredibly accessible to anyone-all you need is a jump rope and you can get started," he said.

Creating charcuterie boards

Meghan Sebasky, MD, professor of medicine

Brett Schuhler has been jump roping for most of his life.

Creating elaborate charcuterie boards began as a practical way for Meghan Sebasky, MD, to entertain friends, but quickly grew into a creative outlet. She enjoys the interactive experience of sharing a board and says there are no rules-anything you like can go on a board. From cheeses and fruits to dips, chocolates or herbs, she finds the process both playful and rewarding, especially because it brings people together.

For those looking to get started, a classic board may contain different cheeses, salami, olives, nuts, fruits, and a variety of crackers. "Map out where you will put each component of the board before you start assembling it," she recommends. "Boards look most appealing when there is no empty space, so take this into consideration when you are building it. And always remember to take a picture before consuming it."

For Meghan Sebasky, charcuterie boards are beautiful art, in addition to being delicious.

Global volunteering

Roger Sur, MD, professor of urology

Buildng homes for others provides tangible benefits for Roger Sur pictured here with a building crew on a recent trip.

Sometimes setting out to help others can reap benefits we didn't know were possible. For Roger L. Sur, MD, volunteering with HOPE Worldwide Medical Brigades in places like Honduras and El Salvador has provided healing for his heart and mind.

"We often think we are there to help others in need, which is true; but in reality, we are the ones who also need help with our heart and receive so much in return," he said. "Volunteering around the world has been better than any vacation I've ever taken." For Sur, volunteering is a family affair. His wife and children have joined him to help build homes in Mexico on several occasions.

Musical theater

Sasha Weiss, director of communications, Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Care

Growing up in a musical household, Sasha Weiss has always used her voice. She remembers memorizing every lyric printed on the cassette tapes that she listened to and singing along. After five years living and working in New York City and performing off-Broadway, Weiss continues to thrive in local stage productions while teaching voice, acting and improv lessons to performers of all ages.

"The friends that I've made being in the theater community are just the best people I've ever met," she said. "There's so much empathy, love, joy and celebration because we're people who want to share other people's stories and understand other experiences-that makes for a really good community."

If you've ever dreamed of being on stage, Weiss recommends just going for it. Join a community choir, take a dance class and just have fun, noting there is a place for everyone in the theater community.

Making Lasting Changes

Sasha Weiss (right), as Ernestina Money, in San Diego Musical Theatre's production of Hello Dolly!
Cassandra Vieten, PhD, plays in three soccer leagues to keep active.

Whether it's running, knitting, practicing martial arts, caring for bees, jumping rope, crafting charcuterie boards, volunteering abroad, or performing on stage, the School of Medicine community shows that exploring a hobby can be a source of growth, connection and joy. Finding community and exploring new activities can also encourage work/life balance and improve overall wellness at every stage of life.

As Vieten noted from her own experience, "I play soccer on three women's teams, and I would never get as much exercise if I didn't have a group counting on me. We are all more likely to stick with a new behavior if someone else is there doing it with us."

The start of a new year isn't just a marker of time, it's an opportunity to try something meaningful, form new connections, follow your interests and discover passions that can enrich daily life.

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on January 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 27, 2026 at 17:21 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]