Week of July 29th:

 

Dear Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, former and current Board members and Friends, 

What a beautiful morning! It’s been another busy week on the Elkins Park campus of Salus at Drexel. While some students have been preparing for final exams, others have been working in our clinics and their externship sites. We’ve also welcomed several international students from our distance audiology program to campus. In addition to these exciting things, here are some other items of interest for you:

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Now that we’ve entered Phase I of the merger with Drexel University, there’s a lot to keep track of as we move forward. No one knows that better than two of the driving forces of the integration between the two institutions: Beth Moy, chief of staff at Salus University, and Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, Drexel’s senior vice president, chief strategy officer, dean of the Graduate College and founding dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies in the College of Medicine. These two leaders shared details about next steps in this question-and-answer session. Click here for details. 

NEW O&P FACULTY: Allison Bressler, CPO, LPO, MS, recently joined the faculty of the Orthotics and Prosthetics department. Before joining our faculty, Allison was director of education at Harry J. Lawall and Son, Inc., a company that specializes in custom prosthetics and orthotic braces. Welcome Allison! Read more here.

BLVS ALUMNA OF THE YEAR: Carlton Anne Cook Walker, MEd ‘11, has been named the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) 2024 Alumna of the Year. Today, she runs a solo law practice in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and is also the principal at Blindness and Education Advocacy Resources, LLC (BEAR), which provides consultation and advocacy services to help blind/low vision individuals achieve independence and self-fulfillment in education, employment, and life. Click here to read more. 

AUDIOLOGY ALUMNI OF THE YEAR: Brian Urban, AuD ‘06, has been named the Audiology 2024 Alumni of the Year. Shortly after graduating, Urban simultaneously started a private practice while establishing CounselEAR, an online office management system for hearing healthcare practices. To read more about Brian, click here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we reach the midpoint of the summer, it is an opportune time to pause and reflect on your journey so far. This period provides a unique chance to look back on your past successes, challenges, and the various experiences you have encountered during the past semester. 

Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments. Recognize the hard work and dedication that have brought you to this point. Each success, no matter how small, is a testament to your perseverance and commitment to your education and future career. 

Equally important is reflecting on the challenges you faced. Consider the obstacles you encountered and how you overcame them. These experiences are valuable lessons that contribute to your personal and professional growth. Reflecting on these challenges can help you develop resilience and adaptability, qualities that are essential in the healthcare and educational professions. 

As you prepare for the upcoming fall semester, think about how you can build on these lessons learned. Consider how you can plan for continued success. This is an excellent time to set new goals and create a roadmap for achieving them. Think about the strategies that worked for you and how you can refine them to be even more effective. 

Teamwork and collaboration will play a crucial role in your future success. As you move forward, remember the importance of working together and drawing on each other’s experiences. In healthcare and education, the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues is vital. By supporting one another and sharing knowledge, you can create a strong, cohesive team that is better equipped to handle the complexities of patient care and education. 

Lastly, remember that all the hard work you are putting in today will pay off in the future. The dedication and effort you invest in your studies now will directly impact your ability to provide excellent care to the patients and clients we are training you to serve. Your commitment to your education is a commitment to the well-being of those you will care for in the future. 

As we continue through the summer and prepare for the fall, keep these thoughts in mind. Reflect, plan, collaborate, and stay dedicated. Your journey is just beginning, and the best is yet to come. 

Have a great weekend. Be safe, remember to hydrate when going out and about so you can remain SALUS AT DREXEL STRONG for everything you do over the weekend.

-Mike