Addressing Gun Violence: Week of March 31, 2023

 

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

Good morning on a crisp, spring day from our Elkins Park Campus. Unfortunately, we began this week with the senseless loss of more lives to gun violence at a small Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the students and staff at The Covenant School.

To our PCO students completing Part I of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam and others working on practicals and preparing for finals ahead of Spring Break next week, wishing you much rest over the break. More on both subjects in my final thoughts.

Here are some other items of interest:

SEPCHE HONORS CONFERENCE: Last Saturday we were privileged to host the annual Honors Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) consortium. Students from Arcadia University, Chestnut Hill College, Holy Family University, Neumann University and Rosemont College presented original, scholarly work, voice and visual art presentations to over 130 participants. What an exciting, transformative learning experience it was to collectively enjoy such impressive and talented work!

A RETURN TO IN-PERSON CE EVENTS: On Sunday we welcomed our first in-person Continuing Education event on campus since the pandemic began. Special thanks to Dr. Melissa Vitek and our DICE staff for organizing “Dynamic Duos” featuring Drs. Navpreet and Jaspreet Hehar, Dr. Carlo Pelino, Dr. Mohammad Rafieetary, Dr. Erin Draper and Dr. Deanna Yoder-Black. Over 100 OD’s attended this exceptional professional development.

DECADE OF SUCCESS: Although the Biomedicine program at Salus University officially started in late 2012 — recently marking its 10th anniversary — the foundation for the program was underway a few years earlier. Read more about how it evolved and the continued success it has enjoyed by clicking here. 

JOURNEY OF LEARNING: Seven months into her affiliated residency through the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and every day has been a learning experience for Kelsi Jones, OD, ’23 Resident. Read more about Dr. Jones’ journey here.

FROM MUSIC TO AUDIOLOGY: The path Michael Davenport, AuD ‘09, took to becoming an audiologist actually started with music. Find out how Dr. Davenport became a staff audiologist for the Veterans Administration for the past 26 years by clicking here.

CAPSTONE INFLUENCE: It was during a clinical rotation at a geriatrics practice that Lauren Bunnell, MMS ‘22, came up with the topic for her capstone project, inspired by her preceptor’s lecture on different types of dementia. Read more about Lauren’s project here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists firearm-related injuries as the leading cause of death in persons 1 – 19 years of age, surpassing motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for this cohort

This failure to protect youth from this preventable cause of death only accentuates the magnitude of the public health emergency facing our country. Among 64 high-income countries and territories, according to the Institute for Health Data and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the United States ranks eighth out of 64 for homicides by firearm (age-adjusted). Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, two US territories, rank first and third on that list. 

In 2021, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recorded 48,953 firearm fatalities, the highest since the CDC began tracking these in 1981. Of these deaths, 85.8% of fatalities were male and 14.2% female. 25.8% of the fatalities were Black, non-Hispanic; 10.4% Hispanic; 60.5% White, non-Hispanic individuals. Of note, firearm suicide rates were highest among White non-Hispanic men aged 80 – 84 years. In 2021, rates of firearm homicides among Black individuals were 22.5 times higher than the year before. (Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990 – 2021, JAMA, Public Health, 29 November 2022).

It is long past time for legislators and leaders to act in a non-partisan manner to help curtail this public health crisis. Recognizing that there is no single or easy solution to this epidemic, numerous studies highlight promising policies to reduce gun violence. Research published in JAMA (Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review, January 2017) demonstrates an association between laws strengthening background checks or requiring permits to purchase firearms with reductions in rates of firearm homicides.

Actively addressing the social determinants of health at a local and national level, curtailing the relatively easy access to certain types of firearms, such as military assault-style weapons, and continuing to raise the awareness of this epidemic are key to beginning to solve the issue.

As current and future health care providers, we have responsibility to continue to call attention to this epidemic to our local and federal representatives and advocate for increased resources that can address behavioral health issues, stronger gun control laws, including universal background checks prior to all gun sales, a limit on magazine capacities and a ban of military assault-style weapons.

The more we can learn about this epidemic, the more prepared we will be to help to curtail it.

For further information, I suggest you check out the following:

• CDC’s Gun Violence Prevention website 

• Montgomery County Gun Violence Prevention Page 

• National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform 

I know I am not alone in feeling weary and heartbroken over the loss of so many to gun violence. And while it is easy to feel overwhelmed, knowledge and action are effective coping strategies. As you prepare for the weekend and a well-deserved Spring Break, consider what steps you will take as a citizen and neighbor, practitioner and professional, to better understand and address this public health crisis.

I also hope you will take the time to disengage from your normal work and study routines and find time to connect with nature, get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring colors. I look forward to seeing many of you upon your return in a week. For those celebrating Passover and Easter next week, I wish you a blessed and restful holiday.

In the meantime, stay safe, look out for one another and enjoy your time off so you can return 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

Doing the Right Thing: Week of July 8th, 2022

 

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

Good morning on a beautiful July day from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been another busy week at Salus with our summer semester just about half done. Our students and faculty have been engaged in lectures, labs and clinics in addition to fieldwork and externships around the country. Here are some additional things you might find interesting:

CSD OPEN HOUSE: Our Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) open house is set to welcome all this Monday, July 11, at our Elkins Park campus. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect and engage with current students and renowned faculty, tour our campus and state-of-the-art clinical facilities and learn to navigate the application process.

BLAUSTEIN AWARD WINNERS: Wayne Tan, OD ‘21, Resident ‘22, on-campus resident at The Eye Institute (TEI), along with Tina Choe, OD ‘20, Resident ’22, off-campus resident, have been named the Bernard Blaustein Residents of the Year for the residency class of 2022 by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University. The award is named for Bernard Blaustein, OD ‘67, FAAO. For six years, from 2003 through 2009, Dr. Blaustein managed the On-Campus Residency Programs. In addition to educating students at PCO, he spent time as chief of the Optometry Service at the VA Medical Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and in private practice before retiring in 2018. To read more, click here.

OT FIELDWORK: Check out our latest podcast featuring two, second-year occupational therapy students, Xin Song and Michelle Berg, who are completing their fieldwork at the Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI) of Salus University. They talk about the unique clinical and management skills that they've gained, and how they'll utilize them in their future healthcare careers. Click here for details.

QUIZ BOWL CHALLENGE: April Mishley ‘23 OD knew that she had to be lightning-quick to compete in the Quiz Bowl at the annual meeting of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). To find out how April did, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of this last year, I’ve been reading the works of the Roman and Greek Stoics, and in particular, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Roman philosopher and playwright Seneca and slave turned philosopher, Epictetus. What stands out in their work is their contagious optimism and regard for truth and honesty. Here’s a segment that I thought is particularly germane, given current events including today’s horrid assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

“Never shirk the proper dispatch of your duty, no matter if you are freezing or hot, groggy, or well-rested, vilified or praised, not even if dying or pressed by other demands. Even dying is one of the important assignments in life and, in this as in all else, make the most of your resources to do well the duty at hand.” -- Marcus Aurelius on Duty and Circumstance

This passage underscores that no matter what circumstance you are confronted with, doing the right thing is generally a clear and intuitive choice. While morality is often complicated and sometimes the difficult path to take, it’s important to take the high road, remember your overall mission, no matter what may be happening around you.

Whether global incidents like the most recent shootings in Highland Park, the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs or today’s dreadful assassination of Prime Minister Abe, or daily occurrences such as your next set of exams or suffering a flat tire on the way to campus, they all have an impact on your daily life. It’s hard to compartmentalize some of these things, but keep in mind that your duty, even under these arduous circumstances, is to remain focused on those skills that you are learning or teaching to help improve the lives of others. That is what we must do – our current and future patients and clients expect no less.

As you prepare for the weekend, please remember to follow CDC masking guidelines, stay hydrated and look out for one another. I’m getting ready to depart on a short vacation but will try to reach out from where I’ll be next Friday. Stay safe, stay smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Finals Are Upon Us: Week of May 4th

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

I hope everyone has had a great week. We certainly did at Salus!

As finals are upon us, on Thursday, May 3, the Learning Resource Center hosted another pet therapy event to help students de-stress during finals week. These have been a huge success. Who doesn’t like to have a golden retriever sitting next to them helping them to relax?

In the College of Education and Rehabilitation, the Speech Language Institute (SLI) welcomed Erika Cardamone, MS,CCC-SLP as a new clinical educator this week. We’re extremely happy to have Erika as part of our Salus team!

Dr. Jingyun Wang, an associate professor in our Pediatric Vision Research Laboratory and a member of our Pennsylvania College of Optometry faculty, was elected as a committee member in the Eye Movements/Strabismus/Amblyopia/Neuro-ophthalmology (EY) section of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) program committee on Monday. This is a great honor and responsibility, as this committee reviews all ARVO abstracts and organizes their scientific symposiums. Congratulations Jing!

Finally, we’ve begun construction on the renovation project in The Eye Institute that will add four exam rooms and an updated pediatric waiting room. So far, we’re on schedule for a mid-June completion date. This new area will enable our contact lens service as well as some of the other specialty clinics to schedule patients more efficiently during our busy clinic days.

For those of you running the Broad Street Run on Sunday, we wish you lots of luck. Tanis and I will miss the event this year as we’re riding in the New York City Five-Borough ride on the same day. Looking at the weather, we may all get a bit soggy! So, no matter what you’re doing this weekend, have some fun, stay safe and be respectful of one another.

Mike