Friday, April 26, 2024

Upholding Our Values of Inclusivity, Understanding and Respect: Week of April 26, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where spring has been in full bloom and our students and faculty have been working diligently toward the finish line this semester. Dr. Vitek and I just returned from a very exciting and successful trip to Bangkok, Thailand where we had the opportunity to meet with many of our Salus alumni, faculty and students and Rangcit University as well as prospective students. Other than being over 100 degrees there, it was a very successful engagement. I’ve posted a photo below of the group. We’re getting excited about our upcoming commencement ceremony at the Kimmel Center on May 23rd when we will welcome and honor our commencement speaker, Drexel president John Fry. In addition to all that’s happening on campus, here are some other items of interest:

ENVISION CONFERENCE: The inaugural Envision Conference held recently at Salus was a multidisciplinary low vision rehabilitation and research conference by Envision University in collaboration with the University’s Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), the William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center housed at The Eye Institute (TEI), the clinical teaching facility for PCO, and the University’s Blindness and Low Vision Studies and Occupational Therapy programs. Click here to read more about the event.

QUIZ BOWL HAIL MARY: Going into the 2024 PCO/Salus Quiz Bowl, Anna German ‘26OD knew she would be at a disadvantage. As a first-year student in the Doctor of Optometry Accelerated Scholars’ program, there were classes she hadn’t yet taken with information she hadn’t yet learned that would have greatly helped her in the annual trivia contest. So, she had to rely on her instincts and essentially throw up a Hail Mary on the final question. Find out what happened by clicking here

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Alexander Paluzzi, MSOT ‘21, wasn’t a typical Occupational Therapy (OT) student at Salus University. After graduating with a bachelor’s in secondary education and a master’s in international education, both from Drexel University, he started his career teaching social studies and working as an Applied Behavior Analysis Autism therapist. And now he is teaching anatomy and kinesiology at Salus. Read more about Alex here.

ACADEMIC RESTRUCTURING: Read Drexel University president John Fry’s message about the University’s efforts to strengthen Drexel's ability to attract and retain top students and to secure its future as a leading student-centered, experience-driven, research university. Click here for details. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: With all that is happening on college campuses around the country, I am thankful to our Salus University community members for continuing to conduct ourselves professionally and respectfully. As events in the Middle East unfold, emotions understandably run high, and discussions may become charged with differing perspectives.

It's essential during such times that we uphold our values of inclusivity, understanding, and mutual respect. Salus is a place for open dialogue and diverse viewpoints, and it's through respectful engagement that we can foster understanding and empathy, even amidst differing opinions. Let us remember that each member of our community brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table. By actively listening to one another and engaging in constructive dialogue, we can navigate these challenging moments with grace and understanding.

As always, the well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the counselors at CPPD if you need support or assistance during this time. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to maintaining a supportive and respectful environment at Salus University.

As we approach the weekend, it looks like the weather will be very nice, so try to take a break in your students or whatever you might be doing indoors to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Drs. Mittelman and Vitek

Group photo


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