Remembering Our Veterans: Week of November 10, 2023

 

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

Good morning on this cool, fall morning! It’s been an exceptionally productive week on campus. Yesterday we had the opportunity to host Professor Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University (DCU) and his wife Katie on campus. Professor Keogh spent the day sharing his experiences and lessons learned with deans, directors and President’s Council members about the merger between St. Patrick’s University and DCU 6 years ago. While all this was going on, folks have been putting the finishing touches on the new cafeteria which will have a “soft” opening next week (photos attached). Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Walt Fleming, vice president of Field Maintenance and Quality Assurance for National Vision, Inc., has made significant contributions to optometry and vision care. Our congratulations and collective thanks to Walt, our Salus University Presidential Medal of Honor recipient. Click here to read more.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DEAN: So, just what does a day in the life of the dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University look like? Well, it’s pretty exciting, according to Dr. Melissa Trego. She likens it to a Netflix show that always has a different plot line. Click here to find out more about Dr. Trego and her responsibilities at PCO/Salus.

CHER CAREER FAIR: The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) held its first-ever career fair earlier this week for students in our Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs. The event featured 24 businesses from across the region. Click here to see what our students thought of this important networking opportunity.

CAPSTONE PROJECT: For her capstone project, Shannon McCabe, PA ‘23, explored whether social media has a positive or negative effect on females with eating disorders. Her research looked specifically into women with anorexia. Read more about her findings here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today is the 248th 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 in 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.

Tomorrow, 11 November, 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. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, a 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.

As a retired Navy veteran, I regularly reflect on how lucky we all are to have women and men who make sacrifices and place their lives on the line every day to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms we have, such as Tuesday’s election day. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment for the Navy and Loyalty, Honor, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage for the Army have been the moral and ethical compasses that have guided women and men in uniform for 248 years.

Here at Salus we are particularly lucky to have some of our nation’s finest learning with us. Ozoaru Chukwu, or Lyna -- as most of us know her, recently shared with classmates her journey to Salus having served overseas in significant tours. I am inspired by Lyna’s selfless service to our country, her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of others, exceptional leadership and remarkable courage. (see photo)

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with our military service members. We, too, have commited our time and talent to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals we also must be guided by an ethical and moral compass that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – that of Honor, Courage, and Commitment; or U.S. Army - Loyalty, Duty, Honor, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, take time to thank the many veterans and service members around us and to recommit ourselves to acting with honor, exercising courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and doing what’s right for our patients, clients and students. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to lead by example.

Have a great weekend! Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

President's Veteran Day Message - 2019

All,

This Sunday marks the 244^th 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 one-third of that time.  Monday we also recognize all of our 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.  However, 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 I was on active duty we observed the Navy and Marine Corps birthdays and Veterans Day by participating in cake cutting ceremonies and attending a few veteran’s events.  Now, as a retired Navy veteran I think of these days a bit differently.   I regularly reflect on how lucky we all are to have men and women who, everyday make sacrifices and place their lives on the line to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms we have.  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 244 years. 

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

So, as we celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday on Sunday and take time to honor our veterans on Monday (and I hope every day), I hope you reflect on how we can leverage our own commitment to always conduct ourselves with honor and have the courage to always do what’s right for our patients, clients and those around us.  Semper Fi!

Feeling Like Winter Already - Week of November 8th, 2019

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

Good morning from a chilly Elkins Park!  I believe winter is getting closer – Burrrrr!

I’d like to thank everyone who organized and attended last weekend’s very successful Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser! It was a spectacular event, all for a great cause. I know folks walked away with some really nice things that were donated for the cause.  I, for one will be happy when I can figure out how the robotic vacuum I won works!  Read more about this year’s event at salus.edu/lofk-13. 

Last night, we celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI). The Osborne College of Audiology is 20 years old next year so it’s fitting we start the celebrations now!  Congratulations to everyone at PEI that has worked so hard over the years!

Next week, we will be traveling to Boston for our second to last Centennial Tour stop! Check out where we’ll be going next at salus.edu/centennial-tour.   This past week’s visit to Pittsburgh was lots of fun and I had the chance to meet several alumni who graduated from PCO in years ranging from 1955 to 2015.  Talk about a generation gap!!!

Next Friday, our Salus Student Council will be hosting their annual Salus Soiree event at The Logan Hotel. This yearly event is a great opportunity for students from all programs to get all dressed up and enjoy a night of socializing as the fall semester winds down a bit. I hope you all have a great time!

I’d like to congratulate Drs. Caitlyn Foy and Lauren Sponseller as they were recently invited to join a select group of OT practitioners and researchers from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) esteemed Women's Health Community of Practice. As OTs specializing in women's health, including maternal health and women's mental health, Drs. Sponseller and Foy will aid in the research and dissemination of the distinct value of Occupational Therapy in Women's Health, a new and emerging practice area for their field. They both have recently presented on Women's Health at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association conference last month and have just received acceptance for their proposals to present at the national American Occupational Therapy Association conference on Women's Health for the fourth year in a row.  You make us all very proud! 

Sunday is the birthday the U.S. Marine Corps and Monday is Veterans Day.  I’ll be putting out a separate message about both of these important events, but didn’t want the “Weekly Update” to be too long.

I’m headed back to Harvard on Sunday to participate in their Seminar for Experienced College and University Presidents.  This should be an interesting few days as I have the opportunity to learn, work and discuss issues with peers who have been in their presidency for five years or more. 

As you get ready to take on this weekend, remember to break out your warm coats and thermal socks!  We’ll be running the Rugged Pumpkin Run supporting Rachel’s Helping Hands Cancer Foundation which should help to keep us warm!  

Have a great weekend – stay safe and warm! 

Mike

Reflecting on Veteran's Day and a Call to Service

As we approach Veteran's Day next week I can't help but to reflect on the sacrifices those in uniform and their families have made to ensure Americans continue to enjoy the freedoms and quality of life that help to define our lives here.   Those veterans who came before us, as well as those currently serving, have done so out of a sense of patriotism and having the call to serve. 

As we reflect upon all the great gifts we have in our country, I think it’s also very fitting to reflect on how we too, as healthcare professionals, can contribute and give back to society, both here and abroad.  I’m not suggesting or expecting anyone to all of a sudden to join the Armed Forces or volunteer for the Peace Corps (although I also wouldn’t discourage it) but I am proposing we take some time to explore how we can better leverage all of our skills towards the betterment of the public health of Americans as well as others.  The call to serve should be a natural desire for all of us in healthcare.  While many do volunteer to “do good things”, I don’t believe it’s the norm; and I certainly don’t believe there’s enough. 

I’d like Salus to set a new standard and redefine how we reach out to others, both here and abroad, to have an even greater impact than we do now on society.   As many of you know, we currently care for children in Philadelphia, Norristown and surrounding public schools, send teams to Haiti, rural, middle America as well as other locations, but we don’t have a centralized, fully aligned approach to this.  I would like to use this refection on Veteran’s Day and a call to service to challenge the Salus community to work together to see how we can COLLECTIVELY pool our expertise as a University community to positively affect the lives of others.

I don’t believe there’s a single formula for this, which is why I’m challenging you to come up with some ideas.  One idea I’ve discussed is to reorganize SOSH and have them align with others at the university to expand their scope of services and destinations.  Let’s talk about it, develop a plan and then, in the true spirit of caring, generosity, ingenuity, and selflessness, execute something that has the Salus signature on it in honor of all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice which allowed us to exercise our freedom in being able to choose healthcare as a profession - and then give something back to society as a way of saying "thanks".