The Importance of Human Connection: Week of March 3, 2023

 

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

Good morning on a cold Friday as I join Dr. Trego and our PCO colleagues in honoring Neil Draisin, OD '71, with our Presidential Medal of Honor at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Educational Congress of Optometry (SECO) in Atlanta this evening. Dr. Draisin’s accomplishments include being a past-president of SECO, member of the South Carolina Optometry Hall of Fame and prior Optometrist of the Year for the American Optometric Association. Other items of interest:

MORE NEW BOT MEMBERS: Welcome to our newest student and faculty members on the Salus University Board of Trustees. Sean Lewis ‘24OD, officially joined the board in January 2023 as our student representative. While at Salus, Sean has been a member of Student Council, has received the Pinnacle Student of the Year award from the student body, has been a member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Golden Key International Honour Society, president of the Sexuality And Gender Alliance at Salus (SAGAS), and a teaching assistant for Optometry Clinical Skills. Effective May 1, 2023, Caitlyn Foy, DOT, MOTR/L, will be our faculty representative. Caitlyn is director of our Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program. We’re thrilled to have both on the board and look forward to their contributions. 

INTERPROFESSIONAL CONTINUING ED: Approximately 225 participants — nearly quadruple the number who attended in 2019 — participated virtually in a recent interprofessional synchronous continuing education (IPE) course offered by Salus University. The event provided training for student supervisors and included sessions on setting students up for success and supervision vs. mentorship. Click here to read more about the event.

EYEBALL 2023: Last year’s “EyeBall” — the annual celebration for third-year students of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University before they fan out across the country for their clinical externships —– fell victim to COVID-19 and was unfortunately canceled. But the Class of 2024 made up for it by inviting the Class of 2023 to attend, to make up for last year’s cancellation. Read more about the event here.

SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABLE: When it comes to available scholarship money, students may not be aware of what’s out there. Our Student Financial Affairs office tries to make it as easy as possible for students to apply for internal scholarships. Read more here about both internal and external money that’s available.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week I was delighted to participate in our continuing education program in Turks and Caicos along with Pennsylvania College of Optometry alumni and fellow optometrists from Canada, Oklahoma and Minnesota. Special thanks to our departments of International and Continuing Education (DICE) and Institutional Advancement for organizing this important learning experience. Our stellar PCO faculty members -- Drs. Tracy Offerdahl, Erin Kenny, Andrew Meagher, and Alissa Coyne, provided outstanding instruction.

This got me thinking about the importance of human connection and how this has become even more relevant as we emerge out of the pandemic. Every participant with whom I spent time noted how much they enjoyed the chance to be with and learn with others in person.

I was also struck by how infrequently we used our digital devices and how engaged and connected we were without them. For me, limiting my time on my computer to just a couple times a day enabled me to be more present with others.

This becomes so important in thinking about interactions with our patients and clients. As a society, I fear we are losing the ability to communicate effectively because we are so disconnected interpersonally. I want to encourage all of us to limit our texting. If we do need to pick up our phones, try having a brief conversation, rather than texting, to interact in “real time”. If you get a phone call as you are entering a meeting, instead of sending a text, take ten seconds to answer the phone and let the person know that you’ll call them back when you are done. Showing up by being fully present with others, even for brief moments, creates the space for meaningful interaction.

As you prepare for the weekend, try to limit you use of texting and have a conversation with someone you know. You’ll be surprised at how connected you’ll feel! Try to stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike