Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and our many Friends,
This is the second Friday I’m writing this from home. I know that most of you are working from your homes as well. Following Governor Wolf’s mandate, our Elkins Park and clinical facilities remain closed until further notice. Our world-class faculty, IT staff and students have all pivoted to online teaching and learning as well as some labs, where appropriate.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we are committed to the continuation of our academic offerings for our students and the continuity of employment for our faculty and staff. Several students have understandably inquired about tuition and fee reimbursements. As we deliver on our commitments, we don’t believe there is any justification for refunds. While lectures and labs will be delivered in a different format, our academic offerings are continuing without interruption and without compromise of our standards. Students will continue to receive the expected value for their tuition and fees. If, for any reason, a student's course of study is delayed, the university will not charge additional tuition or fees as a result of such a delay. I want our students to realize that as a tuition driven institution, your tuition goes primarily to compensate the faculty that directly delivers your education and to the staff that supports their efforts. Just as Salus is committed to ensuring your education continues, we are similarly committed to making sure that our faculty and staff are compensated during this time so they care for themselves and their families. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your understanding as we move through this crisis together.
Since announcing that our commencement will be virtual, I have received several emails and surveys that articulate several of our students’ displeasure with the decision. We all are disappointed about this. As I note in this video, this decision was not taken lightly nor without a great deal of thought. We will do everything we can to make the virtual ceremony as memorable and special as we can. Given the likely duration of the pandemic and the logistics involved in planning commencement, we felt it would be irresponsible and unrealistic to plan on a face-to-face ceremony, either on or off campus. I take full responsibility for making this decision. If circumstances change, we will do everything in our power to make a face to face ceremony happen in May. Otherwise, those scheduled to graduate in May certainly have the option of participating in our Fall graduation in October. We’ve been asked about a summer commencement and frankly the logistics of making this happen are just not possible right now. Everything is on the table as conditions change. To put this in perspective, the Summer Olympics, which were scheduled in July, have been postponed until 2021 and all professional sports have been either cancelled or postponed. We’re not making these decisions in a vacuum, but basing them on good science and the projections of public health experts. To do otherwise would be irresponsible.
Let’s switch gears and talk about some of the things we do have some control over and have been happening in response to this emergency. The staff at the Hafter Center has been providing daily online offerings for exercise, which I hope many of you will take advantage of. One of the best de-stressors is exercise and now we can do it in the comfort of our homes, thanks to our Hafter fitness staff. We get daily emails with the links so keep on the lookout for them. If you’re not receiving these emails, let Dr. Caldwell know and he’ll pass that along. Also, members with the PTMinder app can reach out to the trainers on staff via the app or website for help with modifying workouts during this closure. If you are on Instagram, follow our fitness experts at @HafterCenter.
Our sincere congratulations to Dr. James Caldwell, OD, EdD, on the successful defense of his doctoral thesis. That EdD after his name is brand-spanking new! So now he’s Dr. Dr. Caldwell. Congratulations Jim! Due to the pandemic, Dr. Caldwell’s graduation has been cancelled, so he’ll be getting his diploma in the mail.
Speaking of congratulations, we were just informed that Kaylin Magosin (OT20) just found out that she was selected to receive the 2020 Alice Jantzen Memorial Scholarship from the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. That’s fantastic news!
As most of you have seen on the news, there’s a significant shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our hospital workers and first responders. Special thanks to Rick Echeverria, Head of Facilities, Carlos Rodriguez, Head of Security and members of our PA, Audiology and Research departments for making the extra effort to collect and ultimately help us donate excess gloves, masks and other PPE to the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center and Einstein Healthcare Network. Thank you to Marie Szolna, Lydia Parks and Jonette Owens for running around your departments and collecting all this stuff!
Finally, as we all live through what I consider to be a generationally defining public health emergency, I can’t help but think how lucky we all are to be part of the Salus family. While we may sometimes have our differences, I am strengthened by the fact that we are united in our commitment to each other, our mission and those we care for. As I’ve said before, we will all get through this. It will be difficult, it will take time, it will often be character building, but we will come out on the other end stronger, smarter and even more convinced we’ve chosen the right professions – those that are dedicated to the care of others. Is there a better way to live a life?
Stay safe, practice social and physical distancing of at least 6 feet, wash your hands often, stay at home and remain Salus Strong!
Mike
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