Mercer Island School District's New "MI Phone-Free Schools"

The Pioneer of Behavioral Medicine

Joined by Dr. Mandelkorn from the Mercer Island Historical Society, this episode of Emerald City Echoes takes us through his career specialized in adolescent behavioral medicine. A veteran of Mercer Island Pediatrics who later pioneered opening his own clinic, Dr. Mandelkorn has bettered the lives of many adolescents in the greater Seattle area.

Community Health Conversations with University of Washington's Dean of Public Health

Joined by the University of Washington's Dean of Public Health, Hilary Godwin walks the walk in the public health field. In this podcast, she discusses the many challenges facing healthcare today, including the more prevalent public health concerns locally in Seattle.

Addressing Asian Health Disparities with Michael Byun of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS)

Michael Byun, executive director of ACRS, joins Emerald City Echoes to discuss the implications of cultural mores and biases in healthcare practice, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth and elderly Asians, and policy changes enacted by the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to provide more accurate and inclusive legislation in the United States.  Asian Counseling and Referral Service is home of Washington state's only food bank catering to AAPI diets, and is a leading social justice organization working to provide accessible, supportive healthcare and civic engagement programs in Seattle's King County.

Mercer Island School District's New "MI Phone-Free Schools"

Engaged intellectually. Connected socially. Distracted minimally.  Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Mercer Island School District's high school and middle school will implement a new policy on cell phone usage during the school day. Superintendent Rundle joins the podcast to talk through the process and reasoning of going phone-free, an effort known as MI-Phone Free Schools. Rooting the decision in data from the Healthy Youth Survey, this decision aims to promote healthy social and emotional development with the assistance of Yondr phone pouches.

The City of Mercer Island's Healthy Youth Initiative

Michelle Ritter, Prevention Programs Coordinator of the City of Mercer Island's Youth and Family Services, joins Emerald City Echoes to discuss the recent events, programs, and campaigns promoting healthy living on the island. With the main focus on students, the Healthy Youth Initiative provides numerous programs tailored by district-specific student survey data to support youth physical and mental well-being.