Leveraging AI Thoughtfully: Week of May 3, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where we have welcomed a new family of goslings on campus (short video attached). Our students have been busy completing final exams and practicals, as faculty prepare grades. Only a couple of weeks until Spring Commencement! Here are some other items I hope you will find of interest:

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University has continued a long-standing collaboration with Head Start programs in the Philadelphia area for more than 35 years. Head Start is a primarily federally funded program that provides education, health and social services to families with children aged three, four and five. For PCO/Salus, this has meant contributing to a variety of services, including primary eye care exams at Head Start centers and schools in the Philadelphia area. Click here to read more.

MERITORIOUS HONORS FOR SLP: The University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students really raised the bar when it came to their capstone projects this year. Out of the seven meritorious posters chosen to be featured at the annual Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) convention April 10-13 in Pittsburgh, two of those were from research conducted by Salus SLP students. For details, click here.

O&P KENYA TRIP: During a humanitarian trip to Kenya, Victoria “Tori” Page ‘25O&P had a young patient who hadn’t walked since her leg amputation the previous year. Tori spent a long time working on a prosthesis trying to make her patient as comfortable as possible. At the end of her appointment, Tori asked the patient how her new leg felt. “She looked at me with a big smile and said, ‘I’m walking!’” Read more here about the O&P humanitarian trip to Kenya.

A SPECIAL PA OLYMPICS: This year’s PA Olympics took on a little more significance for students in the Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program at Salus because it honored one of the University’s former faculty members, Adam Moore, MHS, PA-C, ATC. Adam was an assistant professor for the Salus PA program from 2016 to 2022 and at Thomas Jefferson University until his passing in September 2023. During his time at Salus, Moore had served as a faculty advisor for the PA Olympics. Click here for additional details on the event.

DREXEL DEI RECOGNITION: Drexel Alumni is the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. In its inaugural year, this award recognizes Drexel Alumni for its programs, culture, and initiatives that encourage and support diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all alumni, across racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, religions, socio-economic statuses and more. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I have spent the last two days in DC this week attending the Special Medical Advisory Group for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs where I am the designated representative for optometry. Every time I attend these meetings, I am extremely impressed with all that the VA is doing to improve health care for our Veteran population. Administering the nation’s largest integrated health system, the VA is leading the way in digital health integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital solutions responsibly and effectively into VA care. It’s a daunting task when you consider there are over 9-million veterans enrolled in the system.

One process the VA has been using to select the right industry partner to help them integrate AI into their patient care processes is called “AI Sprint.” AI Sprints are three-month competitive engagements that foster collaboration among industry, academia and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Sprints are staged with specific challenges introduced into the process every 3 weeks to determine how teams might mitigate them. I see great value in academia adopting similar processes to devise solutions to some of the novel challenges we face in our higher ed/healthcare ecosystem. As we attempt to leverage AI and related technologies, we need to embrace best practices ensuring cybersecurity, patient, and student safety as well as accuracy and reliability. Our partnership with Drexel will help operationalize some of these processes

It looks like the weekend is going to be a bit cooler than it has been, so try and get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather while it still lasts. As you get to the last weeks of the semester, keep your eye on the ball concerning your studies and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

The Importance of Voting to Preserve our Democracy: Week of November 3, 2023

 

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

Good morning on this crisp Fall morning from our Elkins Park campus where our everyone has been busy between classes, labs and clinics. Our first floor renovation project is all coming together nicely, albeit a couple of months late, as construction crews begin to put the finishing touches on the project. Just yesterday (of course the coldest day of the semester, so far) our patio furniture was delivered and set up. I’m hoping for some warmer weather next week so folks can get out and enjoy it! Here are some other items that I hope you will find of interest:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: Our annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser is just one week away and tickets are still available for the event at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. You can purchase your ticket here. Click here to learn more about the LOFK story, how it all began and how it has grown over the years. And click here to read more about Johnny Archer from NBC10, the emcee for the event.

CHER CAREER FAIR: Our College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) will have a career fair from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in the Hafter Student Community Center. There are 23 employers scheduled with positions open for occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists (including CFY) nationwide – these are not just employers from Pennsylvania. If you have not already pre-registered, please do so here. Contact the Bennett Career Services Center with any questions.

BLVS AWARDED TWO GRANTS: Salus University’s Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) has been awarded two five-year grants from the U.S. Department of Education to support the preparation of two of its programs - Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility (O&M) professionals. Read more here.

O&P FACULTY FOCUS: For her entire life, Jacalyn Harris, MPO, CPO/L has watched her father Chris Sickels, an amputee, go through various iterations of his prosthesis. This experience sparked Jacalyn’s interest in the engineering involved in artificial limbs. Learn more here about our newest faculty member in the Orthotics and Prosthetics department.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME TO END: Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2AM Sunday 5 November. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Our democracy and the right to vote are more fragile than most realize. On Election Day this coming Tuesday, November 7th, we get to exercise a core tenet of our democracy: to vote for candidates who closely align with our values and beliefs. To ignore this responsibility minimizes the sacrifices of thousands who gave their lives so we and others can be free.

Think about the issues that impact our freedoms including: the right to vote, the elimination of racism and discrimination, and respecting everyone’s individual rights. These issues directly impact the care and treatment of the people and communities we serve. Choosing candidates who will work to ensure equal access to high quality healthcare and healthcare choices advances the work we do every day to improve health outcomes.

As you consider for whom you will vote, check candidate voting records that can help predict how candidates will vote in the future. Remember that social media posts tend to represent opinions rather than facts. Verify facts using multiple sources before taking a position. Today’s world has become more dangerous, divisive and polarized. Electing leaders who best represent your values and beliefs helps ensure the integrity of our democracy.

It's going to be a bit colder this weekend so if you go out and about, please plan accordingly. Covid is still out there, as the flu, so please take appropriate precautions. If you haven’t gotten your Covid and flu vaccines yet, please put that on your “to do” lists.

Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG, prepared to vote on Tuesday, 7 November!

-Mike

Embracing Transitions: Week of May 5, 2023

 

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

Good morning and Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s been another busy week at Salus with our students preparing for finals, upcoming commencement and new clinical rotations. We’ve had therapy dogs in the Learning Resource Center, bagels in the morning to help jump start the day, and the symphony of construction as work continues on our first floor renovation. Here are some other items of interest:

A HIGHER LEVEL: Yasmin Battat, AuD ‘09 wanted a higher level of training where she could attain more in-depth knowledge about her profession. So, she enrolled in the distance learning program in audiology at what was then the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) School of Audiology. Read more about Dr. Battat’s journey here.

ACCEPTED STUDENT DAY: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) programs hosted their inaugural accepted student days this past weekend. Students had the opportunity to visit the Elkins Park campus, tour the facilities, meet faculty, and interact with prospective classmates. Accepted student day was first offered for PCO students last year, but has since expanded to include the Audiology, SLP, O&P and Physician Assistant Studies (PA) programs.

OT CONFERENCE: Five Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program (OTD) students and two Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) students attended the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri from April 19 to April 23. SOTA officers Lexi Hunn MSOT ‘24, and Mia Nicolosi, MSOT ‘24, represented Salus at the annual Assembly of Student Delegates meeting, and Caityn Foy, DOT, MOTR/L, OTD program director, hosted a Salus University expo table and talked to prospective MSOT and OTD students.

AAPI HERITAGE MONTH: Monday marked the start of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month), recognizing the challenges faced by Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians and their vital contributions to the American story. May is significant to the AAPI community for two reasons. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. More than 20 years later, on May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed, largely due to the project's more than 20,000 Chinese workers.

FINAL THOUGHTS: On Tuesday evening, I was delighted to help “send off” our 3rd year Audiology students who are preparing for external clinical rotations. I always enjoy this ceremony, as I encourage our students to take full advantage of the learning that will challenge them clinically and academically, and that will help them build confidence in what they’ve learned at Salus. This got me thinking about transitions, and how at this time of the year many of our students are preparing to transition to their next stage of training or into professional practice opportunities.

Transitions can be exhilarating and exciting, and they can also feel uncomfortable, challenging and scary. Over the course of my 33-year career with the Navy, I transitioned a number of times to positions with increasing responsibility all over the world. Each transition helped me grow professionally and intellectually by getting me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to confront new ideas and situations. Some transitions were harder than others. As I reflect on all of them, the ones in which I learned the most were the ones I approached with an open mind, grace and ease—allowing myself not to know everything, reaching out when I had questions, and giving myself the space to make mistakes and learn from them.

Every day and every interprofessional and interpersonal encounter presents an opportunity to embrace change in the way we look at things, communicate and respond. Over their years of education and clinical training at Salus University, our students are being shaped by our faculty and staff to become exceptionally prepared healthcare professionals, educators and researchers. Each step along the path is a transition presenting students with challenges and opportunities that contribute to their professional formation.

As we continue our discussions with Drexel, our faculty and staff have been thinking about what a transition could look like if an integration moves forward. Like other transitions, this presents great opportunities, and it can also feel stressful, because the status quo will change over time. In healthcare and higher education, where our worlds intersect, change is the norm. This can feel difficult and destabilizing. Having been through a lifetime of significant transitions, I want you to know that I appreciate what you may be feeling. As you have questions, please reach out to me or our leadership team. We can navigate this together.

I cannot stress enough the importance of flexibility and agility as conditions in our industry change. These changes require transitions from the way we currently think to new ways of thinking that are more encompassing, collaborative and more complex. That’s the goal of the integration with Drexel: providing us with the opportunity to shape and evolve the future of our current programs in a way that we could not envision independently.

Marcus Aurelias, the famous stoic, once said: “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” In every transition I have encountered, I have asked myself, “What am I learning about my response to change, and how can I grow from this experience?” This question has helped me see the opportunity for positive growth that is always there, if I look for it.

As you start your weekend, try to reflect on the transitions you’ve experienced and the learning that has come out of them. Congratulations and best of luck to our audiology as well as our other students heading to clinical rotations. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Respecting Each Other's Cultures and Backgrounds: Week of November 18, 2022

 

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

Greetings from Israel, where Dr. Melissa Vitek and I are wrapping up a trip where we have been providing lectures and workshops to optometry students at Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with its distinguished president, Professor Bertold Fridlender, and to compare notes on the impact of the pandemic on higher education in both Israel and the United States. We have much in common!

Last weekend, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our Looking Out For Kids fundraiser at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia honoring Lighthouse Award Leader Kovin Naidoo. Special thanks to NBC10 reporter Johnny Archer, Jacquie Patterson, Alexis Abate, Dr. Brandy Scombordi, Dr. Juliana Mosley Williams, our sponsors, faculty, staff, friends and family for creating together such an outstanding event. My personal thanks for your commitment and contributions – together we raised over $95,000 in vision and audiology support for children across the Philadelphia region! To read more about the evening, click here.

While we’ve been away, here are some other “goings on” at Salus: 

MSCO ADVENTURE: Salus Master of Science in Clinical Optometry (MSCO) 2023 international students spent a recent autumn morning hiking along the Wissahickon Park trails with other international students from Drexel University’s English Language Center (ELC). A group of more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff from both universities celebrated the changing colors of the leaves, traversed shallow creeks and learned a bit about the history of the Wissahickon Valley in Northwestern Philadelphia. Read more about their adventure here.

THE ART OF OBSERVATION: A common communication capability came in quite handy recently when a group of 12 Salus PA students visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to participate in a program called “The Art of Observation.” Click here to read more.

ANOTHER O&P ‘FIRST’: Hearing the words “first pour” for the first time might initially conjure up images of an after-work happy hour at a local watering hole. But for students in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) cohort at Salus University, “first pour” means something completely different in an academic context. Click here to learn more.

SALUS SOIREE: The Campus Activities Committee is hosting the 2022 Salus Soiree, "A Vivid Dream,” tonight at the Please Touch Museum from 8 to 11 p.m.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of my career, I have been deeply privileged to be able to travel and work in places all over the world. Across every culture and country, I am struck by the overwhelming decency, respect and dignity of the people I meet wherever I go.

At Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem, I was thrilled to be invited to lecture to a first-year optometry class of Arab, Israeli and Palestinian students. It was heartening to experience students’ genuine respect and appreciation of each other effectively bridging what could easily be fraught cultural, language and political differences. There’s a lesson here for all of us: it takes effort, time, skills and practice to treat each other with mutual respect, find common goals, exercise tolerance and open-mindedness, and it is achievable.

I am inspired by and grateful for the students, faculty and staff with whom I spent time with at Hadassah. It left me recommitted to the work we do at Salus to model for our patients, colleagues and students respect, collaboration, compassion and appreciation -- essential relational skills that build communities and strengthen societies.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to find time to relax and unwind. The weather is turning a bit chilly, so when you do go out and about, be prepared for that. If you have not yet received your flu or Covid vaccine, please put that on your “to do” list as no one wants to see an uptic on either as we approach the holidays. To make it easier, we will have another booster event at Elkins Park on December 7 from 10:30 am-2:30pm in the gym. Look for the forthcoming email reminder. As we approach the holidays, I want everyone to be able to enjoy them!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, if I don’t have a chance to see you this coming week. Be safe, remain healthy and stay SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Remembering Our Veterans: November 11, 2022

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park Campus where our students, faculty and staff are busy with classes, labs and clinics. Our Chestnut Hill satellite clinic has a new façade that looks professional and inviting. The private practice pilot that we’ve initiated there is off to a strong start thanks to the great work of our faculty and staff! In addition to what’s happening on campus, here are other items of interest:

LOFK IS HERE! Join us for our Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 12th at the National Constitution Center. If you haven’t purchased tickets, please consider going to our website here to help us provide healthcare for children in need.

AAO CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was front and center at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) “Academy 2022” centennial celebration recently in San Diego. Fifteen Salus faculty and six residents presented posters, four faculty gained AAO fellowship, 14 faculty gave presentations, two faculty gave symposium lectures and two faculty delivered Grand Rounds. Read more about the conference here.

O&P PERSPECTIVE: Check out this podcast with Amber Lewis ‘25OP, a first-year student in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at the University. She gives us insight on the program and why she chose Salus O&P. Click here for details.

SALUS SOIREE: This year’s Salus Soiree is scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Semi-formal attire is requested. All students and guests must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination or provide a negative test taken within 72 hours of the event. Contact the Student Council for details and tickets.

30 YEARS AND COUNTING!: Congratulations to our Orientation & Mobility and Blind and Visually Impaired (VRT) programs celebrating 30 years of approval from the Department of Education! We are so proud to be home to these nationally distinguished programs!

SELF-CARE BAG: Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) counselors Janeyshka Ortiz-Flores and Andrew Jaskot will see you outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. Stop by their table to say hello and collect a self-care bag.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday marked the 247th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Here in Philadelphia, on November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the Continental Marines. Since that time, Marines have distinguished themselves defending our freedoms around the world. During my 33-year Navy career, I had the privilege of serving with the Marine Corps for almost a third of that time.

Today, we recognize all veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Originally designated Armistice Day by President Wilson, November 11 commemorates the armistice that began that day. In 1954 Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to recognize all veterans. 

While on active duty, we observed Navy and Marine Corps birthdays and Veterans Day by participating in cake-cutting ceremonies and attending a few veteran’s events. As a retired Navy veteran, I think of these days a bit differently. I appreciate how lucky we all are to have men and women who place their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we have, such as election day last Tuesday. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment have been the moral and ethical compass that have guided the men and women in uniform for 247 years.

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with all who serve in our armed forces. We, too, commit our time and energies to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals, we are also guided by an ethical and moral compass – one that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – Honor, Courage and Commitment.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, think about how we can leverage our own commitment to conduct ourselves with honor, to exercise the courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and to do what’s right for our patients, clients, and those around us.

-Mike

Congratulations New Grads: Week of October 14, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful fall morning from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been a busy week at Salus. On Wednesday, we celebrated our newest class of physician assistants with our Long White Coat ceremony. Yesterday, our 125th commencement at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia launched our latest group of graduates with inspirational remarks given by Admiral Tom Cullison. We look forward to watching our graduates spread their wings as they leave our nest. Check out our website in the coming days for stories on both of those events.

In other campus news:

THE FIRST OF MANY ‘FIRSTS’: The inaugural class of the new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at Salus University recently had its first patient experience in a didactic setting. And, its relevance wasn’t lost on the students. Read more about this unique experience for our O&P students here.

CLASS OF 2022-23 RESIDENT: As a child, Taral Patel, OD ‘22, ‘23 Resident, liked going to the eye doctor. As a youngster with eye issues, she needed to see an optometrist every year, and each time she went, it was a good experience. Read more here about Dr. Patel’s journey to becoming an optometrist and continuing her quest to learn as one of our current group of residents.

O&M GRANT: The University’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) program received a grant from the Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation to support its internship programs. Read more here about what that means for our O&M students.

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS: As the cost of higher education skyrockets, I know many students are worried about paying off their loans. The Bennett Career Services Center will be hosting an event on Student Loan Forgiveness & Non-Traditional Employment Options on Thursday, October 20th on the Elkins Park campus, room S300 from 6:00PM – 7:30PM. They be featuring several government, non-profit, military, etc. programs that offer student loan forgiveness. Don't miss your chance to learn about these life-changing programs!

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: I want to remind everyone about our upcoming Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser on 12 November at 6:30 PM. This year’s event will be head at the National Constitution Center where we will be honoring Professor Kovin Naidoo with our Lighthouse Award. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, please consider going to our website here to help us provide healthcare for children in need.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s been a great week! I want to once again wish all our graduating professionals the very best of everything as they leave Salus and begin their new and exciting professional careers.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. It’s going to be a pretty one, so try to get out and enjoy some of the early Fall colors. If you already haven’t, please schedule your Covid and Flu vaccines. CDC is predicting an upsurge of both as we approach winter, and I want to be certain that we have as much protection as possible.

Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Celebrating Labor Day & The Importance of Casting Your Vote: Week of September 2, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful September morning from our Elkins Park campus where the Fall semester is well underway. Some of you have already had your first set of exams, which I’m sure were very successful!

As we end this week, here are some happenings around campus:

SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH: September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Please visit CPPD's Dr. Cristina Laracuente, along with new student trainees Andrew Jaskot and Janeyshka Ortiz, outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. They will have awareness ribbons, snacks, and educational material for you.

O&P LAUNCH: Salus University’s Orthotics and Prosthetics program has officially launched! Read more here about our wonderful ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighting our new labs.

TAIWAN STUDENTS VISIT: We were delighted to welcome students from Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) in Taichung, Taiwan, who spent most of July on our Elkins Park campus learning about our health science programs. Read more about their visit here.

ABOUT OUR AMBASSADORS: Our Salus University Ambassador Program is a select group of students across all programs who represent our University. In this podcast, we talk with Emaree Stone ‘25OD and Madison Gates ‘23SLP, who share their rewarding experience of being Salus Ambassadors.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL WINNERS: Melissa Padilla, MPH ‘13, (June 29, 1966 – May 29, 2022) who recently passed away, made a distinctive contribution to the growth of Salus University in so many ways. Her dedication and loyalty permeated everything she did – she was born to be a leader, a passionate learner, and an exquisite communicator. Read more about Padilla’s contributions to Salus and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) here.

After his graduation from PCO, Robert Bittel, OD ‘83 spent his entire career working in support of Pennsylvania optometrists. As chairman of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s Legislative Action Committee, Dr. Bittel played a key role in expanding scope of practice for Pennsylvania optometrists. Learn more about Bittel’s distinguished career here, as he is awarded a 2022 Presidential Medal of Honor. 

COVID BOOSTER SHOTS: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just approved the latest round of Covid-19 boosters that specifically target the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants of the virus, in addition to the original strains. The Pfizer booster will be available for everyone 12 and over, and the Moderna booster will be available for all aged 18 and over. The FDA recommends that people who recently received their initial vaccine or a booster should wait at least two months before getting the updated booster, as getting the new booster too soon could limit its effectiveness. I strongly encourage everyone to get the booster when you are eligible (at least 2 months after you received your last shot).

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we begin Labor Day weekend, I always like to remind people why we mark this holiday celebrating the greatest workers in the world – American workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. This is why we have this coming Monday off. I hope everyone enjoys their 3-day weekend and especially, Labor Day.

One more reminder: As election day approaches, it’s important that we all do our civic duty and vote. Preserving our democracy depends on this. If you are not registered to vote, please take the time do that in the coming weeks. Since all our professions are statutorily regulated, it’s important that we have a voice in selecting those who represent us. I will remind you again about this in the coming weeks, but please take this seriously. Thomas Jefferson said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Thus the importance of taking the time to register and vote.

Have a great weekend. The weather is supposed to be fantastic, so get out and enjoy it! Please remember to socially distance, continue to follow CDC face mask guidelines, wash your hands frequently and remember that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be responsible, remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Welcoming Our Entering Class: Week of August 12, 2022

 

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where the weather finally has gotten a little cooler! We are thrilled to welcome our entering class next week and to open our new Orthotics and Prosthetics lab on Monday!  

Here are a few items of interest: 

NEW O&P LAB: The result of a lot of hard work and planning is finally here. Please join us at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15 for the ribbon-cutting and opening of our new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) lab. The event will include a tour of our Activities of Daily Living Lab. Both are located on the fourth floor of the West building of our Elkins Park campus. To RSVP for the ceremony, click here. To read more about the new O&P lab, click here.

LIGHTHOUSE AWARD WINNER: Kovin Naidoo, BSc, BOptom, MPH, OD ‘95, PhD, DHL (Hon), Global Head: Advocacy and Partnerships, OneSight EssilorLuxxotica Foundation, has been selected as the Lighthouse Award recipient for our 15th annual “Looking Out For Kids” charity fundraiser. Check out the story on Dr. Naidoo here.

SUMMER ART EXHIBIT: We are excited to showcase the work of the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists (MCGOPA) in our D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on our Elkins Park campus of Salus. Click here for more information.

THE PATH TO AN OT CAREER: Upon graduation, Alexis Long ’23 OT, hopes to pursue a career in pediatric care. But just like her undergraduate career, where she was open to any and all opportunities, the unexpected twists and turns in her academic journey have made Alexis eager to see where her Occupational Therapy career takes her. Read more here.

MONTCLAIR VISITORS IMPRESSED: A group from Montclair State University in New Jersey visited Salus University recently to tour the campus and hear more about the various health science programs Salus offers. And, many of them came away impressed with what they saw and now considering Salus as a graduate school option. Read more about their experience here.

WHITE COAT CEREMONIES: Next week we’ll recognize our students with White Coat ceremonies for all three colleges. This annual ceremony represents the transition from student to professional in training as first-year students receive the symbol of their profession – the white coat. Recipients from all of the University’s clinical specialties -- Optometry, Audiology, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology and for the very first time, Orthotics and Prosthetics degree programs, will be honored. Look for stories and photos of the events on our website.

ERRATA: Apologies to Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan and the OCA staff, where we mistakenly labeled the Osborne College of Audiology - PCA – We all know it is OCA!

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I noted earlier, next week will be a busy week on campus because it’s Orientation Week, when our new students have the opportunity to meet representatives from our Salus student service departments, clinical facilities and external organizations providing helpful resources to them during their time at the University. We’ll also acknowledge all who helped bring our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program to life. Please try to participate in as many of these events as you can.

As we start this new, exciting and hopefully, normal school year, please keep in mind: we’re all in this together. For our students, our sole mission is to ensure your success as you learn and embrace your new professions. To our world-class faculty and staff, thank you for all you do every day to prepare and support our students. As everyone gets ready for the upcoming week, please be mindful of your physical and mental health and what you will do to protect and enhance both.

Have a great weekend - the weather should be perfect! Be safe, continue to follow CDC masking guidelines, wash your hands frequently and socially distance when you can. I look forward to welcoming all to our SALUS STRONG campus next week!

Mike

Salus Weekly Update: Week of July 22nd, 2022

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

Good morning from a very hot and muggy Elkins Park campus. This is a far cry from the weather I was experiencing just yesterday in Iceland where the high temperature was 52 degrees! I wanted to call your attention to a few things that might be of interest to you:

THE TEI EXPERIENCE: Check out the second part of a two-part Q&A with the 2021-2022 Residents of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and their on-campus residency experiences at The Eye Institute (TEI) during their first official year of being a Doctor of Optometry. Click here.

O&P FACULTY UPDATE: Welcome to Virginia Muthard, CPO/L, FAAOP, the newest addition to our Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) faculty. She comes to Salus after a year of teaching orthotics in the Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (MSPO) program at the University of Pittsburgh. Read more about Virginia here.

‘OPENING EYES’ VOLUNTEERS: A group from PCO/Salus participated in the “Opening Eyes” program for athletes who competed in the New Jersey Special Olympics, held recently at The College of New Jersey in Ewing Township. Over two days, 12 students from PCO/Salus screened 268 special Olympians and provided glasses and sunglasses for 350 individuals. Click here to learn more about their experience.

INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION: Salus University and Brandywine River Museum of Art have created accessible programming for visitors with autism and sensory-processing disorders. Over the past five years, the project has blossomed into an interdisciplinary collaboration that not only includes the University’s Occupational Therapy (OT) department, but the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) departments as well. Read more about the initiative here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: It is going to be close to 100 degrees, sunny and humid this weekend. Please ensure that you stay hydrated and try to restrict your outdoor activities to times when it’s relatively cooler outside such as early in the morning or early evenings. Also, please keep in mind that cases of COVID have been on the rise nationally, and we’ve not been immune in our region. Remain vigilant in taking the appropriate preventive measures when you’re out and about by following CDC masking guidelines. Remember, if you’re not feeling well, rule out COVID with a self-test before you interact with others. 

Have a great weekend - stay cool, be safe and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Our Shared Commitment With You: Week of July 1st, 2022

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

Good morning on a steamy first day of July from our Elkins Park campus. In addition to our normal cadence of classes, labs, and clinics this week, we were delighted to welcome our newest cohort of international students from Taiwan and the Board of Directors from the Sunday Breakfast Club, a leadership organization advancing civic dialogue in the region.

Here are some recent developments:

ADAPTIVE SPORTS DAY SUCCESS: Our first Adaptive Sports Day last weekend was a huge success. The daylong event, held at the Hafter Student Community Center, welcomed disabled community members to participate in a host of activities, including yoga, seated volleyball, a mobility obstacle course, adaptive golf, tennis, pickleball and wheelchair basketball. We also introduced the community to our new Orthotics and Prosthetic program, which welcomes our first students this fall. Click here to read more.

AVOIDING BURNOUT: Check out the first of a two-part series titled “Practicing Wellness as a Graduate Student: Avoiding Burnout” on our website. This first part reveals why burnout is important to address, identifies the stages of burnout and offers tips for mitigating burnout. Read more here.

HELPING HER COMMUNITY: Thahira Kallumurikkal, AuD ‘22, an audiologist at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company's (Seha) Oud Al Touba Diagnostic & Screening Center in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, has played an important role in spreading awareness and support about the pandemic in her community. In fact, she's written a book about it. Click here to read more.

SUSSMAN SCHOLARSHIP: The family of Naomi Sussman, MS ‘12, who passed away in 2018, has generously created the Naomi Sussman Scholarship, which offers an annual award to a student studying Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) or Orientation and Mobility (O&M) at Salus University. Read more here about this special alum and her love of the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program at the University.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As some of you know, my wife and I have been raising a Seeing Eye Dog, Godiva, for the past 20 months. Yesterday, we dropped her off at “college” to begin her formal education at The Seeing Eye. The entire process from meeting Godiva when she was seven weeks old to now has been a true labor of love. It also represents a commitment to preparing her to serve others. I see this commitment as a parallel to what we do at Salus. While we don’t get students when they’re seven weeks old, we do get most of you right after you’ve finished college – ready and eager to learn your new professions. This new relationship represents a shared commitment between you and your Salus family. A big part of our responsibility, much like we have done with Godiva, is to prepare you to adjust to the many different situations that you will encounter professionally and even sometimes personally.

Often, issues that you may not think are directly related to your specific professions but have significant public health implications are addressed either here in my weekly updates or in your classes. Two such issues that touch all of us are gun violence and the most recent Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v Wade. Other than the COVID-19 pandemic, these two public health issues are, in my opinion, the defining public health issues of our generation. Take time to sift through the media hype and truly understand the short- and long-term ramifications of these two public health challenges. Read multiple sources before passing judgment, and more importantly, before giving advice to your future patients – because they trust your guidance. Brian Zuckerman, our legal counsel, will be leading a discussion on the legal basis behind the Supreme Court decision and its impact on reproductive rights laws later this month. It’s an important opportunity to learn more.

All of our professions provide meaningful opportunities to help others. To do that effectively, we need to understand and to be articulate about the public health issues of our day.

As you prepare for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, please keep those in military service and veterans in your thoughts. Let’s especially keep in mind those in the Salus family who have family and friends who serve, and for all families and peoples who wish to be free.

Please stay hydrated, wear sunscreen when outdoors and continue to follow CDC masking guidelines. If you are not feeling well, test yourself to ensure you haven’t contracted COVID. Take some time over the weekend to think about your commitment to your patients and how you are would address questions concerning the issues I’ve discussed above.

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

Mike

Coping With Stress: Week of June 24th, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a cool summer morning from our Elkins Park campus, where earlier this week, twelve students began our Summer Enrichment Program thanks to a grant from National Vision, Inc. These students will be on campus for 4-weeks preparing to start our optometry program in August. We are excited to welcome them!

Here are some items of interest:

ADAPTIVE SPORTS DAY: Salus University will host its first Hanger Clinic Adaptive Sports Day from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park campus. This event, for anyone with limb loss, orthotic bracing or mobility changes, and their supportive family and friends, is a great way to introduce the community to our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program that will welcome its inaugural class this fall. For details click here.

NEW ASCO PRESIDENT: Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Trego, dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, for assuming the presidency of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) at its conference last week in Chicago.

AHEAD OF THE CURVE: June is Scoliosis Awareness Month, and when our first students arrive in the fall of 2022 to learn in the new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at Salus University, they will be very much aware of what scoliosis is and taught how to effectively treat it. Read more here.

A NOTABLE FIRST: When Suha Almusa ‘22 O&M, graduates in the fall from the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) program at Salus University, it is believed she will be the only female certified O&M specialist in her home country, Saudi Arabia. Read more about Suha’s journey here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I want to revisit a discussion about stress, particularly for our students. Even in the midst of the summer semester, many of you still feel the stress associated with being a professional student. There’s a great deal going on around us, and there’s also much to learn in a relatively short period of time. I want you to know that you’re not alone – not at all. If you’re having difficulty with a specific subject, I can pretty much guarantee that some of your classmates are experiencing the same challenges. I remember my first year at PCO, way back when, sitting in Dr. Lorraine Lombardi’s anatomy lectures trying to figure out how I was going to remember all that stuff. Throw in ophthalmic and physiological optics and my head was spinning. Most of my classmates were feeling the same way. The biggest difference between then and now is that there is even more material to learn in each of our programs! Your deans, program directors and faculty all realize the stress you may be feeling. While there is no simple answer and everyone copes with stress a bit differently, here are some suggestions that have served me well over the years:

Stay focused on your studies – Keep up with your learning and try not to fall behind. Not only is focusing on school a great break from focusing on what’s going on in the world, it’s also a way to progress in your life while everything else seems like it’s on pause.

Develop a routine you can stick to – Sounds basic, but it will make a world of difference. Get up, make your bed (now you’ve accomplished at least one thing!), exercise, eat breakfast, etc.

Get enough sleep – 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 including stress. Prioritize sleep over other things and you’ll be more productive, resilient and attentive.

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 while getting physical exercise.

Make sure you have what you need for the next day – Check the schedule, lay out your clothes, make your lunch, etc.

Use social media purposefully – 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 some new classmates or the people you miss seeing every day.

We all want you to succeed. If you remain focused, healthy and optimistic, you will. We have skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are also there for you. I strongly encourage you to contact them if you feel like you need to. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

As you prepare for this warm summer weekend, please think about how you are managing stress. Remember to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen and a facemask indoors and outside, informed by your personal risk assessment (CDC guidance can help you decide), and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG! See you all next week!

Mike

Democracy at Work: Week of June 17th, 2022

 

Dear Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends, Good morning from a rather balmy Chicago, where I am attending Optometry’s Meeting along with Dr. Melissa Trego, about 25 PCO students and other PCO and Salus staff. More about the meeting later in my Final Thoughts. On campus, students from every program are attending classes, labs, and in many instances, clinics. 

Here are some recent developments:

THE FIRST OF MANY FIRSTS: Julie Quinlan, MPO, MS, CPO, ATC, likes a challenge, and she’s found a big one as the first faculty member hired for Salus University’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program, scheduled to kick off in the fall of 2022. Read more about Julie here.

POST-BACC ROAD TO SUCCESS: When Kaylea Ellison, PBHS ‘22, got rejected from all the optometry schools to which she had applied, she described it as “gut-wrenching.” But it also strengthened her resolve to find another path to achieve her goal of becoming an optometrist. She then discovered Salus University had a post-baccalaureate program. Read more here about how the post-bacc program helped Kaylea. 

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY GRANTS: The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus University has received two grants that will be used to help students learn to care for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and acquired brain injuries. For details, click here.

PRIDE MIXER SCHEDULED: As Pride Month comes to an end, CPPD's Jana Walker will host a Pride Mixer from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, in the cafe on the Elkins Park campus. There will be snacks, karaoke, and trivia. Please stop by and say hello. This event is open to all who are interested.

PCO RECEPTION: Please join Dr. Trego and others from the university for PCO’S AOA Alumni and Friends Reception later this evening from 5:30 – 7:00 at the Marriott Marquis Chicago, Great Lake C. It will be a good chance to reconnect, relax and just enjoy the evening.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I noted above, I am attending Optometry’s Meeting this week in Chicago. One of the main purposes of the meeting, other than to provide world-class continuing education, is for both the American Optometric Association and American Student Optometric Association to conduct their internal legislative business including: selection of next year’s officers and resolutions that organize the profession’s priorities for the year, and approval of the annual budget. There are speeches, lobbying for positions and democratic processes that determine the profession’s direction.  

I am struck by how well the process works. Successes are built on compromise and an honest, often spirited discussion about important issues. It’s democracy working the way it should. This stands in contrast to what I see at the national level, which is polarized and relatively ineffective. I raise this not to be provocative, but to highlight that democracies are fragile. It’s important not to take what we have in our country for granted. Our democracy can be lost if we don’t pay attention to what’s going on around us.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to reflect on this because as healthcare providers, what happens to our democracy directly affects how we can provide the care we are so well trained to do. Sadly, those who need our care the most will often be most affected.

Please be safe, stay hydrated when out in the heat, watch out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG.

Mike

Building Resilience: Week of October 1st, 2021

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

Greetings on a rather crisp Friday morning! It’s been another busy week, both on and off campus, for many of us. I just returned from two days in Harrisburg and one day in Washington, DC, where I had the honor of presenting Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her extraordinary work in helping to keep all Pennsylvanians safe during the pandemic, followed by a meeting with Senator Jake Corman where I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of all of our professions practicing to the highest limits of their training. The last leg of my trip in DC I participated in a meeting addressing Veteran’s health issues, which was extremely interesting. In addition to my travels, below are some important things I’d like you all to be aware of:

GIVING WEEK: Join us for our third annual Salus Giving Week, Oct. 4-8, 2021, by supporting funding for student scholarships, capital improvements, and community outreach. With your donation of any size, we can make sure that we continue providing high quality education to all of our students and serve our neediest communities. In addition, for our employees, your gift can be a one-time donation or you can choose to contribute via payroll deduction and spread it out over time. The employee campaign dovetails with Salus Giving Week. If you submit a donation form by Thursday, Oct, 7, you will be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes: Apple TV; Facebook Portal; or Frameo Digital Photo Frame. For more information, click here.

FREE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS: CPPD is offering free, brief depression screenings on Thursday, October 7 (National Depression Screening Day) from 10-3 in W-300C with Dr. Tami April-Davis.

CLOSING IN ON COMMENCEMENT: A reminder that fall commencement is right around the corner — at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 — and we’ll be back at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for the ceremony. Our guest speaker and honorary degree recipient will be Alison Beam, Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health. Check our website for details.

O&P DIRECTOR ON BOARD: J. Chad Duncan, director of our new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program, has arrived on campus and is hard at work on the details of building the program from the ground up. He comes to us from Northwestern University in Chicago where he was the director of the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) program at the university. The Northwestern P&O program is the oldest and one of the most distinguished programs in the country. Read more about Dr. Duncan here.

WELL-DESERVED HONORS: It was a pleasure to see everyone and honor Presidential Medal and Alumni Association award winners from the past two years earlier this week at Morris Arboretum. Aside from commencement, this is my favorite ceremony, and we were able to do it face-to-face this year. Our staff is so special, they work hard on behalf of the students and patients and they all deserve the recognition that they’ve gotten. We also honored longtime Board of Trustees chair Jo Surpin. Look for stories about the ceremony and Jo on our website next week.

MEDAL WINNER FEATURE: Speaking of which, we’ll be featuring all the 2021 Presidential Medal winners in separate stories on our website over the next few weeks. Leading off is Giri Sundar, MPHil, PhD, CCC-A, FAAA, who drew the biggest laughs of the evening when she described being told that she was a medal winner. Read more about Dr. Sundar here.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: Get to know one of our newest residents, Wayne Tan, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, who was born in the city of Guangdong, Kaiping China, and immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, when he was 10 years old. Coming to America at that age was challenging for Dr. Tan as he had to assimilate to a whole new culture. Find out more about his journey to PCO/Salus here.

SLP PODCAST, PART TWO: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, in part two of a podcast Q&A as he speaks with an externship supervisor and a student, now an alum, that she's worked with. Read more or listen here.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Grand Rounds at The Eye Institute (TEI) will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8. The topic will be "Myopia Control Update" with Dr. Nicholas Gidosh. Click here for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I’d like to spend just a few minutes talking about resilience. Resilience is the ability to effectively cope with adversity and bounce back from challenges we’re presented with. We are now 18+ months into a global pandemic, with the end many months away, many of you have just begun your professional training and the vast majority of you reading this have been working through multiple scenarios to assure we can both teach and learn under very stressful conditions. While you all have been rock stars as we’ve navigated through all this, there has been a toll. Hence, the importance of building and maintaining our resilience to remain healthy, both physically and mentally. I have a few suggestions for you that I’ve learned through experience, articles written about it and talking to experts who have found ways of dealing with long-term stress.

Many experts suggest practicing mindfulness. There is evidence that suggests that practicing mindfulness mediation can increase your resilience by training your mind not to continuously reflect on those things causing stress but rather on the good things that surround you such as concentrating on positive relationships, thinking about plans for the future and finding ways to deal with difficult challenges in your life.

Another way to build resilience is to establish a core group of friends you can feel comfortable discussing what’s on your mind in a “safe space”. Having a group like that has really helped me as I’ve maneuvered through the pandemic. Along with this, try to develop a routine that allows you to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll find a group supports each other to develop these resilience building habits. Finally, try to remain optimistic. It’s amazing how a positive attitude can change the way you react to things. Sometimes, it’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort!

As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect on some of the things you can do to build and maintain your resilience. It’s going to be beautiful outside, so I encourage you to take advantage of this great weather. As you’re doing this, please remember to wear your face mask when around others, vaccinated or not and try to socially distance when you can. Be safe, be resilient and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Addressing Climate Change Now: Week of September 24th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where it’s really starting to feel a little like Fall! It’s been another busy week on campus. Please check out some of the other important activities and things going on around campus:

AWARDS CEREMONY: A ceremony honoring our Presidential Medal of Honor and our Alumni Association awardees will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19118. The Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon those who have made contributions to their profession and for their service to the University. Additionally, we will be acknowledging the outstanding service of our former Board Chair, Jo Surpin.

RACP GRANT: Sen. Arthur L. Haywood, III, along with Pennsylvania state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, were on campus recently to announce a awarding of a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant that will be used primarily for University’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program. Read more about that here.

O&P DIRECTOR: Please join me in welcoming Dr. Chad Duncan to the Salus family. Chad comes to us by way of Northwestern University, where he was the director of the nation’s oldest O&P program. We’re excited to have Chad take the helm of our newest program!

CONTACT LENS SCHOLARSHIP: I. William Collins, OD ‘47, recently established the I. William Collins OD, FAAO, Contact Lens Science Award, a scholarship that will be awarded to two PCO/Salus students. The award is designed for students who rotated through the Contact Lens track and showed exceptional case management skills, which includes the clinical examination, design, fitting and troubleshooting of specialty contact lenses. Read more about Dr. Collins’ generous gift here.

CLASS OF 2022 RESIDENT: Welcome to Alethia Love Harris, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, one of the current class of residents. It just so happened that The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was the first place on the grad school interview list for Dr. Love. She enjoyed that interview and was so impressed with what she saw and experienced that she canceled all the other interviews and decided on PCO/Salus from the get-go. Read more about Dr. Love here. 

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: This week’s Students at Leisure (SAL) features Olivia Burger ‘22 OD, whose interest in becoming an optometrist was first piqued in the seventh grade. But by the time she got to PCO/Salus, she found that her love of concert photography was continuing to grow. Read more about Olivia’s passion for both optometry and photography here.

HISPANTIC HERTITAGE MONTH: Throughout the month we will be highlighting faculty and alumni on social media for Hispanic Heritage Month. This week, Dr. Fabiana Perla is featured, so check it out on our social media feeds!

SALUS SCOOP RETURNS: The Salus Scoop, held to give first-year students an opportunity to learn more about the University’s clubs and organizations and how they can become more involved, was curtailed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it returned this year and drew a big crowd to the Hafter Center. Read more about the event here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I read and listened to the news this week I couldn’t help but think it’s time we started to talk about climate change and how that might affect all those we care for, no matter what profession we are in. I think the storms that we recently experienced are a sign that things have changed and will continue to challenge all of us. From a public health perspective, climate change will directly affect disease vectors globally - many diseases that may have historically been endemic in tropical or sub-tropical regions will begin to migrate to our part of the world - this is already happening. As the climate gets warmer, mosquitos and other insects that carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and others will begin to follow the warmer weather further north, in our case and further south below the equator. That will present a whole host of often debilitating and devastating diseases to our region that we only saw when on humanitarian missions or in text books. It will be essential that as a teaching and learning institution we begin to include these diseases in our differential diagnosis when evaluating patients who present with symptoms we normally would not link with those diseases.

We also need to be advocating for reducing carbon signatures to help slow man-made climate change. While we don’t think we can make a difference, I would argue that every little thing we can do helps. Not driving to do an errand or even replacing your incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can help. Obviously, it’s going to take greater muscle movements such as moving toward more renewable energy sources and perfecting electric vehicles, but every little bit helps. As Congress and local municipalities begin to grapple with these issues, I ask that you advocate for clean, low-carbon energy alternatives with your local legislators. Our fragile planet is at a tipping point and if we don’t actively and aggressively address climate change now, the migration of mosquitos and other insects are the least of the problems we will have to face. If you want to learn more about disease and climate change, here’s a link to a good article published by Stanford University’s Institute for the Environment.

As you prepare for the weekend, please think about what you can do individually to reduce your carbon footprint. While you’re doing that, try to get out and enjoy the nice weather that’s predicted. As you go about your activities, please remember to wear a face mask when around others, socially distance when you can and continue to wash your hands frequently! Please continue to look out for one another, be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike