Addressing Supreme Court's Ruling On Affirmative Action: Week of June 30, 2023

 

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

Good morning on another hazy day in our region. It’s been an eventful week as we prepared to bid farewell and safe travels to our Thai optometry students and a belated welcome to our SLP and audiology students from Taiwan. I’d also like to welcome all our new PCO residents and ODS students to Salus.

In addition, here are some other items of interest:

AOA CONFERENCE: Last week I attended the 2023 American Optometric Association conference, referred to as "Optometry's Meeting” in Washington, D.C. PCO/Salus was well represented at the conference, and it was great to catch up with our alumni and friends. Read more about the conference here.

SALUS AWARDS GALA RETURNS: After a few years off due to the pandemic, the Salus Awards Gala made a triumphant return. Hosted by our Campus Activities Committee, the Salus Awards Gala honored various Salus faculty, students and staff who have made an impact throughout the year. Click here to see who was honored.

ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES DAY: The second annual Adaptive Recreational Activities Day, sponsored by Hanger Clinic and Alps®, was held last Saturday at the Hafter Center. The event celebrated individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities, including limb loss, brain injury, blindness and low vision or mobility challenges, and was supported by healthcare and rehabilitation professionals and those with experience and expertise in adaptive sports and recreation. Read more about it here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with a degree in Communication Science and Disorders and learning about the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus University, Gabrielle Verrillo, MS ’21, decided to check it out. She was sold immediately. Read more here about how our SLP program prepared her well for her current career.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Many of you may have read the email that Dr. Mosley Williams distributed Tuesday in advance of yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court that Harvard and UNC’s use of race in their admissions process violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. I wanted to share my thoughts, as well. I respectfully disagree with the findings of the Court. Salus and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, prior to us becoming a university, have always deeply valued the importance of cultural and racial diversity, as evidenced by our 40-year commitment to our Summer Enrichment Program and our recruitment efforts across all our programs.

As the pandemic clearly taught us, huge disparities persist in the quality, level of access and trust in the American healthcare system. It is imperative that we not only recognize this, but continue to actively address this through our recruitment of underserved populations into all our programs.

In a New York Times article on a study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the difference in newborn mortality rates among socioeconomic and racial cohorts of women is striking. For every 100,000 births, 173 babies born to wealthy white women die prior to their first birthday; 350 babies born to poor white women die; 437 babies born to wealthy black women die; and 653 babies born to poor black women die prior to their first birthday.

In maternal health, the situation is equally stark: “The CDC estimates that, in 2021, the maternal mortality rate among Black women was nearly 70 deaths for every 100,000 live births. That is 2.6 times the rate for white women, regardless of income or education (PBS Newshour, 6/28/23).” To say that race is not a factor in health outcomes is to ignore the evidence.

Dr. Jay Feldstein, the president of Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine recently published an editorial in Fortune Magazine that outlines this and other disparities that are clearly apparent in our healthcare system. One of the only ways that our society will be able to help to curtail this and other disparities for other underserved populations is to ensure that we continue to recruit and train healthcare providers that reflect the cultures and racial composition of those populations we serve. The importance of recognizing cultural humility in healthcare and actively addressing health inequities has never been as important as it is now. 

Salus will continue to actively recruit the most diverse student body that we can. We will not be deterred in working toward the best outcomes for our students and our patients. Our current admissions process, which does not consider race, recognizes all the factors, including the lived experiences, backgrounds and perspectives of students, that shape and contribute to their professional formation.

There will be a great deal of press following the Supreme Court’s decision on this topic in the coming weeks, espousing various perspectives. I want you to know that we will continue to maintain our steadfast commitment to recruit and train a student population that reflects diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility. 

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

-Mike

The Importance of Advocacy: Week of June 23, 2023

 

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

Greetings from Washington, DC, where I am attending Optometry’s Meeting, along with many faculty and students from PCO. It’s been fun reconnecting with old friends and colleagues. While we have been in DC, our campus has been humming along with summer classes and the construction project on the first floor of the south building progressing daily.

Here are some other items of interest:

MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP: After earning his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering in 2018 from Penn State, Prince Denson ’25 OD, was still unsure what career he wanted to pursue. But he jumped when presented with the opportunity to pursue an Air Force Allied Health Professions scholarship while a second-year student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Click here to read more.

‘CITY AND SHORE’ EXHIBIT: A new exhibit “City and Shore” is on display at the D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus. The two-person show features black and white photos taken in Philadelphia by John Benigno and color photos of Long Beach Island, New Jersey, taken by Eric Schaeffer. Click here for details.

INFLUENTIAL POST-BACC: Darryl Horn, PhD, FAAO, director of our Post-Baccalaureate program, says the program allows students to see more in-depth into what a profession offers. Designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree or working toward a second degree from an accredited institution, read here how the program is well-suited for career transitions.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Becoming a physician assistant (PA) first appeared on the radar of John Elkhoury, MMS ‘18, when he was a sophomore at Penn State University. That’s when he decided to pursue PA school. But life took a bit of a turn. After graduating in 2014 with two undergraduate degrees — in Psychology and French, Elkhoury applied to some PA schools but didn’t get accepted into any. Click here to find out how John’s journey eventually brought him to Salus University.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I noted above, I have spent a good part of this week attending “Optometry’s Meeting” in Washington, DC. With exceptional colleagues from the American Optometry Association (AOA) and the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS), we have been advocating for important optometric issues with congressional offices, Veterans Service Organizations and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Advocating for all our programs is one of the most important things I do to advance the professions we serve.

Over 1,000 members strong, Veterans’ Affairs (VA) optometrists provide the majority of comprehensive eyecare for veterans enrolled in the VA. To ensure the highest quality of care for our nation’s veterans, optometric scope of practice should follow the highest level established through the profession’s state licensing and educational training. Additionally, as a key member of the VA healthcare team, optometrists should also be eligible to compete for leadership positions alongside physician, dentist, and podiatrist colleagues.

Optometrists have a long and distinguished history of healthcare leadership in and beyond government, where they lead multidisciplinary healthcare teams comprised of physicians, nurses, dentists and other related disciplines. In doing so, Doctors of Optometry are fully aware of what is required to ensure safe, high-quality care while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, professional practice, jurisprudence and business objectives.

As the VA works to develop National Standards of Practice, we advocate for standards that enable optometry, and all of the professions we train at Salus, to practice at the highest level achieved through state licensure, regardless of VA location. This helps to ensure continuity of services throughout the VA, consistent access to high quality care throughout the VA system and increased provider satisfaction across the board.

All the professions that we train at Salus are statutorily regulated and trained to the highest scope of practice, with many represented in the VA health system. Every one of us needs to be an advocate. We do this by becoming active in our professional associations, understanding and becoming articulate in the issues, so we can discuss them objectively and effectively when given the opportunity.

The politics of healthcare are complex and often contentious. When debating scope of practice and assuming leadership roles organizationally, our patient’s best interest is an incisive guidepost for navigating difficult conversations. Remaining open and objective, informed and consistent in message are keys to moving the needle in the right direction.

As you prepare for the weekend, please think about how you can contribute to your profession’s advocacy initiatives so you can provide the highest quality, broadest scope of practice for your patients now and into the future.

Have a great weekend – be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Celebrating Our Agreement to Merge with Drexel: Week of June 16, 2023

 

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

Good morning and Happy Friday! It’s been a busy and exciting week as we celebrate our agreement to merge with Drexel, welcome students in our BLVS Summer Camp, spend time learning with our Thai students and conduct classes, labs and clinics.

We are delighted to share:

HISTORIC AGREEMENT: Salus University and Drexel University have ceremoniously tied the knot. Our two renowned institutions have formalized a merger agreement following approval from the Board of Trustees at each university. The signing ceremony, held Tuesday in the Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery on Drexel's campus, included an enthusiastic gathering of board members, faculty, staff and students from both universities. Read more about this important and historic milestone here.

AUDIOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES: The Master of Science in Clinical Audiology (MSCA) degree program at Salus is offered for international audiology practitioners to advance their knowledge and skills in audiologic care and to experience specialized training within a specific content area. Read more here about our latest group of international students.

A PERFECT FIT: Brandy Scombordi-Raghu, OD ‘98, Resident ‘99, grew up in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania. Historically a coal mining area, her school district was one of the lowest performing in the state. Unbeknownst to her at the time, a seemingly insignificant job in high school planted a seed for her future career in optometry. Read more about Dr. Scombordi-Raghu’s journey here.

ETHICS ESSAY CONTEST WINNER: As a former English teacher with significant writing experience, Luke Damiani MS ‘23, thought he might do pretty well in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Student Ethics Essay Award (SEEA) competition. And he did -- well enough to take the top prize. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As noted earlier, on Tuesday at a wonderful celebration hosted by Drexel University, President John Fry and I signed an agreement for our two universities to merge. Here is a link to some of the media coverage from the event.

This partnership charts an ambitious and innovative future for all of our programs. It significantly enhances and improves our student experience through expanded programs, new clinical opportunities, and a potential wealth of options for research collaboration and grant funding.

For our faculty, the merger provides enhanced professional development opportunities, research support, and of course, access to Drexel’s state-of-the-art facilities, as well as the opportunity to teach with the benefit of Drexel’s incredible technology infrastructure.

Our partnership preserves our endowment for our programs and the time-honored reputation for excellence that is the hallmark of The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the Osborne College of Audiology and the programs within the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation: Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Biomedicine and Post-baccalaureate.

While the merger won’t become final for months as we secure the necessary regulatory and accreditation approvals, President Fry and I have already established a solid foundation of shared trust, integrity and drive for excellence that are fundamental to innovation and growth. I look forward to working with President Fry and his team as we form the Integration Council that will guide our efforts over the next year and beyond.

Thanks to so many here at Salus collaborating with their counterparts at Drexel, we have achieved all of the objectives that we prioritized during the course of our own strategic and scenario planning more than a year ago. I could not be more excited to begin the next phase of our collaboration.

During Tuesday’s signing ceremony, I presented President Fry with a FOX flag, a symbol we have used over many years of commencements when we launch our graduates into the world. The flag is a symbol of our shared excitement at Salus and Drexel. As we enter this exciting phase of integration, the flag says it all. Get ready: we’re preparing to launch!

As you head into the long weekend, keep in mind the significance and origin of the Juneteenth holiday we will observe on Monday. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared a formal end to slavery in the United States. However, slavery was not totally abolished across the country. On June 19th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned from Union army troops that they were free, almost two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth represents a celebration of freedom and recognition of the perseverance and spirit of Black people in America.

Our colleagues at Cabrini University will host a celebration of Juneteenth from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 19th.

Enjoy your weekend – please be safe, look out for one another, wear plenty of sunscreen when your outside, drink lots of water and come back SALUS STRONG next week!

-Mike

Importance of Great Customer Service: Week of June 9, 2023

 

Dear Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends, Good morning on yet another morning when the particulate matter in the air from Canadian wildfires is still very high. As we’ve tried to remain indoors, the campus has been busy with Summer semester in full swing. This week we welcomed about 30 Blindness and Low Vision students to campus for their in-person classes. Here are some other items of interest for you:

BIOMED STUDENT’S RESEARCH: Jacqueline Magnarelli ‘25PhD, IRB/IACUC administrator, is turning her own experience into a doctoral research project to determine the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depression. Currently in the preliminary stages of her doctorate research, Magnarelli has a long road ahead of her, but is embarking on a journey she is passionate and excited about. Click here to read more about her efforts.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Tracy Matchinski, OD, Resident ‘96, FAAO, was a fourth-year optometry student at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO), when she had her first experience with a visually impaired patient in clinic. She realized she needed to know more about vision rehabilitation. And then, she got lucky. Click here to find out how.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION: Salus University is part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE), and we have an opportunity to support one of our consortium member institutions by attending the Juneteenth Celebration at Cabrini University from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 19. Please see the attached flyer for the QR Code for registration.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I have been reading with interest a very insightful book by Philadelphia Business Journal columnist Stan Silverman entitled, “Be Different” that provides a trove of expert guidance for professional differentiation and leadership development. In his recent column, Stan describes a frustrating customer service experience and a set of questions and recommendations to prompt organizational improvement. My takeaway is this: disappointing customer service experiences are ones people tend to remember, especially in how they evaluate the company offering the service.

This past weekend, I had the opposite experience with a discount tire franchise. Heading to Virginia to attend a memorial service with my wife and close friend, we were sidelined by a flat tire enroute. After several phone calls, we found a Mavis Tire store. Thirty minutes later, we were back on the road. Unfortunately, fifteen minutes later, we experienced a second flat tire, which doomed the trip. As upset as we were about missing the service, we noted the customer service we received from Mavis. After bringing my car to my local dealership at 3:30 pm that afternoon, they replaced both tires for me in record time – by 10 am the next morning I had my car back. The quality of service that people receive, good or bad, creates a lasting impression.

As the incoming Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan I was confronted with a range of patient complaints about our lack of service -- from difficulty getting timely appointments to less than friendly staff treatment. We developed a “Go the Extra Mile” customer service reward program. Within months, our hospital was recognized for providing outstanding customer service by the Tricare Management Agency based on a survey of our patients and providers.

Excellent customer service remains an important aspect of excellent healthcare. Patients and clients often associate quality customer service with quality care. How we treat our patients, staffs and our colleagues -- from their initial contact with the office and staff to the interaction they have with each of us, matters. Great customer service leads to better patient, client and provider relationships, improved compliance and better outcomes.

This week marked two important milestones in military history that shaped our world today – the Battle of Midway on 4 June and the D-Day landing on 6 June. Both played pivotal roles in defeating the Japanese and Nazis in World War II. Please take a moment to reflect on those who gave their all to ensure our freedoms and ability to live the lives we do in America.

Consider how you will provide outstanding customer service to all with whom you interact. Keep in mind that the fires in Canada might still affect our air quality into the weekend, so please take appropriate precautions to remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Managing Stress In Your Life: Week of June 2, 2023

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful June morning from our Elkins Park campus. With summer session well underway, there is nothing better than seeing students relaxing and studying pondside in the cool shade along with our resident family of geese! Construction on the first-floor renovation project has been moving along and we are beginning to see the open spaces that we will enjoy when our dining and gathering spaces are complete. It is exciting!

Here are other items of interest:

OT DEEP DIVE: In our latest podcast, Tara Schumacher, an assistant director of Admissions at Salus, talks about the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program including tips and tricks for applying. Click here to read more.

CONGRATS NEW GRADS: Last week we celebrated our 126th commencement at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and sent our graduates off with inspirational remarks given by Dr. Ala Stanford. We look forward to watching our graduates spread their wings as they leave our nest. Click here to read more about this year's commencement.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: It was Sam Farrand's, MS '17, mother-in-law who suggested that he consider going into speech therapy. That turned out to be great advice. In 2015, Farrand entered the inaugural Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program and hasn't looked back since. For more, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I reflect on our commencement ceremony last week, our future merger with Drexel, current national and international events, it’s incredible to consider how much is going on simultaneously. The level of stress generated by any one of these events is significant. Taken concurrently, the mental and emotional stress on our bodies increases appreciably.

While each of us has developed coping mechanisms for stress, the “wear and tear” of repeated exposure to stress has immediate and long term impacts on our bodies and brains. It’s imperative that we rigorously and deliberately work to mitigate stress to the best of our abilities. Some suggestions that have worked for me over the years include the following:

Develop a morning routine that’s sustainable - Sounds basic, but it makes a world of difference. Get up, make your bed (now you’ve accomplished at least one thing!), get some exercise, have breakfast, etc. 

Develop good sleep habits – We need sleep to remain healthy and fit. 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. Prioritize sleep over other things and you’ll be more productive, resilient and attentive. Minimize screen time prior to going to bed as that can adversely affect sleep.

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 and present opportunities for some exercise at many levels.

Eat a healthy diet – Studies have found that eating hyper-processed foods and added sugars will add to perceived stress levels. Try to eat a balanced diet consisting of whole foods, protein, fruits and vegetables and pass on that extra bowl of ice cream or chocolate chip cookie.

Take a time-out – If you’re working on something or just feel a bit overwhelmed, take a minute or two to take a “brain break” and think about something enjoyable such as getting outside or your last fun vacation.

Start writing in a journal – Capture positive things that happen during the day and write them in a journal. Over time you’ll accumulate many positive experiences that will help you through challenging times when you look back on these journal entries.

Use social media purposefully and not nonchalantly – 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 new classmates or the people you miss seeing every day.

Stress affects all of us in different ways. Some stress in our lives is beneficial, as it helps us to focus and perform at a high level. When stress levels supersede that threshold, that’s when people start to exhibit symptoms. Try to stay ahead of the stress power curve!

For our students, skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) are always available to assist with more advice on how to handle stress. All you need to do is make an appointment here. For faculty and staff, please contact your insurance provider who can provide mental health expertise.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the nice weather. Please remember to stay hydrated and use sunscreen when out and about. Continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike