Addressing Climate Change Now: Week of September 24th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where it’s really starting to feel a little like Fall! It’s been another busy week on campus. Please check out some of the other important activities and things going on around campus:

AWARDS CEREMONY: A ceremony honoring our Presidential Medal of Honor and our Alumni Association awardees will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19118. The Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon those who have made contributions to their profession and for their service to the University. Additionally, we will be acknowledging the outstanding service of our former Board Chair, Jo Surpin.

RACP GRANT: Sen. Arthur L. Haywood, III, along with Pennsylvania state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, were on campus recently to announce a awarding of a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant that will be used primarily for University’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program. Read more about that here.

O&P DIRECTOR: Please join me in welcoming Dr. Chad Duncan to the Salus family. Chad comes to us by way of Northwestern University, where he was the director of the nation’s oldest O&P program. We’re excited to have Chad take the helm of our newest program!

CONTACT LENS SCHOLARSHIP: I. William Collins, OD ‘47, recently established the I. William Collins OD, FAAO, Contact Lens Science Award, a scholarship that will be awarded to two PCO/Salus students. The award is designed for students who rotated through the Contact Lens track and showed exceptional case management skills, which includes the clinical examination, design, fitting and troubleshooting of specialty contact lenses. Read more about Dr. Collins’ generous gift here.

CLASS OF 2022 RESIDENT: Welcome to Alethia Love Harris, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, one of the current class of residents. It just so happened that The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was the first place on the grad school interview list for Dr. Love. She enjoyed that interview and was so impressed with what she saw and experienced that she canceled all the other interviews and decided on PCO/Salus from the get-go. Read more about Dr. Love here. 

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: This week’s Students at Leisure (SAL) features Olivia Burger ‘22 OD, whose interest in becoming an optometrist was first piqued in the seventh grade. But by the time she got to PCO/Salus, she found that her love of concert photography was continuing to grow. Read more about Olivia’s passion for both optometry and photography here.

HISPANTIC HERTITAGE MONTH: Throughout the month we will be highlighting faculty and alumni on social media for Hispanic Heritage Month. This week, Dr. Fabiana Perla is featured, so check it out on our social media feeds!

SALUS SCOOP RETURNS: The Salus Scoop, held to give first-year students an opportunity to learn more about the University’s clubs and organizations and how they can become more involved, was curtailed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it returned this year and drew a big crowd to the Hafter Center. Read more about the event here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I read and listened to the news this week I couldn’t help but think it’s time we started to talk about climate change and how that might affect all those we care for, no matter what profession we are in. I think the storms that we recently experienced are a sign that things have changed and will continue to challenge all of us. From a public health perspective, climate change will directly affect disease vectors globally - many diseases that may have historically been endemic in tropical or sub-tropical regions will begin to migrate to our part of the world - this is already happening. As the climate gets warmer, mosquitos and other insects that carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and others will begin to follow the warmer weather further north, in our case and further south below the equator. That will present a whole host of often debilitating and devastating diseases to our region that we only saw when on humanitarian missions or in text books. It will be essential that as a teaching and learning institution we begin to include these diseases in our differential diagnosis when evaluating patients who present with symptoms we normally would not link with those diseases.

We also need to be advocating for reducing carbon signatures to help slow man-made climate change. While we don’t think we can make a difference, I would argue that every little thing we can do helps. Not driving to do an errand or even replacing your incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can help. Obviously, it’s going to take greater muscle movements such as moving toward more renewable energy sources and perfecting electric vehicles, but every little bit helps. As Congress and local municipalities begin to grapple with these issues, I ask that you advocate for clean, low-carbon energy alternatives with your local legislators. Our fragile planet is at a tipping point and if we don’t actively and aggressively address climate change now, the migration of mosquitos and other insects are the least of the problems we will have to face. If you want to learn more about disease and climate change, here’s a link to a good article published by Stanford University’s Institute for the Environment.

As you prepare for the weekend, please think about what you can do individually to reduce your carbon footprint. While you’re doing that, try to get out and enjoy the nice weather that’s predicted. As you go about your activities, please remember to wear a face mask when around others, socially distance when you can and continue to wash your hands frequently! Please continue to look out for one another, be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself: Week of September 17th, 2021

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

Good morning! It’s been another busy week on campus and in our clinics! The weather has even cooperated as it’s getting cooler again! In addition to our normal campus activities, here are some other things that I hope will be of interest to you:

PAYING IT FORWARD: Kathy Foltner, AuD ‘02, knows firsthand the value of scholarships. Now, Dr. Foltner is eager to ease the financial burden for future Salus University audiologists through an endowed scholarship for students in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). Read more about Dr. Foltner’s generous gift here.

FACULTY FOCUS: Korey Patrizi, OD, Resident ‘21, joined the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University faculty in July 2021. Read more about Dr. Patrizi’s desire to find and fit in with her “people” and the feeling of comfort she experienced during the interview process at PCO/Salus here. 

MSCHE SELF-STUDY: Thanks to the hard work of many of our faculty, staff and Board members, our MSCHE self-study has been submitted. The final copy will be posted on Blackboard if any members of our University community would like to see all the processes, procedures and policies that are involved in running our university in accordance with accreditation standards.

RANDOM COVID TESTING: If you have been selected to be tested this week, you will have received an email asking you to pick up your home testing kit from security at either Elkins Park or TEI, depending upon where you are assigned. Please ensure you remember to do that!

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Her first love is optometry, but Olivia Burger ‘22OD has discovered that while healthcare providers are passionate about the fields of healthcare in which they practice, they can also have passion for other activities. In Olivia’s case, it’s concert photography. Click here to find out how she got interested in photography and what famous artists she’s photographed, all while pursuing her dream to become an optometrist.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: This week marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month — Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 — where we celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from the Americas (North, Central and South), the Caribbean and Spain. There are lots of ways to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month, whether it’s engaging with books, films, documentaries or live programming related to Hispanics and Latinos and their history in the United States. At Salus, we are choosing to highlight a few of our Hispanic/Latino alumni. The offices of DEI, Communications and Institutional Advancement are collaborating to feature some of our alums during this month. Keep an eye on the University's social media outlets for the Hispanic Alumni Highlight campaign in the coming weeks. 

MEET THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: While filming The College Tour segment focused on Career Flexibility, Jaqueline Wiafe ‘24AUD was a first-year Doctor of Audiology student. During her time on camera, she educated the audience about the various career settings and the flexibility achieving a degree from Salus University affords its graduates. To read more about Jaqueline’s experience, click here.

SLP PODCAST SERIES: The latest in our podcast series is titled “SLP Q&A: From Externship to Clinical Fellowship, Part 1,” featuring Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, as he speaks with externship supervisor Joanna Smith and one of our recent graduates, Rebecca Ritsick, MMS ‘21. Click here for the podcast.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Optometric Grand Rounds will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Dr. Kelly Malloy will speak on “Getting to the Heart of the Matter.” For more information about that, click here. Audiology Grand Rounds will be held today at noon. Taylor Fisher and Sarah Gallagher (AUD 23) will be presenting Hyperacusis and Other Symptoms after a Traumatic Brain Injury. Click here to listen in.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I know all of you are getting into your normal routines by now. I want to take a few moments to once again remind you about the importance of taking care of yourselves - not just physically, but also mentally. Getting out for some exercise, eating healthy foods and just taking “brain breaks” every once in a while can be helpful tools to relieve stress and just allow you become more effective learners. It’s not lost on any of us that we’re still in the midst of the pandemic, which just adds another layer of stress to everyone in the University community. If you feel like you would like to talk with someone about ways to relieve some of that stress I highly encourage you to seek out our fantastic behavior health counselors in the Center for Personal and Professional Development. You can begin the appointment process here. It’s not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of great self-awareness to reach out. Similarly, for faculty and staff, Human Resources can help you contact similar expertise if you desire. 

As we approach the weekend, please be cognizant of the fact that what you do off campus can affect all of us on campus. Please wear your face mask when around others not in your normal social network; certainly, when you go to the grocery store and other places where the large numbers of people can congregate and try to restrict your dining out to outdoor venues. Have a great weekend - be safe, be smart, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Remembering 9/11: Week of September 10th, 2021

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

Good morning on a beautiful day from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been another busy week on campus with our classes, labs and clinics all going strong. 20 years ago tomorrow, it was also a beautiful day when terrorists attacked our country. Tomorrow we remember this heinous event. Following is information that I thought you’d want to know: 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF HONOR: Congratulations to the 2021 Presidential Medal of Honor Awardees! As you know, the Presidential Medal of Honor is bestowed upon those who have made contributions to their professions and for their service to Salus University. Check out the biographies on this year’s winners and look for extended feature stories on each of them in the future on our website. Click here for more information. 

RESIDENT CLASS FEATURE: This week’s Resident Class of 2022 features Natalie Rackus, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident. She only applied to PCO/Salus for her residency because she knew that the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center was a world-class place to learn. Read more about Dr. Rackus here. 

DEEP DIVE INTO OT: Check out our latest podcast, which features Melissa Cinciruk, associate director of Admissions at Salus University, as she talks about the Occupational Therapy (OT) program as well as tips and tricks for application. Click here for details.

RANDOM COVID TESTING: As most of you have already been notified, we will begin our random COVID testing program next week. This initial phase will extend until the end of the fall 2021 semester. Please be on the lookout for emails that will be sent out each week to determine if you’ve been selected to be tested.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR: A very Happy and Healthy New Year to all of our Jewish community and friends who celebrated Rosh Hashanah earlier this week and will observe Yom Kippur late next week.

STARS OF ‘THE COLLEGE TOUR’: We’re featuring a closer look at some of the “stars” of our recent episode of “The College Tour.” In this edition, get to know Zachary LaBarth ‘23AUD and Sierra Niesen ‘24AUD, how they got to Salus and how their careers have been advancing. Click here for more. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Flags will be at half-staff and there will be a country-wide moment of silence at 8:46 am, which is when the first plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers.

September 11th is designated as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities as a tribute to the individuals who were lost or injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have been called to service to defend our freedom. It is my hope that 9/11 can also present an opportunity for all Americans to come together in unity. Even with all of our differences, we were united in our pain and humanity regarding loss of life, injury, and way of being. And just like we rebuilt the World Trade Center and Pentagon, it’s time to ‘rebuild’ what it should mean to be an American; united in cause, intolerant of racial injustice, sexual and gender inequality and dedicated to the betterment of society. It’s what we should strive to do as healthcare providers. Most of us can remember exactly where we were when the first jet hit the World Trade Center, with that moment engrained in our memories for the rest of our lives, which changed from that point forward. I ask each of you to reflect upon what this day means to you and how you are going to embrace what’s best about our democracy to help make other’s lives better.

Please, also keep those who have been affected by the recent storms, fires out west, political and social unrest around the world in your thoughts and prayers. Do, however, enjoy the weekend. The weather is supposed to be perfect. Please remember to socially distance, wear your face mask when around others and wash your hands frequently, as what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be responsible, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Rebounding After the Storm & Labor Day Weekend: Week of September 3rd, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where we were very lucky in that we did not sustain any damage from the storms Wednesday evening. We know that several of our students, faculty and staff members were directly affected by the storms and want them to know that we are here to help and will continue to stand by to assist as needed. Students may contact either Dr. Jim Caldwell in Student Affairs (jcaldwell@salus.edu) or CPPD (see below) if they need assistance, and faculty and staff should contact their dean, program director or Human Resources. I know I speak for everyone when I say thank you for your flexibility yesterday as we rebounded from the storms. On a much lighter note, below are some things that I hope you will find both interesting and informative:

A WHO’S WHO PATIENT LIST: If you’re unaware of the fascinating experience that David Meltzer, OD ‘02, FAAO, had before joining our faculty in January 2019 as an assistant professor and clinic instructor, you should really check out this story. Dr. Meltzer had some famous — and infamous — patients during his time as an optometrist and captain in the U.S. Army. Find out more here.

MSCHE UPDATE: Thank you to all who sent in comments on our self-study draft. And a big thank you to our steering committee and working group members who are furiously working to finalize the self-study for submission. We look forward to our virtual site visit the last week of October and reaccreditation.

NEWEST STUDENT GROUP: A group of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) students have formed Salus Students Promoting Awareness in the Community about Education and Rehabilitation Services for People with Visual Impairments (SPACERS), one of the University’s newest student groups on campus. Read more about the group here.

CONNECTING TO CPPD: You might be wondering how to best connect with the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD). It’s currently operating virtually, so contacting counselors by email is the most efficient way to meet. The virtual office hours are as follows: Monday: Bob O'Brien, MS, ATR, LPC, (robrien@salus.edu) 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesday: Tamara April-Davis, PsyD (tdavis@salus.edu) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wednesday: Tamara April-Davis, PsyD (tdavis@salus.edu) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Molly Marcus, PsyD (mmarcus@salus.edu) 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday: Tamara April-Davis, PsyD (tdavis@salus.edu) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday: Bob O'Brien, MS, ATR, LPC, (robrien@salus.edu) 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are interested in meeting with a counselor please email the counselor who has office hours available. CPPD is open Monday through Friday. To learn more about CPPD and each of the counselors click here.

FOCUS ON NEW RESIDENTS: In our ongoing feature introducing the Resident Class of 2022 to the Salus community, this week’s focus is on Crystal Liu, OD ’21, ‘22Resident. A recent graduate of PCO/Salus, she is back at PCO/Salus for her residency. To read more about Dr. Liu, click here.

SLI PODCAST: Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, moderates a podcast that focuses on the services provided at the Speech-Language Institute (SLI). He is joined by a pediatric SLI client, a student working with that client and the supervisor overseeing the care of the client. Click here for details.

PEDIATRICS LAB: Now that we are masked and back face-to-face on campus, our Physician Assistant (PA) Studies students had a chance to examine some youngsters recently in our Pediatrics Lab. This type of experiential learning is where the students get to practice taking histories and performing physical exams on children. Read more about it here.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Optometry Grand Rounds will be at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, titled “The Systemic Benefits of Cataract Surgery” with Dr. Carlo Pelino. Click here for more information. Audiology Grand Rounds are scheduled for later today from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., where you can learn from a case study about a Patient Experiencing Fluctuating Hearing Loss with Menstrual Cycle. Click here to join.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Glenn Roedel, who works in the Network and Security Services Department. Find out more about Glenn, who has worked at the University for 30 years, by clicking here.

PUBLISHING HIGHLIGHTS: Congratulations to Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR/L, M.Ed, chair of our Occupational Therapy (OT) Department, who has recently had two articles published. The first, in collaboration with Salus OT graduates, is titled “Occupational Therapy Considerations for New Mothers” (L. Sponseller, L. N., Pereira, O., Schaffer, N., & Miller, H. 2021) in Special Interest Sections (SIS) Quarterly Practice Connections; the second is “Infusing Women’s Health Into Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Education” (Podvey, M., Lichtman, E., Sponseller, L., Picard, M., & Reaume, C., 2021) also in SIS Quarterly Practice Connections.

FINAL THOUGHTS - LABOR DAY WEEKEND: As we approach Labor Day weekend, I always like to remind people why we celebrate this holiday, which celebrates the greatest workers in the world – American workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. This is why we have this coming Monday off. I hope everyone enjoys their 3-day weekend that is honoring American workers.

Many people across our country and other places around the world are suffering a great deal due to the recent storms, fires, earthquakes and other world events. Let’s ensure we keep those people in our thoughts as we go about our daily activities.

Have a great weekend. I hope that the waters in the city and surrounding areas begin to recede quickly and roads are cleared so we can get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather that’s predicted for the weekend. Please remember to wear a face mask when around others, socially distance, wash your hands frequently, and remember that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be responsible, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike