Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,
Greetings from a very busy Elkins Park campus where we’ve been lucky enough to skirt most of the winter weather – at least so far! I apologize for the length of this update but there’s lots to talk about!
I want to start this update by addressing an issue that we don’t talk enough about, but affects almost everything that we do – and that’s mental health. Those of us who were in the military were keenly aware of the stigma associated with service members who had mental health challenges and the necessity of eliminating that so people would feel free to seek help when they needed it. It’s still a problem, although it has gotten better. I suspect that this same stigma occurs in our world of academia. I think everyone at Salus realizes the extraordinary pressures that are on all of you to succeed. We’ve been having discussions about this with deans and program directors for a while and also discussed this with our Board of Trustees earlier this week. Everyone is very aware of the issue, and more importantly, wants to ensure we’re providing students, faculty and staff with all the tools you need to help address any challenges you might be having. To that end, we have a very robust counseling program on campus through our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD). Their office is located on the 3rd floor of the West building in Suite W-326. Counselors are available Monday-Friday and can be reached for appointments at 215-780-1315 or 215-780-1534. You may also email a counselor individually. It’s funny, stress manifests in many different ways for different people. So, if you feel like you need to or just want to talk to someone about some of the stressors in your life, please don’t hesitate to access our experts in CPPD.
Along the same lines, I just read a very insightful article about mental health in graduate schools that was in the Chronicle of Higher Education by Kathryn R. Wedemehyer-Strombel, a former graduate student at the University of Texas, that I would encourage you to read. It’s a short read and well worth the time. I know I’ve spent a good deal of time on this, but I feel it’s important to put this subject in the forefront. Our goal is for everyone to succeed and remain healthy in the process.
Around campus, at the quarterly meeting of our Board of Trustees on Monday, the Board approved our recommendation to move forward with the planning process to bring an Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program to Salus. For those of you who aren’t familiar with O&P, the profession is dedicated to the management and restoration of function and mobility to individuals who have experienced limb loss, loss of mobility or disability due to medical conditions or trauma. Unfortunately, there are over 2 million people in the U.S. who live with limb loss and with almost 20 million in the world. 20 million people in the U.S. require some type of orthotic management (think about that orthotic you wear in your shoes today) with 100’s of millions more globally. There is a huge demand for these specialists nationally and internationally, and there are only 13 programs in the country training them today. As we continue with our planning, we’ll keep everyone informed. This is truly an exciting time for us at Salus as we look to bring this new program into our already robust educational offerings.
At Monday’s Board meeting we also welcomed two new members, Joyce Koh, a seasoned corporate transactional attorney with solid experience and training as a large-firm associate as well as in-house senior legal counsel, and Carolyn Forcina, an expert in healthcare systems and currently the vice president of government relations and education at Pandion Optimization Alliance, have been elected to the Board.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee will be hosting a student mixer on Monday, Feb. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Toland Classroom at The Eye Institute. The mixer is an opportunity to meet students, faculty and staff along with DEI committee members to learn about getting involved and share ideas about how Salus can create a more inclusive environment. All are welcome.
There will be an opening reception for the Community Expressions 2020 art exhibit, featuring works from Salus University faculty, students, alumni, staff, spouses and significant others, at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Bennett Lounge of the Hafter Student Community Center. The exhibit will run from Feb. 4 through March 13. Here’s an article about last year’s exhibit: salus.edu/community-
By now, most of you are aware of the spread of a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which is believed to have originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and has since spread to other parts of the world. Currently there are several confirmed cases of nCoV in the U.S. although there are hundreds of confirmed cases and over 20 deaths worldwide currently attributed to this novel coronavirus. There have been no confirmed cases in our region, and there are ongoing investigations to learn more.
There is no vaccine for the nCoV. To protect yourself, the CDC guidance includes many of the same recommendations to prevent infection with other respiratory viruses, i.e. influenza. They include:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
- Staying home or in your dormitory room when you are sick.
- Covering your cough or sneezing into a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash.
- Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Students, faculty and staff considering international travel should review the up-to-date recommendations available on the CDC website.
Finally, it’s Super Bowl weekend! So, if you’re an Andy Reid fan, I assume you’ll be rooting for the Chiefs; if not, the 49er’s are looking pretty good. Either way, enjoy the game! Be safe, have some fun and look out for one another. Have a great weekend!
Mike
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