Happy Holidays! Week of December 23, 2022

 

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

As classes wind down and we look toward 2023, I want to thank our extraordinarily talented faculty and staff for all you’ve done for our students, patients and clients throughout the year. What a remarkable year we’ve shared -- filled with many individual and team successes! Next year promises to be interesting and exciting, presenting all of us with new opportunities and challenges in which to learn and grow together.

A few items of interest for you:

DECADE OF OT EXCELLENCE: In its 10th anniversary of training students, Occupational Therapy has made its presence known. Salus OT graduates are recognized among the best in the country. Read here about the history of the OT department as it marks its first decade.

MARCHING TO NEW ORLEANS: The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Audiology programs at Salus University recently took the party to New Orleans for the annual American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) convention. SLP faculty, staff, students and alumni gathered at the weekend-long conference to engage in workshops, networking, continuing education opportunities, and other fun festivities. Read more about their trip to the Big Easy here.

POST-BACC POSSIBILITIES: Salus University’s Post-baccalaureate programs serve students who have already completed an undergraduate degree or are working toward a secondary degree from an accredited institution. Click here to read more about these programs and the opportunities they present for students.

FINAL THOUGHTS: President Zelensky’s remarks to Congress on Wednesday evening provided an combination of courage, eloquence and dignity while under fire. It also was a stark reminder of how lucky we are to be in a country that can come together and provide support to the Ukrainian people who have been repeatedly attacked by a totalitarian government determined to break their will and our commitment to support them. Neither will succeed. President Zelensky clearly articulated the strength and will of the Ukrainian people; our leadership conveyed their support. While this may seem far away from us, their fight, as noted Wednesday evening, is one with direct implications for Europe and our own democracy. It’s important for us to remain cognizant of these events. What Russia does can impact us.

As you prepare for the Christmas weekend, please keep the people of Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. I also ask that you be very careful when traveling as the weather is turning very cold on Saturday. No matter where you go, please also keep in mind that covid, the flu and RSV are still circulating. Please continue to follow CDC masking guidelines and exhibit good common sense when out and about. I look forward to seeing you in January healthy and SALUS STRONG!

As has been my custom since coming to Salus, I am following a Navy tradition of leaving you with an original Christmas Eve poem that the Officer of the Day was supposed to write in the ship’s logbook that evening, based on the famous “Night Before Christmas” poem by Clement Clarke Moore.

‘Twas the day before Christmas when all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

PCO fixed to screens, through lenses and frames,

In hopes that the Birds win our Christmas Eve’s game.

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,

OCA and DICE ran to see what was the matter.

Reddick, Brandon and Sweat for the sack,

Assisted by Fletcher, no chance had poor Dak.

Now, Goedert and Stoll, Sanders and Scott,

On Watkins, Smith, Brown -- lined up in the slot.

With the seed on the line, Hurts out for the game,

PAs and OTs could assist if he’s lame.

Out walked the Gardner, moustache like a flame,

In as a backup to clean up the game.

His eyes—how they squinted! He lurched and he scurried--

BLVS shouted, “there’s nothing to worry!”

As our O&P, SLP and PhD’s watched with delight

Would our Eagles swoop in for the win? What a sight!

The story has yet to be finished, so we wait

For Saturday 4:25, don’t be late--

One final wish for one and for all:

As you spend time with family and friends

The happiest of holidays ‘til this quick week ends!

Our programs in order of appearance:

PCO = Pennsylvania College of Optometry

OCA = Osborne College of Audiology

DICE = Department of International and Continuing Education

PA = Physician’s Assistant Studies Program

OT = Occupational Therapy Programs

BLVS = Blindness and Low Vision Studies Programs

O&P = Orthotics and Prosthetics Program

SLP = Speech Language Pathology Program

PhD = PhD Biomedicine Programs

-Mike

Salus Weekly Update: Week of December 16, 2022

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

I realize this is a day early but since I will be out of the office on Friday, I wanted to get this out to you today. As we approach the holiday season and adjust to the chillier, snowier weather, things remain busy at Salus University. Please be careful and drive carefully if you are out and about this morning as we experience our first real winter weather.

Here are some items of interest:

ROLE OF THE DICE: To understand the continuing success of the University’s Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE), one has to look at the history of the institution and the foundation on which it was established. Check out part one of a two-part series on the history and evolution of DICE. Read more here.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: Salus offers scholarships to help students complete their education. Students who meet certain academic criteria may be eligible for scholarships, which are monetary gifts that do not need to be repaid. Click here to read more.

FALLS RISK SEMINAR: The benefits of interprofessional education and practice was never more apparent than in a recent online seminar on falls risk assessment and intervention, which combined expertise of both the Audiology and Occupational Therapy departments. Read more about that effort here.

SOSH ON THE ROAD: A group of 15 students and two faculty members from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University’s chapter of the Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) traveled to La Barca, Jalisco, Mexico, for 10 days in late November 2022 on a humanitarian trip. Read more about their experiences here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In our continuing efforts in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the University will administer a campus-wide and employee diversity climate survey to provide feedback about belonging, connection and inclusivity at Salus.

We have selected Viewfinder by Campus Climate Surveys in an effort to ensure responses remain anonymous. No personal identifying information will be collected. Results from these surveys will provide vital information that can be used by the University as it continues its focus on DEI. Participants will receive two email invitations on their Salus email account directly from Campus Climate Surveys, LCC, inviting them to participate in the survey. The email subject line will read “Salus University Viewfinder Campus Climate Survey for Students is Now Open.” A similar email will be sent to all employees.

The survey participation dates are Monday, Jan. 23, to Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. Survey emails are scheduled to be sent on Jan. 23 and Jan. 30. The final day to submit your response is Feb. 20, 2023.

To encourage participation, students and employees who complete the survey will receive an automated “Thank You” email, which will contain a link to register for a drawing of 10 Amazon gift cards of $25 each and four electronic prizes (items may include an iPad, Samsung tablet, Apple Watch, Fitbit or something similar). Winners will be announced in early March.

As you prepare for the upcoming weekend, please keep in mind that cases of the flu, RSV and COVID are still prevalent in our region. Please continue to follow CDC masking guidelines when out and about. If you’re not feeling well, please remain home so you don’t inadvertently spread something on campus.

Have a great weekend. Stay safe, stay warm and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Go Navy - Beat Army!!! Week of December 9, 2022

 

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

Good morning on a beautiful, crisp morning from our Elkins Park Campus! It’s been a busy week with folks taking final exams, practicals and preparing to head out to clinical rotations. Here are some items of interest:

NEW SLP FACULTY: A very warm welcome to our new Speech-Language Pathology faculty members, Anne Marie Ruckdeschel, MA, CCC-SLP; Jennifer Bergstrom, EdD, CCC-SLP; and Deanna Yoder-Black, SLPD, CCC-SLP. Click here to read more about our newest colleagues.

INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: The benefits of interprofessional education and practice at Salus University was never more apparent than in a recent online seminar on falls risk assessment and intervention, which combined expertise from both Audiology and Occupational Therapy (OT). Read more about it here.

MINDFULNESS THEME: Our Center for Personal and Professional Development’s (CPPD) Janeyshka Ortiz-Flores and Andrew Jaskot will be outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Stop by and collect a mindfulness-themed goodie bag.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Philadelphia is poised this weekend to host the nation’s 123rd Army-Navy Game. Navy, happily leads the series 62-53-7. The history of this series is worth discussing.

West Point Cadets and Naval Academy midshipmen played the first Army-Navy football game Nov. 29, 1890 on "The Plain" at West Point. As the Navy had been playing organized football for over a decade, they handily defeated the newly established Army team, 24-0. The game has been an annual tradition since 1930. According to records, there were 10 times when the game was not played with the longest period between 1894 – 1898 purportedly due to an argument between an Army General and Navy Admiral that almost ended with a duel between the following the 1893 game! During World War I, games were also canceled. 

On Nov. 27, 1926, the game was held in Chicago for the formal dedication of Soldier Field in honor of the American servicemen who had fought in World War I.

We often see Army and Navy Mascots at the games, which has been part of the tradition from the early days of the competition. The tradition of mules as mascots for Army dates back to 1899, when someone decided the team needed a mascot to counter the Navy goat (always trying to copy the Navy!) There’s also the “tradition” of each service academy attempting to “kidnap” the other’s mascots prior to the games. While discouraged by leadership, attempts still occur to this day.

The game was first played in Philadelphia, at Franklin Field, on 1899 and remained there through 1904, after which it was played at Princeton and then returned to Philadelphia for the next 7 years. This week’s game marks the 90th time it will have been played in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is located almost exactly between the two schools and is as close as any major city with a big enough venue.

After 1904 the game bounced around from New York’s Polo Grounds, Baltimore and Chicago until 1932 where it stayed in Philadelphia until 1942 where the next year the game was played at West Point and then Baltimore. From 1945 through 1982 the game remained in Philadelphia. In 1983, for the only time in the game’s history, it was played on the west coast at the Rose Bowl. For the remaining years, the game has predominately remained in Philadelphia with infrequent visits to Baltimore and New York. During the height of the pandemic, the game was played at West Point. It has never been played at the Naval Academy. This year marks the last year we will see the game in Philadelphia until 2027. For the next 4 years the game will be played around the Northeast, to Boston, Washington, Baltimore and New York before returning to Philadelphia.

So, if you’re not too busy tomorrow afternoon, try to catch some of this historical sports rivalry. It’s important to remember that you will be watching both Cadet and Midshipmen athletes who have voluntarily dedicated part of their lives to protecting our freedoms and the ideals of our American democracy. So GO NAVY – BEAT ARMY!!!

Have a great weekend – be safe, continue to follow CDC masking guidelines and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis: Week of December 2, 2022

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus. It’s a nice crisp December morning here, reminding us that winter is nipping at our heals! Even with the colder weather outside, things are heating up inside as our students and faculty prepare for final exams and new and exciting clinical rotations. In addition to all that’s happening on campus, here are some other areas of interest I hope you will read about:

NEW NSSLHA BOARD: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)’s chapter at Salus University welcomes a new executive board; Stevie Goldman ‘23SLP, as president, Alyssa Dallmer ‘23SLP, as vice president, Jess Kusters ‘23SLP, as treasurer and Emily Steinslofer ‘23SLP as secretary. The purpose of NSSLHA is to support students within the communication sciences and disorders professions as they prepare for their future careers. Read more here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Healey Miller, MSOT ‘21, ‘23OTD, focuses on people. But after coming out of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was wondering what career path she was going to take. She then decided to attend Salus University to pursue OT as her career. Read more here about what Healey’s doing now.

FACULTY FOCUS: The path to Salus University has taken Maria Boka, MSPAS, PA-C, to quite a few different places. Click here to find out what route she took to become one of the newest members of the faculty in the University’s Physician Assistant Studies program.

SWANKY SOIREE: The annual Salus Soiree, held Nov. 18, attracted approximately 225 students — all transported to the museum from the University’s Elkins Park campus in four school buses — all dressed to the nines and ready to party. Read more about the evening here.

VACCINATION EVENT: We will host a vaccination event Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Hafter Center gym. In collaboration with Walmart Pharmacy, the event will provide the new bivalent COVID booster as well as the flu vaccination. Registration is required. Attached is an information sheet with registration information and a list of documents that you will need to bring with you.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today I wanted to highlight recent research on gun violence, the connection between social determinants of health and this growing epidemic, and local and federal efforts to address it. As I have before, I want to be sure this public health emergency remains on our radar. The more we can learn about this epidemic, the more prepared we will be to curtail its impact on the patients we serve and the broader society.

New data released on Tuesday from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) looks across 32 years of national data and is the first of its kind to track firearm fatality trends over time by intent, demographics and geographics. The findings are striking: 

• Men account for the overwhelming percentage of fatalities over time (86% male vs 14% female);
• White, non-Hispanic individuals (61%) comprise the largest share, followed by Black, non-Hispanic (26%), and Hispanic (10%) individuals;
• Males had higher rates of suicide and homicide compared to females, with the highest rates of firearm suicides among White men aged 80-84;
• The sharpest rise in maximum rates of firearm homicides over time has occurred among men aged 20-24 with Black fatality rates rising 22 times higher (up to 142 per 100,000) and Hispanic fatality rates rising 3.6 times higher (up to 23 per 100,000) compared to White men (up to 6 fatalities per 100,000 persons aged 30-34 years).

Importantly, the data shows over time the increase in gun fatalities from west to southeast over the past three decades:

Figure 1: Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990-202

JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(11):e2244221. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.44221

I draw your attention to this, as just yesterday, I gave a lecture to students on the effects of social vulnerability on diabetes. Check out the slide below:

Figure 2: Effects of Social Vulnerability on Diabetes. Lecture, 1 December 2022. 

What we see when we compare the maps is this: Socioeconomic status, lowered health outcomes and homicides follow the same geographic patterns. Disparities in health outcomes follow disparities in economic income, access, and stability.

Mounting evidence shows the array of promising responses that make a difference in addressing this complex public health issue:

• Firstly, stronger state policies designed to reduce firearm violence are effective in reducing firearm fatalities (JAMA, Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review, 2017).
• This week I attended a Leadership Breakfast hosted by State Senator Art Haywood in which gun violence was discussed by several experts. They included the establishment of Nightly Street Teams to build relationships with shooters and victims; deploying mental health and social service providers to deliver services to shooters, victims, and their family members; sponsoring frequent job fairs for neighbors in high crime areas; increased police presence and weekly block cleanups. Systemic approaches that strengthen community support while attending to the root causes of gun violence are effective.
• A growing number of resources also address gun violence prevention and related supports. Check out the following:
• CDC’s Gun Violence Prevention website
• Montgomery County Gun Violence Prevention Page
• National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform

As current and future health care providers, we have a responsibility to continue to call attention to this epidemic with our local and federal representatives and to advocate for our patients’ increased resources that improve access and equity in health outcomes.

As you prepare for the weekend, please take some time to think about how you can have an impact on the gun violence epidemic in our region. Change will take time but unless we make the efforts now, nothing will improve.

Please be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike