Friday, March 11, 2022

Keeping Ukrainians in Our Thoughts: Week of March 11th, 2022

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

Good morning from New Orleans where I have been attending both the Armed Forces Optometric Society and Southern Educational Council of Optometry’s annual meeting. It’s been a busy week of fantastic continuing education and meeting other optometric colleagues. For those PCO faculty, students and alumni who might also be here, PCO will be hosting a reception later today from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at The Bower, 1320 Magazine St, New Orleans.

Here are some other topics that you might find interesting: 

SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK: The Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD)is highlighting the importance of sleep during Sleep Awareness Week March 13-19. Catch up with Dr. Cristina Laracuente-Trzaska, PsyD, CPPD’s newest counselor, outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. Grab a sleep mask and enter CPPD's gift basket raffle. You can pick up some additional tips on healthy sleep habits by following the Instagram (@cppd_salus) and Facebook accounts here. Feel free to reach out to our CPPD counselors, who have expanded their hours and services, for an individual counseling appointment. You can meet the counselors and see their open hours here

OTs AND REFUGEES: To help ensure refugee children have a healthy start to their lives in the United States, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently shared information with the University’s Occupational Therapy (OT) students on how to assist with their efforts. Read more about that here

ACCELERATED SCHOLARS, PART SIX: Are you interested in fulfilling a residency after completing optometry school? In the sixth part of this series focused on the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University's Accelerated Scholars Doctor of Optometry Program, three on-campus residents – Kiera Jeschke, OD ‘21, Chandni Patel, OD '21, and Natalee Rackus, OD '21, discuss how and why they chose PCO/Salus for their specific interests. Learn more here

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features Kaylin Magosin, MSOT ’20, who was in the final two weeks of her first clinical rotation when the pandemic hit. Find out how Kaylin handled that challenge and what she’s been doing since graduation. Read more here.

MASKING ON CAMPUS: A reminder that while we are “mask optional” in non-instructional spaces on the Elkins Park campus, please remember that in all instructional spaces (classrooms and labs) and clinics face masks are required. Please be respectful of those who are not yet comfortable or are unable to take their masks off due to health-related reasons.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As you prepare for this weekend, I ask that you continue to keep the Ukrainian people, both here and in Europe, in your thoughts and prayers as the Russian invasion continues to take innocent lives and displace millions of people. We are still collecting non-perishable food, first aid supplies, OTC medicines, and various hygiene products to help the people of Ukraine. A box has been placed in the cafeteria lobby on the Elkins Park campus for those who would like to contribute.

Please try to get outside, even in the cold blustery weather predicted for the weekend, just to unwind and destress. As you do go about your travels, please remember that while COVID numbers are extremely low, you still need to take the appropriate precautions such as masking when around large groups, social distancing and washing your hands frequently to help prevent any spread of the virus.

Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

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