Wellness Series
Past Events
Teens & Screens: Understanding the Link to Depression
November 12, 2025
Thank you for joining Vail Health and Eagle County School District for a panel discussion with Dr. Charles Raison, Dr. Elaine Sandler, Candace Eves, and Dana Whelan on the link between technology and teenage depression. Participants explored how screen time may be impacting our children’s overall health, and gained practical tips for helping them navigate life in a digital world.To review key points from this event, please view our Teens & Screens Event Summary and check out Dr. Elaine Sandler's handout on Building Healthy Tech Boundaries Within the Family.
Fitness As You Age
September 16, 2025
Thank you for joining us for our free fitness event with Dr. Sarah Robinson, Lindsey Duhamel, DPT, PT, and Genevieve Harrison, Vail Healthspan Health Coach. Summaries and notes from our speakers' presentations are found below.
Genevieve Harrison touched on adopting a fitness mindset means focusing on consistency, joy, and lifelong habits rather than chasing short-term goalsDr. Sarah Robinson discussed building and protecting muscle, bone, and joint health through strength training, nutrition, and balance work helps preserve independence as we age
Lindsey Duhamel, DPT, PT talked through warm-up and recovery as essential tools for preventing injury, supporting recovery, and keeping the body moving well into later life.
Check out the full event handout with helpful takeaways and notes and the dynamic warmup guide.
Nutrition
April 3, 2025
Thank you for joining us for our free nutrition event with Dr. Susan Vickerman, Melaine Hendershott, MS, RDN, CSO and Lilia Brown, FNP. Summaries and notes from our speakers' presentations are found below.
Dr. Susan Vickerman discussed eating for the household and the “why” behind choosing healthy foods. Her goal is to empower the audience to make the right decisions about the foods we eat.Lilia Brown, FNP touched on how inflammation plays a key role in aging, weight gain, fatigue, brain fog and joint pain. She shared how certain anti-inflammatory foods and key supplements can help you feel more vibrant, energized and resilient.
Melaine Hendershott, RDN, CSO talked about the importance of meal planning, common deficits in your diet, and how to combat them with things you can eat. She provided tips and tricks for your weekly grocery shopping trip.
Resources from our presenters can be found in our event handout.
In The News
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The Science and Impact of Phone Addiction with Dr. Elaine Sandler
Heavy phone and social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and lower self-esteem among teens. Studies show that excessive screen time, late-night use, and constant social comparison significantly worsen mental health.
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Warm-Up, Recovery, and Injury Prevention with Lindsey Duhamel
Lindsey Duhamel, a sports physical therapist with Howard Head Sports Medicine, shared practical strategies for preventing injury and keeping the body ready to move at every stage of life.
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Adopting a Fitness Mindset with Genevieve Harrison
Professional ultra runner and Health Coach Genevieve Harrison shared her perspective on what it means to truly adopt a fitness mindset. For her, fitness is not about rigid training plans or chasing quick results, it’s about building energy, longevity, and joy into daily life.
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Building Strength, Protecting Bones, and Moving with Joy with Dr. Sarah Robinson
Dr. Sarah Robinson, a Primary Care and Sports Medicine physician with Colorado Mountain Medical, spoke about the realities of aging and how fitness can help people stay independent, resilient, and joyful for decades to come.
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Why Nutrition Is Important with Dr. Susan Vickerman
Why is nutrition important? It is the foundation of our overall health and wellbeing. There are constantly new recommendations on nutrition coming out through social media, podcast, friends, which makes it hard to know "WHAT should I do?"
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Food as Medicine with Lilia Brown
Inflammation isn’t always bad. It’s your body’s natural defense system to heal wounds and fight infections. Many common symptoms—like fatigue and weight gain—are actually signs of chronic inflammation which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and even dementia.