It's been a very busy couple of months as began the new Fall semester. In between the time I last blogged and this entry I've been to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Israel to learn more about our international programs and help to market the cutting edge educational products we provide globally. It was an inspiring (and tiring) trip.
We also have spent a great deal of time and effort, with many of your inputs, working on our strategic plan that will help to map the course of Salus University for the next 3-5 years. Last Thursday and Friday we hosted an "retreat" for members of our Strategic Planning Steering Committee as well as our academic Deans and other key university leaders (that includes students, faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees and administration). The key aspect of this planning cycle is to ensure we're moving forward as a University, not 4 separate colleges. Thus each strategic priority will address how Salus will move forward, supported by aligned goals and priorities developed for each college.
At the facilitated retreat we reviewed the results of the environmental scans and landscape team reports. From this information we developed an updated vision and mission statement for the University as well as formulated 4 overarching strategic priorities. While these are not yet finalized I can tell you that they clearly embrace the key issues that influence and affect how Salus will interact with our ever-changing healthcare system, our prospective students, alumni, faculty and staff. Many of these issues you brought to our attention during the scanning processes while others were articulated by some "thought leaders" in American healthcare who we sought out, to include the Acting Surgeon General of the U.S, RADM Boris Lushniak and Dr. Zeke Emanual, Director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and head of the Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Both experts had similar thoughts on how Salus and those professions we train, will play a key and essential role in the American healthcare landscape of the near and far future.
Everyone left the 2-day event extremely energized and excited about the prospects for operationalizing the new plan. Much work still needs to be done but I'm hopeful that within the next few weeks I'll be able to share some of the specifics with all of you. One decision we did make was to begin to work on some of the key issues that affect student and faculty morale/life immediately. To that end, you'll be seeing some working groups established that will address Universtiy policies that were identified that will give us some "quick splashy victories" moving forward.
Finally, as I reflect on my first year at the helm of Salus I can't begin to thank everyone for making Tanis and me feel welcome to our community. I realize I had big shoes to fill but with the help of many of you I believe we're making progress in building upon the wonderful legacy I've inherited.
Have a great week and keep those cards and letters coming!
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