Busy Summer at Salus: Week of June 30th

Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board members and Friends,

It’s amazing how quickly summer is upon us.  It wasn’t too long ago that we were complaining how cold it was in the morning. Well, this morning it felt a bit different and this weekend promises to remind everyone that summer has arrived in the northeast, with temperatures predicted to hit 90 degrees throughout the weekend. Not allowing the weather to slow us down, activities at Salus remain high.  Many of our programs meet and work throughout the summer months, which help create a vibrant, energetic campus environment throughout the year.  

This week we hosted several prospective students who are exploring whether or not they want to pursue audiology as a career. During their visit to campus these prospective students were exposed to our clinical facilities, classrooms and had the opportunity to meet and talk with both current students and faculty. They left here with a pretty good sense of the profession but also of the Salus community.   

Later today we will pause and briefly celebrate the careers of three of our colleagues who are preparing to retire from Salus and begin their next adventures. Dr. Larry McClure, Dr. Charles Wormington and Mr. Alex Anderson, who together have a combined service of almost 80 years working at the University. They will be heading off to do more great things with their lives - we wish them well!

For those of you who have been on campus these past few weeks, you probably noticed several students being led around stairwells, hallways and parking lots with their eyes covered using white canes to ensure they didn’t bump into walls or other obstacles. These folks have been part of our Department of Blind and Low Vision Studies immersive Orientation and Mobility training program. We conduct these types of classes every summer for individuals who will ultimately work with visually disabled people. I can’t think of a better way to understand how your patient feels than to experience what they are going through personally. Thanks to Dr. Perla and her staff for ensuring this unique program remains one of the top in the country. 

Finally, work at The Eye Institute is pretty much complete. The new parking lot will be open next week, if weather  permits lines can be painted this weekend.  The landscaping so far looks fantastic, with more to come, which will include trees, grass and picnic tables.  Both the outside of the building looks fantastic and so does the new signage.  

As we approach what for some will be a long Fourth of July weekend, I want to encourage everyone to take a moment or two to reflect on what this holiday represents - the founding of our great nation, the freedoms and principles under which we were established and those who have sacrificed much to ensure we all continue to enjoy those freedoms we very much take for granted today.  Be safe, have fun, come back recharged and ready to take on new challenges next week.

Mike