Coping With Stress: Week of June 24th, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a cool summer morning from our Elkins Park campus, where earlier this week, twelve students began our Summer Enrichment Program thanks to a grant from National Vision, Inc. These students will be on campus for 4-weeks preparing to start our optometry program in August. We are excited to welcome them!

Here are some items of interest:

ADAPTIVE SPORTS DAY: Salus University will host its first Hanger Clinic Adaptive Sports Day from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park campus. This event, for anyone with limb loss, orthotic bracing or mobility changes, and their supportive family and friends, is a great way to introduce the community to our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program that will welcome its inaugural class this fall. For details click here.

NEW ASCO PRESIDENT: Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Trego, dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, for assuming the presidency of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) at its conference last week in Chicago.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE: June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, and when our first students arrive in the fall of 2022 to learn in the new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at Salus University, they will be very much aware of what scoliosis is and taught how to effectively treat it. Read more here.

A NOTABLE FIRST: When Suha Almusa ‘22 O&M, graduates in the fall from the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) program at Salus University, it is believed she will be the only female certified O&M specialist in her home country, Saudi Arabia. Read more about Suha’s journey here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I want to revisit a discussion about stress, particularly for our students. Even in the midst of the summer semester, many of you still feel the stress associated with being a professional student. There’s a great deal going on around us, and there’s also much to learn in a relatively short period of time. I want you to know that you’re not alone – not at all. If you’re having difficulty with a specific subject, I can pretty much guarantee that some of your classmates are experiencing the same challenges. I remember my first year at PCO, way back when, sitting in Dr. Lorraine Lombardi’s anatomy lectures trying to figure out how I was going to remember all that stuff. Throw in ophthalmic and physiological optics and my head was spinning. Most of my classmates were feeling the same way. The biggest difference between then and now is that there is even more material to learn in each of our programs! Your deans, program directors and faculty all realize the stress you may be feeling. While there is no simple answer and everyone copes with stress a bit differently, here are some suggestions that have served me well over the years:

Stay focused on your studies – Keep up with your learning and try not to fall behind. Not only is focusing on school a great break from focusing on what’s going on in the world, it’s also a way to progress in your life while everything else seems like it’s on pause.

Develop a routine you can stick to – Sounds basic, but it will make a world of difference. Get up, make your bed (now you’ve accomplished at least one thing!), exercise, eat breakfast, etc.

Get enough sleep – This may seem like “mission impossible,” but the better rested you are, the more capable your body and mind will be at handling things that come your way including stress. Prioritize sleep over other things and you’ll be more productive, resilient and attentive.

Get outside and enjoy the fresh air – There are so many places around us that you can go and safely walk around in nature that will help to calm your mind while getting physical exercise.

Make sure you have what you need for the next day – Check the schedule, lay out your clothes, make your lunch, etc.

Use social media purposefully – Limit your screen time and refrain from posting for “likes” or for the sake of making the “best content.” Use social media to connect with some new classmates or the people you miss seeing every day.

We all want you to succeed. If you remain focused, healthy and optimistic, you will. We have skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are also there for you. I strongly encourage you to contact them if you feel like you need to. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

As you prepare for this warm summer weekend, please think about how you are managing stress. Remember to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and a facemask indoors and outside, informed by your personal risk assessment (CDC guidance can help you decide), and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG! See you all next week!

Mike

Democracy at Work: Week of June 17th, 2022

 

Dear Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends, Good morning from a rather balmy Chicago, where I am attending Optometry’s Meeting along with Dr. Melissa Trego, about 25 PCO students and other PCO and Salus staff. More about the meeting later in my Final Thoughts. On campus, students from every program are attending classes, labs, and in many instances, clinics. 

Here are some recent developments:

THE FIRST OF MANY FIRSTS: Julie Quinlan, MPO, MS, CPO, ATC, likes a challenge, and she’s found a big one as the first faculty member hired for Salus University’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program, scheduled to kick off in the fall of 2022. Read more about Julie here.

POST-BACC ROAD TO SUCCESS: When Kaylea Ellison, PBHS ‘22, got rejected from all the optometry schools to which she had applied, she described it as “gut-wrenching.” But it also strengthened her resolve to find another path to achieve her goal of becoming an optometrist. She then discovered Salus University had a post-baccalaureate program. Read more here about how the post-bacc program helped Kaylea. 

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY GRANTS: The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus University has received two grants that will be used to help students learn to care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and acquired brain injuries. For details, click here.

PRIDE MIXER SCHEDULED: As Pride Month comes to an end, CPPD's Jana Walker will host a Pride Mixer from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in the cafe on the Elkins Park campus. There will be snacks, karaoke, and trivia. Please stop by and say hello. This event is open to all who are interested.

PCO RECEPTION: Please join Dr. Trego and others from the university for PCO’S AOA Alumni and Friends Reception later this evening from 5:30 – 7:00 at the Marriott Marquis Chicago, Great Lake C. It will be a good chance to reconnect, relax and just enjoy the evening.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I noted above, I am attending Optometry’s Meeting this week in Chicago. One of the main purposes of the meeting, other than to provide world-class continuing education, is for both the American Optometric Association and American Student Optometric Association to conduct their internal legislative business including: selection of next year’s officers and resolutions that organize the profession’s priorities for the year, and approval of the annual budget. There are speeches, lobbying for positions and democratic processes that determine the profession’s direction.  

I am struck by how well the process works. Successes are built on compromise and an honest, often spirited discussion about important issues. It’s democracy working the way it should. This stands in contrast to what I see at the national level, which is polarized and relatively ineffective. I raise this not to be provocative, but to highlight that democracies are fragile. It’s important not to take what we have in our country for granted. Our democracy can be lost if we don’t pay attention to what’s going on around us.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to reflect on this because as healthcare providers, what happens to our democracy directly affects how we can provide the care we are so well trained to do. Sadly, those who need our care the most will often be most affected.

Please be safe, stay hydrated when out in the heat, watch out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG.

Mike

Gun Violence is a Public Health Emergency: Week of June 10th, 2022

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

Good morning on a beautiful late-spring day in Elkins Park! Our campus has been humming with activity as we welcome our Blindness and Low Vision Studies students to campus for their summer semester, face to face classes and busy clinics. We’ve begun work on the planned renovation for the first floor of the South building that will re-energize our cafeteria and integrate other important student life and administrative functions into a welcoming, versatile, and inviting space. If all goes well, construction will begin this fall.

DICE UPDATE: Students from the University of Oulu, in Finland, recently spent two weeks on the University’s Elkins Park campus training in primary eye care. The training program is the result of a long-standing collaboration established by Melissa Vitek, OD ‘95, FAAO, dean of International and Continuing Education at Salus, and Robert Andersson, MSc ‘10, PhD ‘18, assistant professor. The Finnish optometrists are pursuing their master’s degrees at Oulu University and participating in this coursework helps them work toward that goal. Read more about their experience here. 

DANGEROUS DECIBELS PROGRAM: Jenny Rajan, ‘09 AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, with the help of four students from the Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) at Salus University, recently presented the “Dangerous Decibels” educational program to high schoolers in the Centennial School District. For details, click here.

HEARTFELT TRIBUTE: The Salus community honors the life and legacy of Melissa Padilla, who served PCO/Salus for 24 years and played a role in advancing our international and post-graduate program. Click here to read a heartfelt tribute to Melissa written by Anthony Di Stefano, OD ‘73, MEd, MPH, FAAO, FCOptom (Hon.), emeritus vice president of Academic Affairs and professor emeritus of Public Health at PCO/Salus. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Public health principles are designed to protect and promote health in all communities. As healthcare providers, we have a responsibility to help others realize that gun violence is a public health emergency that effects all of our communities. This was brought too close to home with last week’s shootings on South Street in Philadelphia.

If people would treat gun violence as the public health emergency it is, I believe we would begin to see effective, evidence-based gun control mitigation strategies, including legislation, much as we have done with alcohol and tobacco products. These measures protect the public’s health and do not restrict the use of these items from responsible adults. As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect on this. It’s an issue that has reached a critical point in our country.

Please stay safe, look out for one another, remember to wear your mask both on campus and when around others off campus and stay at home if you’re not feeling well. Have a great weekend and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Addressing Stress: Week of June 3rd, 2022

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

Good morning on this summery morning in Elkins Park. We are transitioning to summer on cue with Memorial Day weekend already in the rearview mirror! Even as summer approaches, our campus has been busy with students attending classes, labs and clinics. As our Chestnut Hill clinic undergoes a cosmetic face lift, operations have temporarily shifted to The Eye Institute. Kudos to Dr. Maria Parisi, Mr. John Gaal, Mr. Chris Esposito and Mr. Rick Echevarria and their staffs for making this happen quickly and seamlessly! 

Here are some other items of interest for you:

COMMENCEMENT WRAP-UP: Our 124th commencement ceremony was held last week at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. It was wonderful to be back at the Kimmel face-to-face. Graduates and attendees were inspired by Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy, former Vice Chief of Naval Operations and a shipmate and personal friend of mine. We also heard encouraging words from Courtney Bernhardt, MS ‘22, who delivered our graduate commencement address. For details on the festivities, click here.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC SOUTHEAST DELEGATION VISIT: Earlier this week we had the honor of hosting members of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Southeast Delegation at the University. This gave us the opportunity to help educate regional legislators about our programs and how we are training the next generation of healthcare providers for the Commonwealth.

CHALLENGING ROAD TO PhD: Speaking of commencement, be sure to read the story on Brianna Brim, PhD ‘22, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPP, our director of the Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI), who overcame several personal challenges to graduate with a PhD from the University’s Biomedicine program. Congratulations, Dr. Brim! For details, click here.

RAM EXPERIENCE: PCO/Salus Doctor of Optometry students recently volunteered to serve in the Remote Area Medical (RAM) group’s mobile medical clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia for two consecutive days. The event allowed several of our students to use their expertise to assist families and individuals who have been without eye care for years. Read more about it here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we transition into summer, take the opportunity to get out and enjoy some of the great recreational sites in our region. The Schuylkill River Trail, Fairmount Park and the trail systems right here in Montgomery County provide verdant greenspaces to jog, bike and enjoy nature. Coming off a stressful semester of classes, labs and clinical assignments, one of the best destressors is getting exercise and spending time in the great outdoors.

From all that we’re hearing in the world about the war in Ukraine, inflation, mass shootings, social unrest, in addition to all the “stuff” we have do in normal daily routines, it’s no wonder our stress levels are high. Only you know how stress affects you. To that end, I strongly encourage you to address head on what might be your stress triggers. Talking through some of these things with friends, family members or other confidants about what’s on your mind is extremely helpful. If you would like to speak with a professional, our CPPD counselors are always available to students and our health insurance providers can arrange for counseling sessions for faculty and staff. We are living in what the Chinese proverb labels “interesting times.” We will get through all of this with a little help and support from those around us.

Have a great weekend – make some time to relax, regenerate and destress. Go see the new Top Gun movie – my contacts tell me it’s fantastic and very realistic. It certainly will take your mind of things for a couple of hours!

In the meantime, also remember that COVID numbers are high in our region, so please remember to mask up when on campus and around others off campus, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. We want you to remain SALUS STRONG as you continue to look out for one another.

Mike