Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,
Greetings from a rather warm and humid Elkins Park. We weathered Tropical Storm Isaias unscathed without even losing power, so that was good. Unfortunately, many around the greater Philadelphia region as well as others as far as North Carolina and New York lost power and suffered a good deal of damage from the storm. Our thoughts are with those who were adversely affected.
LABS, CONSTRUCTION, AND RECONFIGURATION: It’s been a busy week on campus, even with the storm. Our optometry, occupational therapy, physician assistant and blindness and low vision studies students have been busy in labs as well as joining their audiology and speech-language pathology colleagues in respective online classes. We’re also in the midst of construction of our Standardized Patient Simulation Lab, several new classrooms and have completed the reconfiguration our cafeteria, LRC, Hafter Center and other spaces so they’re ready for Fall semester. We’re even getting a large tent which will be located right outside the cafeteria so people can eat outside.
VIRTUAL ORIENTATION AND WHITE COAT CEREMONY: As the Summer Semester comes to a close, we are preparing to welcome our newest students to Salus in the coming weeks. Our online orientation program went “live” yesterday for all incoming students. The synchronous portion of the program, where Dr Eckert, myself and others will have guest appearances, will be on 18 August, followed by a non-traditional, virtual White Coat Ceremony on 20 August. While students won’t be receiving their white coats on the 20th, each program is planning a separate ceremony where they will have the opportunity to distribute them to students.
FALL COMMENCEMENT: I’ve made the very difficult decision that our Fall 2020 commencement will be held virtually. While this wasn’t what we had originally envisioned in the Spring, current conditions dictate that this is the only responsible course of action we can take. It’s important to note that no venue is accepting large groups into the foreseeable future and there still is a restrictive limit to the number of people who can congregate in one location. Also, many students who would graduate in the Fall would have to travel long distances to get here for the ceremony. That’s a risk we can’t ask people to take. The virtual format will allow all of our graduates to be honored and to celebrate their achievements with their families and friends, no matter their location or the then current state of the pandemic. As we did for the Spring commencement, we will include a student address, a keynote speaker, my message to graduating students, the reading of each graduate’s name and the oath of professionalism presented by Dr. Eckert. Commencement will be pre-recorded, to be premiered on October 13th, at 2:00PM. Graduates and their families and friends will have the opportunity to interact live with each other during the premiere using YouTube. Each graduate will receive their regalia, diploma and commencement programs through the mail. More details will follow as the date approaches. Once the pandemic is behind us, we plan to hold an in person event to honor all of our graduates who graduated virtually. That’s the very least we can do to celebrate your achievements and successes.
LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: Dr. Brandy Scombordi and several optometric staff have taken the Salus vision van out in Philadelphia several times in the past few weeks, most recently Aug. 6 to the Sayre Morris Hub, conducting vision exams in the various neighborhoods. Working with the Greater Philadelphia YMCA and the city, each week they block off a few city blocks for a “kids block party” and the team provides care for a few hours for children who have signed consent forms. Great job connecting Salus PCO and TEI with the community, Dr. Scombordi!
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