Week of June 21, 2024

 

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

As we enter the first few days of summer, we are thrilled to see the progress being made as we ready our Mobile Unit for Healthcare Resources to serve local schools and community members. Looking forward to the ribbon cutting next Wednesday, 26 June!! 

Some other happenings around campus include: 

DR. SUNDAR TO RETIRE: Over the past 14 years, Dr. Giri Sundar has developed the Osborne College of Audiology’s Distance Education programs into one of the most highly regarded programs in the world. Now, she’s going to retire, effective at the end of this month. Read more here about Dr. Sundar’s substantial contributions to the University. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Because of an Occupational Therapy (OT) articulation agreement between Drexel University and Salus, Lauren DeAngelo, MSOT ’23, applied and was accepted to Salus. Her time in the OT program provided her with the exact training and skills she needed to go out into the professional world. Click here to read more. 

A SOUND LEGACY: Inspired by the legacy of the late John M. Reid, renowned co-inventor of the country’s first echocardiogram device, Drexel University’s Biomed faculty and their alumni protégés are steering ultrasound science deeper into the experimental domain of cancer, infection and wound treatment. To read more, click  here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today is the third day of a major heat wave gripping our region as well as midwestern and other mid-atlantic states, with over 70 million Americans under some form of heat alerts (ABC News, 6/20/24). Heat is the “leading cause of all weather-related deaths in the United States.” (Scientific American, 7/1/23). We can expect more extreme weather instances such as these as we experience the effects of climate change. 

It is important to know the risks of extreme heat. Heat exhaustion and heat related illnesses are preventable. A number of helpful resources are available to help you prepare yourself and others, including:  The American Red Cross, ready.gov and The National Weather Service. As we head into the summer, take some time to familiarize yourself with these so that you can offer evidence-based, preventive care for your patients, clients, neighbors and yourself. 

Be safe, rest well, continue to hydrate to help beat the heat and remain SALUS STRONG! Below: A sneak peek at our Mobile Unit for Healthcare Resources:

-Mike

Week of June 17, 2024

 

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

We end this week on an extremely sad note as we mourn the sudden loss of Mr. Rich Stankovis, our beloved Safety and Security Manager. Rich was not only a dedicated and kind-hearted member of our Salus family but also a pillar of strength and reliability. His unwavering commitment to our community's safety and well-being has left an indelible mark on all of us. Rich will be dearly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to be touched by his presence. 

Here are some items of interest for you to read: 

RECOGNITION RECEPTION: Following up on the Presidential Medal of Honor and the Alumni Association’s Alumni of the Year awards, click here for the story on the University’s Annual Recognition Reception that was held June 2, at PineCrest Country Club in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. 

RESIDENTS’ DAY: The ninth annual Residents’ Day at Salus was a major success, welcoming both on- and off-campus residents back to the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus to celebrate the residents’ near completion of their programs. Click here to read more. 

SALUS AWARDS GALA: The 8th Annual Salus Awards Gala will be held this evening, June 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at The Fuge in Warminster, Pennsylvania. The event will recognize those who have gone above and beyond to uplift the Salus Community. This event is to celebrate those awarded and to enjoy a night of food, dancing, and fun. Look for a future story on our website about the event. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: She always knew that she wanted to do something in the medical field, so when Connor Warren, MSOT ‘19, considered her career options, she chose a profession that melded her interests into one occupation. Among those interests were teaching yoga and being creative through art and photography. And everything combined together equaled Occupational Therapy (OT). To read more about Connor’s Salus experience, click here.

RESEARCH MEETING EXPERIENCE: At the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 75 students and faculty members from the Drexel University School of Education delivered 51 presentations over four days. Click here to read what the experience was like for Drexel students and how the University prepared them for their presentations. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: In memory of Rich, below are a few photos of the campus at different times of the year, which he loved:

-Mike

Week of June 10, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this beautiful Friday morning from our Elkins Park campus. This week has been exceptionally busy as we hosted the 2024 DonorPerfect Community Conference on fundraising – SPARK. Alongside this, we held community meetings for our students, faculty, and staff. Amidst these activities, our students have been diligently working in clinics, labs, and classrooms, with our international students gaining hands-on experience in our Auxiliary Clinical Procedures Lab. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the unfortunate situation at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which is closing its doors today due to fiscal challenges. The rapidly changing landscape of higher education is indeed concerning, and the abrupt closure has left many shocked and unprepared. Our hearts and prayers go out to the affected students, faculty, and staff as they navigate this difficult transition. These challenges underscore the importance of our strategic decision to merge with Drexel later this month as a proactive approach to ensuring stability and growth in such uncertain times. As we’ve said before, the merger is designed to strengthen our position and prevent the kind of calamity that has befallen the University of the Arts, providing a more secure and promising future for our entire Salus community. 

RECOGNITION RECEPTION: We had a great event last weekend at the annual recognition reception where we honored the 2024 Presidential Medal winners as well as the annual Alumni of the Year Award winners in our various programs. You can read stories about medal winners Patricia Modica, OD ‘88, Resident ‘89 here; and Stephanie Czuhajewski, executive director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology here. We also honored the 50th reunions of the Classes of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975. Look for a story on the event next weekend on our website and look for future stories throughout June and July for individual stories on our Alumni of the Year winners. 

HARROWING HAITI TRIP: David McPhillips, OD ‘85, FAAO, FVI, has been going on Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity (VOSH) trips to Haiti since he was a student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) in the mid-1980s. In the recent past, Haiti’s political unrest has given volunteers on humanitarian trips pause when deciding whether to embark on such trips. But the last Pennsylvania chapter VOSH trip in March 2024, turned out to be a little more challenging than usual for a small group of six, which included Dr. McPhillips, two other PCO/Salus doctors, Mark Rakoczy, OD ‘81, FVI, and Mike Satryan, OD ‘84, and three optometric technicians. Click here to read more. 

UARTS PATHWAY AT DREXEL: With the abrupt closing of the University of the Arts, Drexel University is committed to supporting those UArts students currently enrolled or just starting their college experience as they consider the next step in their educational careers. Drexel is developing a pathway that will help UArts students continue their education as seamlessly as possible during this challenging time of transition and will allow them to stay on track and finish their degree. To read more, click here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, France, code-named Operation Overlord, which began on June 6,1944. It was the largest amphibious landing operation in modern history, involving over 7,000 naval vessels, including more than 4,000 landing craft and 1,200 warships. Preceding the landing on Utah, Omaha, Gold, and Sword beaches, 23,000 paratroopers bravely landed behind enemy lines. During the invasion, over 160,000 men landed, and the Allied forces suffered more than 10,000 casualties, including those killed, wounded, and missing. By the end of the Normandy Campaign, nearly 29,000 Americans had lost their lives.

Notably, several thousand doctors, corpsmen, and medics also stormed the beaches at Normandy, many of whom were severely wounded or killed in action. The success in securing the beaches of Normandy paved the way for the liberation of France and ultimately the end of the war in Europe. 

These young Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Army Air Corps Airmen, often described as “The Greatest Generation,” played a crucial role in saving the world from tyranny. Their heroic sacrifice reminds us again that the price for freedom is great, a fact that I fear many Americans have forgotten. Throughout our history, men and women have given their all to defend freedom and democracy. As we reflect on those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, facing fierce German opposition, or those who jumped blindly from gliders into darkness, let us remember the immense sacrifices they made so that we can enjoy the freedoms our democracy affords us. Their efforts helped to ensure we can all comfortably practice our given professions in a manner which benefits our patients, clients and students. 

As you prepare for the weekend, take a moment to reflect on the history that they made on D-Day, which affords us the freedom to live, work and play as we choose. Be safe, continue to look out for one another, and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Week of June 3, 2024

 

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

Good morning on a beautiful Friday from our Elkins Park Campus. While the week was short, it certainly has been busy. The Drexel Human Resources team hosted the first of at least two Benefit Fairs on Wednesday where they filled the Hafter Center with experts to help answer questions and sign people up. The next one is scheduled for 6 June at TEI. And yesterday, Dr. Elisabeth Van Bockstaele and the Drexel team provided an informative Drexel Speaker Series that discussed Library, Educational Support & IT. While all this was happening, students and faculty have been engaged in normal classroom, clinic and lab activities. This campus never rests!

Here are other items I hope you will find of interest:

JOYOUS COMMENCEMENT: Drexel president John Fry delivered an inspirational and motivational keynote address at our 128th commencement ceremony May 23, 2024, at the Kimmel Cultural Center in Philadelphia. We were also honored to present President Fry with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. To read more about the day, click here. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Dr. Rita Chaiken has been involved with the University’s Osborne College of Audiology virtually since its establishment in 2000. She was asked by the College’s founder, George S. Osborne, to teach the second-ever cohort of the program in 2001. Now, she and four other winners will be awarded with the Salus Presidential Medal of Honor at the annual recognition reception at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 2, at PineCrest Country Club in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Click here to read more about Dr. Chaiken and her contributions to the profession of Audiology. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE II: In his house, Jim Saviola, OD, FAAO ‘85, has what he calls a “fancy” piano his wife and three daughters all play. About a year-and-a-half ago, Dr. Saviola wanted to do something outside work to “keep his brain working.” So, he took up piano lessons. He was sitting at the piano recently for one of those lessons when his phone rang informing him that he had been named a Presidential Medal of Honor winner by Salus University. Click here to read more. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE III: It’s turning out to be a banner year for Paul B. Freeman, OD '74, FAAO. Not only is he celebrating his 50th anniversary of graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, but he is also adding to his long list of accolades the 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor from his alma mater. Click here for more details. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: She’s always had a passion for Occupational Therapy (OT), so when her husband was transferred to Washington by the Air Force, Amber Fessler, OTD ‘20, started looking into doctoral programs in that area. When she didn’t find any program in the state that suited her, she started looking elsewhere. That’s when she found Salus University’s post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program, particularly the Remedial Vision Rehabilitation aspect. Read more here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating the achievements of our graduates. This coming weekend, we will extend our celebrations to honor several of our outstanding alumni. On Sunday, we will present the Presidential Medal of Honor to individuals from various professions who have distinguished themselves on international, national, and local stages. Their remarkable work has improved the lives of thousands and impacted countless more. 

Salus University, along with our founding college, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, has long been renowned for developing leaders in the fields we educate. As we prepare to merge with Drexel University, our legacy of leadership, innovation, and community service will be further enriched by the numerous opportunities Drexel will bring to our students, faculty, and staff. It’s an exhilarating time—both to celebrate those who have achieved so much and to anticipate the exciting possibilities ahead. Our only limitations are those we place on ourselves, so let’s dream big and prepare to accomplish even greater things! 

As you head into the weekend, please keep in your thoughts and prayers all those who are suffering around the world. Continue to respect one another and remain SALUS STRONG as we look forward to our bright future!

-Mike