Remembering Memorial Day & Honoring Our Salus Graduates: Week of May 28th, 2021

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

It’s been quite a week at Salus! This was a week of celebration and acknowledgement of the hard-earned accomplishments of all of our graduates. I’d like to congratulate all of them. I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Dr. Jim Caldwell, Ms. Shannon Boss, Ms. Alexis Abate, Mr. Rick Echevarria, Mr. Carlos Rodriguez, and their staffs for taking the lead on our drive-in and virtual commencement ceremonies, ensuring every detail was covered.

Commencement week began with our Graduate Recognition in-person drive-in ceremonies Tuesday and Wednesday, May 25-26, followed by our virtual ceremony Thursday. You can view the Graduate Recognition ceremony on our website here. It was so much fun to meet and greet graduates and their families as they drove up to our stage to receive their diplomas. While it was a bit warm on Wednesday, I don’t believe anyone missed a beat as we celebrated with our grads! The virtual ceremony, which is also on our website, featured two outstanding honorees, our keynote speaker, Congresswomen Madeleine Dean and our honorary degree recipient, Mr. Robert Horne. We also heard from our student representative, Dr. Gina Roslynn Lerner (AuD,21), who observed how prepared all of her classmates will be to take on today’s challenging healthcare environment due to the fact that they trained during a global pandemic. All of our speakers had extremely thoughtful and insightful messages for everyone. You can read more about some of the graduates we’ve highlighted on our website:

— Tessa Ives OD '21 had decided to become an optometrist while growing up watching her father, Paul Ives, OD ‘83, who influenced her career choice. Read more about the Ives family legacy at salus.edu/IvesFamily, which started with Louis Ives, OD ‘43, who entered what was then called the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry (PSCO) in 1939.

— Gabrielle Murphey OD '21 always knew she wanted to join the military. She graduated this week with her Doctor of Optometry degree and upon graduation — as a recipient of The F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) — Murphey will be promoted to the rank of captain and assigned to active duty in the United States Army. Read more about her journey here.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JO SURPIN: This week, during the quarterly meeting of our Board of Trustees, the Board recognized the outstanding service of our Board Chair, Ms. Jo Surpin, who will be turning over the reins of the Salus Board to Ms. Rebecca Delia this July. During Thursday’s Board meeting, Jo received a Resolution of Commendation noting that "she was voted on to the Board of Trustees in January 1995 and has conscientiously and diligently served the University for over 26 years". During her tenure on the Board, Ms. Surpin has been a member and actively participated in various board committees, holding the positions of First Vice Chair, Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee, and member of The Eye Institute committee. Notably, Jo was the first female in the institution’s history to hold the position of Chair, a position she ascended to in 2007. Happily, Jo will remain on the board, continuing to serve Salus following her turnover in July.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach Memorial Day, I think it’s important to remember that throughout our history, starting with the American Revolution, through the horrible devastation of the Civil War, through World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and today those still in Afghanistan and other places, more than a million American Servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice to help secure the blessings of liberty for our country and our allies globally.

I ask you all to pause and remember those who gave their last measure of full devotion so we could enjoy ceremonies like we did this week and all those other freedoms our democracy enables. Memorial Day is not just about sales and a long weekend. With our fast and busy lifestyles, many traditions have been lost over the years that help to remind us of this truly important Day of Remembrance. Originally established in 1868, Memorial Day serves as a day to remember those that died while serving our nation. To that end, please take a moment to remember those brave and honorable women and men who gave their lives so we all could be free and if you know a person serving on Active Duty or is a Veteran, please thank them for their service.

Have a great weekend. Stay safe, keep up your social distancing and if you’re not already vaccinated, take the time to get that done now!

Be safe, have fun, get some rest and remain SALUS STRONG! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES!

Mike

Celebrating Our Graduates: Week of May 21st, 2021

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

Greetings from a very summery Elkins Park campus. I can’t believe it was almost 90 degrees here yesterday and will be that warm today through the weekend! While the campus has been relatively quiet, we’ve had students in labs and clinics busy practicing their professional skills. In addition to this, we’ve been preparing for what will be a week-long celebration of our graduating class of 2021 next week.

NEXT WEEK’S COMMENCEMENT: We’ve got a great deal planned between the two-day in-person event May 25-26 and the livestream ceremony May 27 for the Class of 2021. In the lead-up to commencement week, we’ve featured some of our grads and their unique stories on our website, including:

—The incredible challenge that Sigalit “Sigi” Davidov ‘21OD undertook to get her degree. She was the mother of three children under five years old when she started at PCO/Salus and now she’s made it to graduation day. Read more about her journey here.

— Although it took longer than he expected because the pandemic interrupted his academic path with a “real kick in the gut,” Doug Gilbert ‘21O&M stayed the course and will graduate. Read more about Doug’s challenges and persistence here.

— What an example of endurance and strength shown by Anastasia “Annie” Goerl ‘21OD, who has maintained her studies while battling adenocarcinoma of the lung. I talk a lot about “Salus Strong,” and Annie personifies that! Read more about her journey to graduation here.

— Earning a doctorate degree is a big accomplishment, but sharing that milestone with a family member makes it feel even sweeter. After spending years forging their own separate paths, sisters Sonia Panchal ‘21OD and Maya Panchal ‘21OD, came back together at PCO/Salus and will graduate next week. Read more here.

MOVING TOWARD NORMALCY: We recently released plans for upcoming semesters, signaling a more traditional fall semester with in-person learning, labs and clinical facilities for all programs more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic drove faculty and students to online teaching and learning. As with everything associated with the pandemic, these plans are subject to change depending upon local infection rates and federal and local guidance. To read more, click here.

MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITATION: This week, we highlight Standard II - Ethics & Integrity. Our working group is led by Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR/L, MEd, Assistant Professor and Chair, Occupational Therapy Department, College of Education and Rehabilitation, who is joined by Thomas Beeman, PhD, Board of Trustees Member, Lindsay Bondurant, PhD, CCC-A, Assistant Professor, Osborne College of Audiology; Director, Pennsylvania Ear Institute, Stanley Hatch, OD, MPH, FAAO, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Chief, Pediatric/Binocular Vision Services, Candida Mulligan, Officer, Office of Admissions, and Maria Parisi, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Optometric Clinical Affairs & Associate Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Together they are documenting our commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity and our core values of responsibility, collaboration, innovation and growth and sustainability.

WEEKEND FITNESS: The fitness staff at the Hafter Center wants everyone to know that the University will be returning to having weekend hours starting June 5 and June 6. The weekend fitness hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fitness blocks will be set up in the PT Fitworks app. Remember, you need to be fully vaccinated if you’re going to use the fitness center. 

VACCINATION UPDATE: For those who received their first vaccination dose at the Hafter Center on April 28, the second dose will be administered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, at the Hafter Center. Please remember to bring your vaccine card.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we prepare to launch another group of Salus graduates next week, I want to congratulate all of you and all those who supported you during your time with us. No one could have foreseen the events that unfolded in 2020 as you’ve worked to complete your degrees. Between the worldwide pandemic, social unrest and a polarizing national election, you are leaving Salus during unprecedented times. The one thing that you have that will help you to navigate all of these challenges is the fact that your education has prepared you well to enter into your given professions. Given the challenges you’ve successfully overcome this last year, no matter what you face, you are ready to take on the world!

As I noted earlier, we’ve got a great deal planned for next week, starting with the two-day drive-up ceremonies on May 25-26, culminating with the virtual commencement ceremony that will preview at 2:00 p.m. on May 27th. I’ll also be going on Instagram Live at 9:30 a.m. to chat with you one last time, “in person” on the 27th. All you need to do is go to the Salus Instagram site and you should be able to access it.

I am so proud of all of you and I know that your faculty all feel the same way. You’ve all embarked on extremely exciting and rewarding careers. Your ability to help people improve their lives is a real gift; one that needs to be cherished, honed and continually nurtured. It’s our hope and expectation that you take full advantage of all that you’ve learned during your time at Salus and apply those skills with the utmost care and sensitivity to those patients and clients you will care for.

As you prepare to leave us, please remember that Salus will always be your academic home. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any one of us throughout your professional journeys. We’ll all be there to help you continue to succeed.

Finally, if you haven’t already gotten your COVID-19 vaccine, please get that done as soon as possible. You will be the “local experts” once you leave here and you need to continue to set the example in practicing good public health measures.

 Congratulations on a job exceptionally well done – You are SALUS STRONG and we are SALUS PROUD of your accomplishments! Please stay hydrated if you’re out in the heat and continue to follow CDC and local guidelines as you enjoy the weekend.

Mike

New CDC Guidelines on Masks and Social Distancing: Week of May 14th, 2021

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

Good morning from a very sunny and nice Elkins Park campus. It’s been an extremely quiet week around campus as we are between semesters. While student and faculty have been getting some much needed rest, other activities have been taking place. Late yesterday, the CDC changed their guidelines regarding the wearing of face masks for fully vaccinated people. I address this in my “Final Thoughts” below.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH: It's Mental Health Month and I can't think of a better time to discuss the hardships our students have faced throughout the course of the pandemic. For more than a year, we've all been handling an added dose of stress from the unrelenting nature of the situation. Click here to read about how Robert O’Brien, MS, ATR, LCP, a counselor in the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), and his fellow counselors have continued to help students weather tumultuous times combined with the challenges of graduate school.

MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION: One of our newest student organizations is the Salam Salus Muslim Student Association and I had the personal opportunity to address students face-to-face again, something I sincerely miss and enjoy. I hope the group's first meeting that was held in-person April 30 was the curtain opener to more on-campus student events as COVID-19 health guidelines begin to loosen and capacity limits increase throughout the state. Read more about our gathering, where we were masked and socially-distanced, here.

SPRING COMMENCEMENT: Speaking of student events, the Class of 2021 will also experience a memorable Commencement. The University's 122nd Commencement will be a hybrid celebration, including both in-person Graduate Recognition Events on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26 as well as a University-wide virtual Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 27 at 2 p.m. The in-person recognition events are college-based and times vary. You can access the full schedule of events, FAQs and the livestreams at salus.edu/virtualcommencement. Read about our keynote speaker Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and our honorary degree recipient Robert E. Horne, who retired as vice president and dean of Student Affairs at Salus in 2012. Dean Horne will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during virtual Commencement.

ONGOING PODCAST SERIES: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus, as he speaks with the clinical education director and four current students about their collaboration with the ReMed Brain Injury Group at the University's Speech-Language Institute. Click here to listen.

RESIDENTS DAYS: Looking ahead, Dr. Shital Mani, director of the Off-Campus Residency Program and Dr. Bhawan Minhas, director of the On-Campus Residency Program, will host the sixth annual Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus Residents Days next week on Thursday, May 20. Lectures will cover a wide range of topics including glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmic conditions, anterior segment, posterior segment, low vision, contact lens, peri-operative care, pediatrics, vision therapy and traumatic brain injury. The event will be livestreamed and you can sign up here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Many of you have likely seen the new CDC guidelines published yesterday that were quickly adopted by Pennsylvania. Based on real-world, scientific studies, the new guidance states that fully vaccinated individuals (14 days after receiving their last dose) can “resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” This is great news and yet another reason to get your vaccination, if you already haven’t. It also suggests that we have turned a corner on the pandemic.

Accordingly, we are amending the Salus Safety Strategy to follow CDC’s updated guidance and provide that all people on the Elkins Park campus WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED will no longer be required to wear a facemask or physically distance. Vaccination status will be measured according to the self reporting system. We will rely largely on your personal ethics, but will also conduct spot checks to ensure everyone complies. If anyone not wearing a mask has not self-reported being vaccinated, we will consider this a 1st violation and that person will receive a warning. A 2nd violation will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal/termination. Face masks and physical distancing will still be required in all of our clinical areas. To view the new CDC guidelines, click here.

It’s also important to note that it is perfectly acceptable for people to wear their facemask, even if they are fully vaccinated. Please do what is within your comfort zone, understanding that for some it will take time to adapt to yet another new normal, which is perfectly okay.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you will still be required to wear a face mask and physically distance on the Elkins Park campus. I encourage you to talk to friends and other trusted information sources that can address any concerns you may have about getting vaccinated so you will feel more comfortable getting that extremely important jab.

This change is what everyone has been hoping for - so please, if you’re not yet vaccinated, take the initiative to get it done.

As you prepare for what looks like a very nice weekend, please continue to wear your face mask indoors if you are not vaccinated, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Also, as you go out and about, it appears several businesses will still require masks to be worn inside, whether you're fully vaccinated or not. So, please be sure to adhere to local rules. 

Be safe, stay smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Update Addendum: Week of May 8th, 2021

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

Good morning. I’m hoping everyone had a chance to read yesterday’s special message addressing the importance of getting vaccinated. If not, please take the time to do that. In the meantime, here are some of the other great things that are happening around our Salus Community. To all you moms out there – I hope you all have a restful and fun Mother’s Day tomorrow!

LOFK FUNDRAISER: Our 14th annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser — this year a combination live and virtual event — held May 1 was a tremendous success raising more than $170,000. The fundraiser’s specific focus this year was on the University’s Mobile Healthcare Unit, affectionately known as the “Big Red Bus”. The unit is in critical need of being replaced and the event helped to make that a reality. A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to this important community initiative and to the staff who organized the fundraiser. You can read more about it and even view a recording of the event here.

MSCHE: This week, we highlight Standard I - Mission and Goals. Our working group is led by Melissa Trego, OD, PhD, Associate Professor and Dean, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, who is joined by Daniel Pavlik, MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, Associate Professor and Interim Program Director, Physician Assistant Program, College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology Program, College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, and Elizabeth Sedunov, AuD, Assistant Professor, Osborne College of Audiology. Together they are documenting how our mission of advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services is at the center of everything we do here at Salus. 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS: The recipients of the 2021 Salus University Alumni Association awards have been announced. The Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. Awardees are nominated by alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Salus. Once again, this year’s winners are an extremely talented and dedicated group of professionals. Find out who the winners are by clicking here.

A SERIES OF FIRSTS FOR DICE: A group of international students are a step closer to realizing their dreams of becoming optometrists who will be able to practice in the United States after having spent a week on campus recently. For the first time, the University is utilizing a hybrid online and face-to-face delivery model for the MSc in Clinical Optometry, with an Advanced Studies certificate degree program. Salus has been working with the students since the summer of 2020 by conducting online informational webinars that then expanded into online coursework beginning in January 2021. You can read more about their experience here.

AAPI HERITAGE MONTH: May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month), celebrating the wide range of cultures, history, accomplishments and contributions of the AAPI community. AAPI Heritage Month began as a week in 1978, under President Jimmy Carter and was extended and fully designated to the full month of May in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush. May is significant to the AAPI community for two reasons. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. More than 20 years later, on May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed, largely due to the project's more than 20,000 Chinese workers.

NATIONAL BIKE MONTH: May is also National Bike Month. Biking is a fantastic way to exercise and has many health benefits. You can celebrate this month by biking to class, work, events, or going to the Hafter Student Community Center and hopping on one of the stationary bikes there. For more information about Bike Month and the health benefits of biking, check out this website from the League of American Bicyclists. 

EXPANSION AWARENESS: One of our current tenants will be expanding their office space on the second floor of the Elkins Park 8380 building. This will include the vacant space and University's conference room suite N2500. This work is scheduled to start the week of May 10, 2021. While the demolition and “noisy” work will be completed before and after hours, any construction creates some noise and inconvenience. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding. Please contact the facilities department at facilities@salus.edu with any questions, concerns and/or comments.

Mike

The Responsibility to Get Vaccinated: Week of May 7th, 2021

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

Good morning from sunny Elkins Park! While our campus has been relatively quiet this week as several programs are taking some much-deserved time off, our clinics have remained open and virtual teaching and learning have continued. Today, I decided to dedicate today’s update to the importance of getting vaccinated.

THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET VACCINATED: Last week I discussed the issue of vaccine hesitancy and how we all had the responsibility to ensure our friends and colleagues had the information they needed to make an informed decision about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. I also included links to scientific articles for you to reference. Today, I want to discuss your commitment to getting vaccinated.

This week I want to concentrate on why we all need to get vaccinated. While several larger institutions in our region and around the country have made the difficult decision of making the vaccine mandatory, we have currently chosen to rely on your professional judgement to get vaccinated. As you’ve heard me say frequently, as healthcare professionals, we gave an obligation to set the example for others by being vaccinated. Not only is it our responsibility, but being vaccinated also helps to ensure we are protecting the health and safely of those we care for and work closely with.

To help incentivize everyone, you must be vaccinated in order to participate in university-sponsored travel or extracurricular gatherings and events and to use the fitness center. As your individual programs have previously communicated, most clinical sites will require you to be vaccinated prior to your rotations. Please don’t put your academic futures at risk by not meeting that requirement. To be clear - unless someone has a valid medical or religious reason not to be vaccinated, it is my expectation that everyone on this campus gets vaccinated.

We have a solemn responsibility to our patients, clients, colleagues and others we work, as well as our family and loved ones, to ensure we do everything we can to help keep them healthy and safe and avoid spreading the virus. Vaccines are plentiful now, so if you haven’t been vaccinated, please take the time this weekend to find a site where you can get your jab. It’s the right thing to do – and the only way we’re going to minimize the spread of variants, end this pandemic and get back to normal. For those of you already vaccinated, thank you!

Once you are vaccinated, please fill out the Salus Vaccine Survey here so we know how many of us have received their vaccine.

Have a good weekend. Be safe, continue to wear your face mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Don’t forget to apply the “2 out of 3 rule” for outside activities:

• Outdoors + Distanced = No Mask Needed
• Outdoors + No Distance = Mask Needed
• Not Outdoors + Distanced = Mask Needed

Do the right thing and stay SALUS STRONG!

Mike