Welcome, neighbor! Within this edition of the Mercer Island Reporter is a supplement about Bastyr University, near you in Kenmore. You may know much, some or very little about the university. Whatever your knowledge level, Bastyr University has something to offer everyone. I encourage you to turn to the pages of our supplement to learn more about our stellar academic programs, innovative natural health clinic and scientific research efforts.

Bastyr University was founded in 1978 by a handful of Dr. John Bastyr’s former students, who wanted to ensure that his teachings in the natural health arts and sciences were passed on to future generations. The campus is now located next to St. Edward State Park in a quiet stretch of land surrounded by nature’s beauty. It is the perfect setting for our students to learn, and a wonderful place for our faculty and staff to work.

We feel extremely fortunate to be situated in your backyard, an open and welcoming location where we continue to rise as the global leader in natural health education. It is because of this supportive environment that we are able to achieve all that we have and hope to achieve in the future.

Now in our 35th year of existence, Bastyr University is making great strides in the worlds of education, research and medicine, and we are excited to tell all of you, our Eastside neighbors, about the good news flowing from Bastyr, so that you may share in our successes. Consider the supplement an open house of sorts, to the university — a way to get to know us better.

Some of you reading this are already our students, patients, supporters and advocates, but more importantly, we consider each one of you friends, whether we’ve met or not. If you are ever in the neighborhood, we invite you to stop by our campus for a visit or a tour of our organic gardens. In the meantime, happy reading!

Daniel K. Church, Ph.D., is the president of Bastyr University.