Roundtable Looks At YMCA Investigation, Future Of Medicine And Smart Growth

YMCA investigation

An independent investigation into mismanagement at the San Diego YMCA has cleared executives of wrong doing. But details on the investigation are sketchy, as it has not been released to the public.

The organization had come under fire for mistreatment of staff, lack of diversity among employees, and the way it handles vendor contracts.

The San Diego Y is the second largest in the country, and the seventh largest employer in the county. Its mission is to serve poor and underserved people, and some say the recent problems at the top are affecting this mission with diminished outreach, programs and new membership.

Amita Sharma has been following the story, and talks about what's next for the YMCA.

Cell doc

The best-selling author of many medical thrillers says your phone could soon replace your physician, and it could be a marked improvement: Your phone probably knows you better than your doctor does, and Siri's bedside manner might also be better.

Dr. Robin Cook explored this near-future scenario in his most-recent book "Cell" and delivered his predictions on how his fictional app "iDoc" could evolve this week in La Jolla, at a conference held by the Scripps Translational Science Institute.

Gary Robbins of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Dr. Cook about what's new in digital health.

San Marcos leads the way on smart growth

One of the guiding principals in the San Diego County's development plan is smart growth: Building communities that are walkable, close to public transit and don't contribute to urban sprawl.

How well specific housing developments achieve this is a matter of debate. Both the Lilac Hills Ranch project and the recently approved One Paseo project have been criticized for not being smart enough.

But one North County city is getting it right, reports Maya Srikrishnan of Voice of San Diego: It's San Marcos. With bike and pedestrian-friendly streets, and transit-oriented development, the city could be an example for the rest of the region.

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