Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,
Good morning from a chilly, but energized Elkins Park Campus. We’ve been a beehive of activity with both virtual and some in-person classes, clinical labs and providing direct patient care in all of our busy clinical settings. It’s been quite a week! Here are some of the things we have to be proud of looking back as well things we’re looking forward to next week:
SALUS PROUD: President Joe Biden has nominated Dr. Rachel Levine to be Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Levine, the current Secretary of Health for Pennsylvania, who received an honorary doctorate from Salus University and was a commencement speaker in 2017, could be the first openly transgender federal official to win Senate confirmation. Congratulations to Dr. Levine for this prestigious nomination.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s “Where Are They Now” features In-Ae “Grace” Choi, OD ‘18, an optometrist at Northern New Jersey Eye Institute (NNJEI) in South Orange, New Jersey. Find out which two Salus alumni proved to be role models for Dr. Choi as she started her career. To read more, go to salus.edu/GraceChoi.
NAVY COMMISSION: I was honored to commission Ryan Martzall, MMS ‘20, recently into the United States Navy. It ended up being a memorable day for Ryan and for all of us. Read more about the ceremony at salus.edu/MartzallCommissioned.
A DAY IN THE LIFE: Find out what a day in the life of second-year Audiology student Renee Kochinski, ‘23AUD, looks like. It’s both busy and productive. To read more, click here.
QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING: On Monday, we’ll be hosting the 3rd virtual meeting of the Salus Board of Trustees. Normally held on campus, but they’ve had to pivot due to the pandemic, like the rest of us. Our very active and engaged Board is comprised of all volunteer members from varied backgrounds and specialties. We sincerely thank all of them for their support of Salus!
FINAL THOUGHTS: As we all reflect on the last couple of weeks, I believe, no matter what your political or philosophical leanings are, we would all agree how historically significant they were. What was most germane to me is that the culmination of the events leading up to yesterday was the peaceful transfer of power centered around the theme of National Unity that should bring to all of us feelings of hope, self-reflection and a renewed commitment to keep an open mind and embrace the truth. Democracy prevailed. Additionally, history was made with the swearing in of our first female, first black and first Asian-American vice-president, Kamala Harris.
While we won’t agree on everything the new administration brings to the table, we do know that deploying a strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the health of our citizens and of our planet and actively addressing racial and social injustice are key priorities. These are all essential steps toward moving our country forward, “to form a more perfect Union". As healthcare professionals, these initiatives should excite us, as they will enable us to better serve those under our care.
Finally, Amanda Gorman, the country’s first youth poet laureate eloquently challenges and encourages all of us through her words during yesterday’s ceremony that I would hope you all listen to here.
Have a great weekend – be safe, keep wearing your face mask when around others, continue to socially distance and wash your hand frequently. Above all, remain SALUS STRONG!
Mike
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