Recognizing Achievements: Week of June 12th, 2020

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

Good morning! It’s going to be a beautiful day around here today! We’re starting to see some more folks around campus, as some programs begin limited clinical lab training, although the majority of programs won’t return to labs and clinics until the last week in June. 

While we’re very disappointed about having to cancel the Salus Awards Gala (SAG) this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re still recognizing the achievements of this year’s recipients. You can read more about our faculty and staff making who have been honored here.

   

Congratulations to Brandi Burns, MMS ’16, PA-C, who has been named the Physician Assistant Alumna of the Year by our Alumni Association. Read more about Brandi’s numerous accomplishments here.

Sheri Hoffert ‘20O&M, a student in the Blindness and Low Vision Studies program, has shown that she can be quick on her feet during the pandemic. Read more about how Sheri had gone above and beyond for her visually impaired students here.  

Congratulations to Salus alum Caroline Pate, OD ‘04, FAAO, for being named the American Optometric Association (AOA) 2020 “Educator of the Year.” Read more about Dr. Pate here.

A reminder that today’s Grand Rounds lecture, entitled “Personal Equipment in the Clinical Setting” starts at 8 a.m. For more information about the program, click here.

“The Ins and Outs of Strabismus Management in a Primary Care Optometric Practice” will be offered as a synchronous interactive distance learning program from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. For more information about the program, click here. 

Congratulations to Dr. Janet Scharre, our former Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, for receiving the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition is so well deserved!

The funeral of George Floyd was held in Houston, Texas earlier this week. His death has amplified the frustration, pain and constant fear so many of our fellow Black Americans live with every day; day in and day out. As an institution, Salus University stands in solidarity with the Black community and all communities of color. We are committed to being diligent to actively listen to, learn from, and support each other. As healthcare providers, we are committed to actively addressing disparities in access to quality healthcare that are based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

The Salus Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee is actively working with students, faculty and staff to help build awareness, by providing resources for all of us to learn. You can access these resources online here.

Finally, it looks like it’s going to be a nice weekend. Please don’t forget we’re still in the middle of a global pandemic.  While I encourage you to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and get some exercise, please continue to practice your social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a face mask when you are inside any building or around people outside. 

Be safe, respect one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike