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

Helping to Ensure History Does Not Repeat Itself: Week of July 28, 2023

 

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

Good morning from Washington, DC where I have the honor of participating in the retirement ceremony of one of my Navy colleagues, Captain Marrie Read. It’s always fun to put my uniform back on (yes, it still fits!) and a privilege to recognize the distinguished career of one of optometry’s and our nation’s finest. On campus, our construction project is making good progress, although it doesn’t look like everything will be completed until late September, early October. In the absence of our forthcoming café, we have an alternative food service plan that we hope you enjoy. We also bid a fond farewell to our AUD bridge program participants who will be taking off this weekend for all points on the globe, to include Florida and Texas. In addition to all this, here are some other items I hope you find interesting:

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD: Obialo Osigwe, OD, ‘25PhD, MPH ‘18, FNOA, has received the Award of Fellow by the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA). The designation is bestowed on optometrists of “impeccable character” who have been found to be of immense service to both the association and profession. To read more, click here.

FACULTY FOCUS: Over the past 20 years, Shital Mani, OD ‘03, FAAO, has made a name for herself at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, rising from the ranks of the faculty to become director of off-campus residency programs. Click here to read more about Dr. Mani’s career journey.

A FAMILIAR ROLE: The National Academies of Practice (NAP) has elected Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP, associate professor at Salus University’s George S. Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), to the role of secretary/treasurer for the 2023-2025 term. He previously served in that role from 2017-2021. Congratulations, Dr. Bray!

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I was thinking about what to write this week, I decided to revisit my weekly updates from last year and the year prior during this same time period. It’s hard to forget that just a couple of years ago we were in the throes of the pandemic. Things are approaching what some would consider normal now, although COVID still is out there.

History has a strange, and sometimes cruel way, of repeating itself. It’s incumbent upon all of us to apply lessons learned during the pandemic so that when the next one comes along (and it will), we will be better prepared to act. As healthcare professionals and educators, people tend to trust our judgment and follow our lead. Because of this privilege, it is our duty to ensure that the systems we all work within are better prepared, better informed, inclusive and organized to meet the challenges of the future. Even if your expertise is not in public health, your background and training can help organizations make informed decisions through deliberate planning and strategic thinking. Think about how you will engage in these important discussions moving forward.

On a much lighter note, believe it or not, summer is about half over with our Fall semester starting in just a few short weeks. As we prepare for orientation and the excitement that always accompanies the beginning of a new academic year, this presents a great chance to disengage and recharge. Whether you’re a student, faculty, or staff, now is a great time to regroup and reconnect with family. Once orientation begins, everyone will be going full speed again in lectures, labs, clinics and travel.

As you prepare for the weekend, check out your favorite “fun” spots or discover a new one! As always, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen when outside and continue to look out for one another. Enjoy the time off! Together we are SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis: Week of December 2, 2022

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus. It’s a nice crisp December morning here, reminding us that winter is nipping at our heals! Even with the colder weather outside, things are heating up inside as our students and faculty prepare for final exams and new and exciting clinical rotations. In addition to all that’s happening on campus, here are some other areas of interest I hope you will read about:

NEW NSSLHA BOARD: The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA)’s chapter at Salus University welcomes a new executive board; Stevie Goldman ‘23SLP, as president, Alyssa Dallmer ‘23SLP, as vice president, Jess Kusters ‘23SLP, as treasurer and Emily Steinslofer ‘23SLP as secretary. The purpose of NSSLHA is to support students within the communication sciences and disorders professions as they prepare for their future careers. Read more here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Healey Miller, MSOT ‘21, ‘23OTD, focuses on people. But after coming out of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she was wondering what career path she was going to take. She then decided to attend Salus University to pursue OT as her career. Read more here about what Healey’s doing now.

FACULTY FOCUS: The path to Salus University has taken Maria Boka, MSPAS, PA-C, to quite a few different places. Click here to find out what route she took to become one of the newest members of the faculty in the University’s Physician Assistant Studies program.

SWANKY SOIREE: The annual Salus Soiree, held Nov. 18, attracted approximately 225 students — all transported to the museum from the University’s Elkins Park campus in four school buses — all dressed to the nines and ready to party. Read more about the evening here.

VACCINATION EVENT: We will host a vaccination event Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Hafter Center gym. In collaboration with Walmart Pharmacy, the event will provide the new bivalent COVID booster as well as the flu vaccination. Registration is required. Attached is an information sheet with registration information and a list of documents that you will need to bring with you.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today I wanted to highlight recent research on gun violence, the connection between social determinants of health and this growing epidemic, and local and federal efforts to address it. As I have before, I want to be sure this public health emergency remains on our radar. The more we can learn about this epidemic, the more prepared we will be to curtail its impact on the patients we serve and the broader society.

New data released on Tuesday from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) looks across 32 years of national data and is the first of its kind to track firearm fatality trends over time by intent, demographics and geographics. The findings are striking: 

• Men account for the overwhelming percentage of fatalities over time (86% male vs 14% female);
• White, non-Hispanic individuals (61%) comprise the largest share, followed by Black, non-Hispanic (26%), and Hispanic (10%) individuals;
• Males had higher rates of suicide and homicide compared to females, with the highest rates of firearm suicides among White men aged 80-84;
• The sharpest rise in maximum rates of firearm homicides over time has occurred among men aged 20-24 with Black fatality rates rising 22 times higher (up to 142 per 100,000) and Hispanic fatality rates rising 3.6 times higher (up to 23 per 100,000) compared to White men (up to 6 fatalities per 100,000 persons aged 30-34 years).

Importantly, the data shows over time the increase in gun fatalities from west to southeast over the past three decades:

Figure 1: Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990-202

JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(11):e2244221. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.44221

I draw your attention to this, as just yesterday, I gave a lecture to students on the effects of social vulnerability on diabetes. Check out the slide below:

Figure 2: Effects of Social Vulnerability on Diabetes. Lecture, 1 December 2022. 

What we see when we compare the maps is this: Socioeconomic status, lowered health outcomes and homicides follow the same geographic patterns. Disparities in health outcomes follow disparities in economic income, access, and stability.

Mounting evidence shows the array of promising responses that make a difference in addressing this complex public health issue:

• Firstly, stronger state policies designed to reduce firearm violence are effective in reducing firearm fatalities (JAMA, Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review, 2017).
• This week I attended a Leadership Breakfast hosted by State Senator Art Haywood in which gun violence was discussed by several experts. They included the establishment of Nightly Street Teams to build relationships with shooters and victims; deploying mental health and social service providers to deliver services to shooters, victims, and their family members; sponsoring frequent job fairs for neighbors in high crime areas; increased police presence and weekly block cleanups. Systemic approaches that strengthen community support while attending to the root causes of gun violence are effective.
• A growing number of resources also address gun violence prevention and related supports. Check out the following:
• CDC’s Gun Violence Prevention website
• Montgomery County Gun Violence Prevention Page
• National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform

As current and future health care providers, we have a responsibility to continue to call attention to this epidemic with our local and federal representatives and to advocate for our patients’ increased resources that improve access and equity in health outcomes.

As you prepare for the weekend, please take some time to think about how you can have an impact on the gun violence epidemic in our region. Change will take time but unless we make the efforts now, nothing will improve.

Please be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Keeping Our Ukrainian Friends and Neighbors in Our Prayers: Week of February 25th, 2022

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

Good morning on an icy, cold day, at the end of a sad and eventful week on the global stage. Around campus, several of our programs are enjoying face to face classroom instruction while all are on campus for labs and clinics. Numbers continue to decrease in the local area and our campus numbers remain extremely low. As always, we continue to follow CDC and Montgomery County guidance, remaining in sync with federal and local guidance.

TWO NEW BOT MEMBERS: Please help me welcome two new members to our board of trustees. Dana Mattingly, RN, is executive director of clinical compliance in the Aetna/CVS healthcare business unit based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Read more about Dana here. Danita Nias is president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin counties in Florida. Check our website for an upcoming story on her. We are excited to have these two talented individuals on our board to help us navigate the choppy waters ahead. 

SLP ADMISSION TIPS: In our latest podcast, we talk with Larry Walsh, associate director of Admissions at Salus. He talks to us about the Speech-Language Pathology program and offers tips and tricks for applying. Learn more here. 

FACULTY FOCUS: The next Faculty Focus is on Victor Bray, MSC, PhD, FNAP, associate professor in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) — and former dean of the College and director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI). Read more about Dr. Bray here.

ACCELERATED SCHOLARS SERIES: In part four of our series featuring faculty and students within the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University’s Doctor of Optometry Accelerated Scholars Program, assistant professor Alissa Coyne, OD ‘10, Resident ‘11, FAAO, highlights some details of the program’s clinical education while students, Misa Sueyoshi ‘23OD and Israel Moore ‘23OD, describe some specific patient care stories. Click here to learn more.

FINAL THOUGHTS: With thanks to Board member Reade Fahs for the introduction, we hosted earlier this week the CEOs of Noodle and Stride Funding on campus. Noodle is an online program manager (OPM) that helps translate traditional, face-to-face courses to online formats. Stride Funding helps students pay for professional education through flexible repayment agreements. Sincere thanks to our deans and directors for taking time to participate. As we move Salus into the future, we continue to explore ways to make our programs more accessible and affordable. More to follow, I’m sure!

On a serious note, yesterday morning Russia invaded the independent country of Ukraine, resulting in loss of life. This unprovoked incursion is a clear violation of international law and has the potential to change the world order as we currently know it. As you may know, we have a large Ukrainian population living in our local area, and possibly those of Ukrainian heritage within our Salus community. Our sister institution Manor College is affiliated with the Ukrainian Church.

Please join me in offering to our Manor College family members and the more than 60,000 Ukrainian Americans living in Greater Philadelphia, our collective prayers and support for the safety and security of the people of Ukraine and western Europe. We stand together in our shared commitment to peace and well-being.

Be safe, look out for one another keep wearing your facemask when around others, socially distance and wash your hands frequently to remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Keeping Pace With COVID: Week of January 14th, 2022

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

Greetings from a cold, cloudy Elkins Park campus. I would like to thank all of you for contributing to our enhanced mitigation strategies across our clinics and campus to improve everyone’s safety. Together we are successfully implementing: our vaccination booster requirement, upgraded mask requirement, MERV13 filtration systems, surveillance testing, de-densified spaces, and alternative teaching modalities. Check out the full list of updates on our COVID Protocol Summary Update page. You may wonder: “is all this working?” As of this week, our positivity rate is 2.3%. We can expect our rate to follow the region’s case trends. We will stay the course – listening to your feedback, monitoring changes in CDC guidance, and adjusting our Salus Safety Strategy accordingly. Additional efforts are underway:

• Booster Events. Sun Ray Drugs Chelten Avenue is holding booster events on Friday, January 21, 2022 at The Eye Institute from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Friday, January 28, 2022 at The Hafter Center, Elkins Park Campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family members are welcome. Bring your vaccine card with both dates/doses; photo ID and insurance information, if applicable. Special thanks to Dr. Tracy Offerdahl for helping us to organize these.
• Register your booster. Our booster requirement is effective February 13th. Students can expect an email to upload their booster data. Faculty and staff can register their booster data here.
• 
  Outdoor Dining. Just off the Café at our Elkins Park campus, we have created an additional space to eat and relax. Check out the great heaters!
• Questions. Our Pandemic Safety Officer Brian Zuckerman is your single point of contact if you have questions regarding what to do if: you are exposed, develop symptoms, test positive or wonder when it is safe to return to campus and clinics. Email him at bzuckerman@salus.edu. We will also be issuing additional guidance early next week.

In other news:

DEI GETS A FACELIFT: Check out our new mission statement, logo and revised web page for the Office of DEI here.

NEW SLI DIRECTOR: The Speech Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University welcomes Kara Maharay, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, as director of Clinical Education. Read more about Kara here.

TOLAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Taylor Frank is the 2021 Toland Memorial Scholarship winner. Read more about Taylor here.

FACULTY FOCUS: Click here to read about Anne Marie Ruckdeschel, MA, CCC-SLP, a clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Cheryl Keslar, who works in our Finance department. Read more about Cheryl here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I am in awe of your abilities to roll with the many changes we’ve experienced throughout the pandemic. I am also aware this takes a great deal of mental and physical energy, and like me, you may also feel tired, frustrated and disheartened. We should be done with this pandemic!!! The pandemic will end, but in the meantime, we will continue to be vigilant and adaptable. The Marines have a term for this – Semper Gumby – Always flexible!

Guidance from official entities such as the CDC may appear confusing and difficult to follow. They are following the science, which also is constantly changing. With every adaptation, we are becoming smarter and more resilient. My best advice (which I try to follow myself) is to stay busy, try to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and regular exercise. While this won’t curtail the pandemic, these habits help us all better cope with the stresses that come along with it.

Please continue to wear your masks when out and about, socially distance, wash your hands frequently and look out for one other. We are SALUS STRONG because of what you do every day to help keep us all healthy and safe! Thank you for that!

Mike

Thanks For All You've Done to Make This Semester Safe and Successful: Week of December 17th, 2021

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

Good morning on a very pleasant morning that feels more like March than mid- December! This week many of our students are finishing finals, while others complete these virtually. While things have been winding down on campus, other activities are buzzing:

SALUS STAFF HOLIDAY PARTY: Thanks to Maura Keenan and her HR staff for organizing a high-energy, virtual holiday party last evening. Over 75 people “zoomed in” for an evening of music, games and virtual dancing! It was great to see folks having fun with their family members on screen - hopefully, next year we can do this safely, in person! 

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Our latest Staff Spotlight features Jaime Schulang, who has been working in the Financial Aid office for the past 15 years. Through this position, she especially enjoys helping students achieve their career goals with financial assistance and has even performed at the Academy of Music! Learn more about Jaime’s many talents here.

PODCAST SERIES: In part two of our Biomedicine podcast series, Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, dean of Research and director of Graduate Programs in Biomed, explains how earning this degree can advance students’ careers in addition to sharing sound advice and tips. While last week we featured the podcast, this week we share the Q&A. Read more here. 

FIRST GEN VIDEOS: Recently, the Office of Communications launched a new series of video interviews with some of our first generation students. Learn more about their journeys, unique stories, and why they chose Salus here.

NEW CHIEF OF STAFF: As I announced last week, Beth Moy started as our new Chief of Staff. Previously serving as the executive director of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE), of which Salus is a member, Beth was aware of the University’s “community of excellence” well before her arrival. To learn more about Beth, click here. 

WINTER COAT DRIVE: Students at Salus have been busy this holiday season donating time and service in support our community. The main lobby of the Elkins Park campus has been overflowing – with winter coats, that is! The Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) is still collecting new and used coats through Dec. 20. All donations are being made to Face to Face – a human services organization dedicated to the health, well-being, and stability of our Philadelphia community. 

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus features Jeffrey Nyman, OD, an associate professor and director of Emergency Services at The Eye Institute. It’s been 44 years since Dr. Nyman joined the faculty at PCO, and he’s been instrumental growing and advancing the profession and College. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we prepare for our holiday break beginning later next week, my personal thanks to each of you for making this challenging semester successful and safe. A special “thank you” to our Covid Advisory Committee and Deans and Directors who continue to provide guidance and advice on how best to keep us all healthy allowing our educational mission to advance without missing a beat. As many of you travel home to be with families and friends, please try to maintain the same level of vigilance you’ve been doing while here. Take this time to recharge and relax. Wishing you and your family a healthy and safe holiday season.

One last reminder to get your flu shot if you haven’t and to get that booster as soon as you’re eligible. Together we are SALUS STRONG! See you in the New Year!

Mike

Assuring Equitable Access with Equal Quality in Healthcare: Week of November 5th, 2021

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

Greetings from sunny and rather cool Boston, MA, where I, along with many of our PCO colleagues have been attending the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. It’s nice to be back to an “in-person” format – of course with everyone wearing masks indoors. PCO/Salus has been well-represented at this meeting with many of our faculty and PCO alumni presenting lectures and posters. In addition to attending the meeting, I’d like to make you aware of several other important activities also going on around campus: 

STRESS MANAGEMENT: According to the American College Health Association, prior to the pandemic, 66 percent of graduate students reported “above average” stress. I suspect the pandemic has increased that number significantly. While many students experience stress, those in graduate school experience a unique set of pressures that may lead to a higher level than ever before. Here at Salus, we are very much aware of that. To help, Dr. Molly Marcus of the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) will be stationed outside the cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, to offer additional resources for stress management. Please try and stop by and pick up some tips and goodies.

COVID-19 3rd DOSE/BOOSTER SHOTS: We had approached Yorktown Pharmacy about coming to campus to provide 3rd dose/boosters but given their current staffing and the differing time frames and type of vaccines needed for the community, they are not able to provide 3rd dose/boosters on campus. They are encouraging our Salus community to get their boosters by making an appointment through their website. If Yorktown is not convenient for you, I suggest you go to the Montgomery County vaccine website and schedule your 3rd dose/boosters through them. Both options work very well. I strongly encourage you to get your 3rd dose/booster if you’re eligible.

CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY STUDY: Backed by a $3.7 million grant from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD, Dean of Research and professor in the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University and an expert on convergence insufficiency (CI), will be part of a multi-institutional team seeking to establish guidelines that will help clinicians diagnose and treat concussion-related CI. To read more about the study, click here.

‘BEE THE OT’: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Brandi DeVeaux, MS, OTR/L, CLT, affectionately known as “Bee the OT.” She joined the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department just before the fall 2021 semester as an associate professor. To read more about Brandi, click here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Did you know that in addition to her experience and expertise in DEI, she’s a dancer and a movie buff? Read more about “Dr. J.” here. 

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH: November is Native American Heritage Month. The observation is marked to recognize and pay tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. We honor the more than 500 tribal nations, their care, concern, and cultivation of this land, recognizing their position as the indigenous peoples of America.

DIWALI: Yesterday began the five-day celebration of Diwali, “Festival of Lights.” Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains globally, this holiday marks a period of new beginnings and triumph over darkness. Happy Diwali, peace and blessings to you and your family.

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next Audiology Grand Rounds will be today, Nov. 5, starting at 12:15 p.m. Gabriela Rachmaciej and Halle Rouser will present on “Single Sided Deafness and Cochlear Implant Success.” Click here to join the meeting.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s resident profile features Kevin Feng, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, who decided to follow in his aunt’s career footsteps and become an optometrist. Read more about Dr. Feng here.

THE RETURN OF THE SOIREE: After a hiatus because of the pandemic, Salus Soiree is back. The soiree is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 12, on the Spirit of Philadelphia. Students will board from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and cruise from 8 to 11 p.m.

NOA HONOR: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was officially presented with the National Optometric Association (NOA) 2021 School of the Year award during the University’s inaugural DEI Speaks event hosted on campus last month. The award was originally announced at the NOA’s recent 51st convention, which took place virtually earlier this year. Read about it here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The plenary session at this year’s Academy meeting featured Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, former president of Spelman College and author of the bestselling book, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria”, Dr. Leslie Walker-Harding, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington and Senior Vice-President for Seattle Children’s Hospital, Dr. Marcela Frazier, a member of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Medicine’s Pediatric Division and Dr. Edward Jones, President of the National Optometric Association. While there were many salient points made during the conversation, a couple of points really hit home. One related to unconscious bias, which are social stereotypes we all have about certain groups of people that form outside one’s own conscious awareness. It was pointed out that we all hold unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups. These biases originate from our tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing people into certain groups. As healthcare providers, it is essential that we all recognize this as a potential blind spot, so we are not unconsciously providing inequitable care or contributing to substandard care to certain groups.

The second point which was exceptionally striking to me was the shift we have seen in our country’s population from being predominantly white back in the 1950’s to now, where we are much more racially/ethnically diverse and projected to be majority people of color by 2045. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, white persons constituted 88.6 percent of the total population in 1960 and 89.3 percent in 1950. In 2018, according to U.S. Census data, the percentage of the U.S. population that is white has dropped to about 60% (partially due to changes is racial/ethnic classifications), with the Census Bureau projecting that more children of color than white children will be born this year. Further, people of color accounted for 92% of the U.S. population growth between 2010 and 2018, with Latinos comprising just under half of the nation’s overall growth. The patients that our new graduates will be caring for will come from much more diverse ethnic backgrounds. As we live through this change in our nation’s demographics it becomes increasingly more important to be aware of not only the changes that are occurring but the biases, we bring with us. As we strive to ensure equitable access to high quality health care, we also must be working diligently to ensure that equity remains our goal for all in current and future care. It’s easy to say, but I would suggest to you, based on history, much more difficult to execute. Thus, the importance of being acutely aware of our social blind spots as we navigate these relatively uncharted waters.

I hope everyone has a nice, restful weekend. Please, if you’re out and about, wear your face mask when around others, certainly indoors when not at home, wash your hands frequently and socially distance when you can. Remember, what you do off campus, directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be smart and stay SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself: Week of September 17th, 2021

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

Good morning! It’s been another busy week on campus and in our clinics! The weather has even cooperated as it’s getting cooler again! In addition to our normal campus activities, here are some other things that I hope will be of interest to you:

PAYING IT FORWARD: Kathy Foltner, AuD ‘02, knows firsthand the value of scholarships. Now, Dr. Foltner is eager to ease the financial burden for future Salus University audiologists through an endowed scholarship for students in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). Read more about Dr. Foltner’s generous gift here.

FACULTY FOCUS: Korey Patrizi, OD, Resident ‘21, joined the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University faculty in July 2021. Read more about Dr. Patrizi’s desire to find and fit in with her “people” and the feeling of comfort she experienced during the interview process at PCO/Salus here. 

MSCHE SELF-STUDY: Thanks to the hard work of many of our faculty, staff and Board members, our MSCHE self-study has been submitted. The final copy will be posted on Blackboard if any members of our University community would like to see all the processes, procedures and policies that are involved in running our university in accordance with accreditation standards.

RANDOM COVID TESTING: If you have been selected to be tested this week, you will have received an email asking you to pick up your home testing kit from security at either Elkins Park or TEI, depending upon where you are assigned. Please ensure you remember to do that!

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Her first love is optometry, but Olivia Burger ‘22OD has discovered that while healthcare providers are passionate about the fields of healthcare in which they practice, they can also have passion for other activities. In Olivia’s case, it’s concert photography. Click here to find out how she got interested in photography and what famous artists she’s photographed, all while pursuing her dream to become an optometrist.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: This week marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month — Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 — where we celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from the Americas (North, Central and South), the Caribbean and Spain. There are lots of ways to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month, whether it’s engaging with books, films, documentaries or live programming related to Hispanics and Latinos and their history in the United States. At Salus, we are choosing to highlight a few of our Hispanic/Latino alumni. The offices of DEI, Communications and Institutional Advancement are collaborating to feature some of our alums during this month. Keep an eye on the University's social media outlets for the Hispanic Alumni Highlight campaign in the coming weeks. 

MEET THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: While filming The College Tour segment focused on Career Flexibility, Jaqueline Wiafe ‘24AUD was a first-year Doctor of Audiology student. During her time on camera, she educated the audience about the various career settings and the flexibility achieving a degree from Salus University affords its graduates. To read more about Jaqueline’s experience, click here.

SLP PODCAST SERIES: The latest in our podcast series is titled “SLP Q&A: From Externship to Clinical Fellowship, Part 1,” featuring Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, as he speaks with externship supervisor Joanna Smith and one of our recent graduates, Rebecca Ritsick, MMS ‘21. Click here for the podcast.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Optometric Grand Rounds will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Dr. Kelly Malloy will speak on “Getting to the Heart of the Matter.” For more information about that, click here. Audiology Grand Rounds will be held today at noon. Taylor Fisher and Sarah Gallagher (AUD 23) will be presenting Hyperacusis and Other Symptoms after a Traumatic Brain Injury. Click here to listen in.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I know all of you are getting into your normal routines by now. I want to take a few moments to once again remind you about the importance of taking care of yourselves - not just physically, but also mentally. Getting out for some exercise, eating healthy foods and just taking “brain breaks” every once in a while can be helpful tools to relieve stress and just allow you become more effective learners. It’s not lost on any of us that we’re still in the midst of the pandemic, which just adds another layer of stress to everyone in the University community. If you feel like you would like to talk with someone about ways to relieve some of that stress I highly encourage you to seek out our fantastic behavior health counselors in the Center for Personal and Professional Development. You can begin the appointment process here. It’s not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of great self-awareness to reach out. Similarly, for faculty and staff, Human Resources can help you contact similar expertise if you desire. 

As we approach the weekend, please be cognizant of the fact that what you do off campus can affect all of us on campus. Please wear your face mask when around others not in your normal social network; certainly, when you go to the grocery store and other places where the large numbers of people can congregate and try to restrict your dining out to outdoor venues. Have a great weekend - be safe, be smart, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Help Thwart Misinformation Concerning Vaccines: Week of July 16th, 2021

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

Good morning from a warm and sticky Elkins Park Campus where we were just notified by the National Optometric Association that PCO/Salus was recognized as their University of the Year for our work in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This recognition belongs to each and every one of us, but especially those who helped us to navigate some challenging waters along the way. There will be a formal recognition ceremony sometime in the Fall where we can recognize some of these individuals. In addition to learning that great news, here are some other things I wanted to make you aware of:

OT DIPLOMA DAY: We celebrated our most recent Occupational Therapy graduates with our first-ever OT Diploma Day this week. More than half the class returned to the on-campus ceremony to receive their diplomas. These young professionals are more than ready to meet the challenges they will encounter when they land their first jobs since every curveball that was thrown at them these past two years was overcome with grace and professionalism. I’m so proud of them. Look for a story on the event next week on our website.

BOARD CHAIR TRANSITION: As I mentioned last week, Rebecca Delia became our new board chair, taking over for longtime chair Jo Surpin, effective July 1, 2021. Here’s a story about Ms. Surpin reflecting on the board’s accomplishments during her tenure and Ms. Delia talking about her role moving forward. For details, click here.

POST-BACC PROGRAM ADDITION: Since its inception, students applying to the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program require specific prerequisite courses. In the past, those students would need to go somewhere else to fulfill this requirement. But starting this fall, that’s going to change. Prospective students will be able to obtain that coursework through the SLP track in the University’s Post-baccalaureate program. To read how that will set our program apart from others, click here.

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Bre Myers, AuD ‘06, PhD ‘17, CH-AP. Read about Dr. Myers’ distinguished career at Salus, why she named her bulldog Scarlet and about her experience in the rough and tumble world of roller derby. Go to salus.edu/BreMyersFocus.

SLP MOVIE NIGHT: The Department of Speech-Language Pathology is hosting a movie night featuring the documentary “Magnolia’s Hope,” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, in Room S300 on the Elkins Park campus. The film is about a girl with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe impairments affecting nearly every aspect of her life. Following the film, the movie’s creator will join the group for a question-and-answer session.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday the Surgeon General of the United States issued an advisory warning the American Public about the threat of health misinformation. In the advisory, Dr. Vivek Murthy stated, “Health misinformation is an urgent threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, and undermine public health efforts, including our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic”. As we attempt to get more of our population vaccinated, this issue becomes more critical as data suggests over 65% of unvaccinated adults have heard at least one of these COVID vaccine myths and either believed it to be true or were not sure how valid it was (KFF website, May, 2021). Unfortunately, an analysis of social media posts found that false news stories were 70% more likely to be shared than true stories (Science, 2018). As healthcare professionals, it’s our responsibility to ensure that we are giving our patients and clients fact-based information concerning these vaccines. It’s also our responsibility to get vaccinated and set the example for others. Given the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the virus, even with all this misinformation being purposefully distributed, I’m totally amazed that there are people who still refuse to get the jab. It makes no sense, especially since COVID-19 is now a preventable disease with the vaccine.

To that end, I want to remind everyone that our deadline for being fully vaccinated, unless you have an approved exemption, for all students, faculty and staff, is August 13th. If you are not fully vaccinated at that time, you will be asked to show proof of a negative test that was performed that week at your own expense. You will then have to provide proof of negative tests weekly, at your own expense, in order to come on to campus. You will also be required to wear a face mask at all times when on campus and in the clinics, even with a negative test result. Faculty and staff, please ensure that you have reported your vaccination status in our vaccination database. It is essential that we keep our vaccination data current. Students, you will be contacted by Castlebranch to provide your vaccination information in the near future.

Maintaining a safe Salus campus is paramount to getting us back to normal academic and clinical operations this Fall. Having us all vaccinated gets us there! We’ve done so well until now, let’s keep it going!

As we approach the weekend, please remember to keep doing all the important things we’ve been doing to get us through the pandemic to include frequent hand washing and not coming to work, school or clinic if you are not feeling well. Also, if you’re not vaccinated, please wear a face mask when around others and for those of us who are vaccinated, you should feel comfortable wearing a face mask whenever you feel it’s needed.

Stay safe, stay hydrated and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Juneteenth National Independence Day and a Change in Our Vaccine Policy: Week of June 18th, 2021

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

Good morning on a cool and sunny Juneteenth National Independence Day. As we pledged to do last Fall, today was designated a University holiday in commemoration of the June 19, 1865 announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Galveston, Texas. Just yesterday, President Biden signed a bill making this a Federal Holiday to allow all Americans to have the time to reflect on the significance of the day. Closer to home, here are some of the things happening around campus:

NEW VACCINE POLICY: As I hope you have all seen by now, we have updated our Salus Safety Strategy to require all students, faculty, residents and staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by August 13, 2021. You can view the video I recorded explaining our rationale on our website and read a copy of the updated guidelines here.

OCA APPOINTMENTS: Two internal appointments have been announced at Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) by Radhika Aravamudhan, PhD, dean of OCA. Bre Myers, AuD ‘06, PhD, CH-AP, three-year track program coordinator and associate professor, has been named assistant dean for Foundations; and Jonette Owen, AuD ‘03, MS, assistant dean for Clinical Education and assistant professor, has been promoted to associate dean for Clinical Education. Congratulations to Dr. Myers and Dr. Owen! 

GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION: Kenneth Newton, MS, CCC-SLP, wanted to find a way to memorialize some of the people he loves in a unique way. After a lot of thought, he decided the best way to do that was to give something back to the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus University in which he’s been an assistant professor for the past six years. Read more about Ken’s generous contribution here.

FRIEND AND MENTOR: It’s not unusual, according to Landon Godsey III, program director and fitness guru at the Hafter Center, that fitness trainers and their clients develop personal relationships. That’s because fitness training can be a highly personal journey for some people. Read more about how Landon has become a friend and mentor to several Salus students here.

MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITATION: This week, we highlight Standard IV - Support of the Student Experience. Our working group is led by James Caldwell, OD, EdD, Dean, Office of Student Affairs, who is joined by John Fitzgerald, III, DO, FACOG, Associate Professor, Associate Program Director, Medical Director, and Clinical Director, Physician Assistant Studies Program, College of Health Sciences, Laine Higa, OD, FAAO, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Monica Maisto, MS, Director, Office of Admissions, Andrea Tyszka, OTD, MS, OTR/L, SIPT, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, College of Education and Rehabilitation, Darryl Horn, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Andrew Muckin, student, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Together they are documenting the litany of student services provided by the University to support their academic studies and provide extracurricular opportunities to enrich their experience. And please don't forget to join Dr. Kruemmling's virtual information session next Wednesday, June 23rd, at noon, to learn more about the self-study process and how you can review and provide feedback on the University's draft self-study report. 

PRIDE MONTH: June is Pride Month, a celebration that demonstrates how LGBTQA+ Americans have helped strengthen the country by using their talent and creativity to help create awareness and goodwill. Visit loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month to learn more about LGBTQA+ histories well as view artistic work, musical compositions and novels from the community.

FACULTY FOCUS: Daniel Pavlik, DMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, associate professor and director of didactic education for the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program at Salus University, is this week’s Faculty Focus feature. Dr. Pavlik is currently serving as interim director of the PA program. Read more about him at salus.edu/DanielPavlik.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: When Salus University alumni, Rachel Plavnik, MS ‘19, Shannon LaSalle, MS ‘17, Amanda Kaufmann, MS ‘17, and Alexa Gutman, MS ‘17, embarked on their academic journeys, despite all the guidance and direction they would receive as students enrolled in the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program, none of them anticipated their degrees leading them to the West Coast. Read more about their respective journeys here.

NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID: Check out “How to Navigate Financial Aid as a Grad Student” in part one of this podcast Q&A featuring Jaime Schulang, MA, director of Student Financial Affairs. Jaime talks about the different loans, scholarships and financial aid that are available for students when they come to Salus University. To listen and read more, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of this week we’ve passed on a great deal of information between the change in our vaccine policy to the recognition of Juneteenth National Independence Day. As a final thought, please take the time today to reflect on the reasons you’ve chosen to become healthcare providers or educators and how you’re going to leverage all you have learned or are learning to make other lives better. After all, isn’t that why we’ve all decided to enter into the professions we offer here at Salus?

For all you dads out there - I hope you have a Happy Father’s Day. Please be safe, take some time for relaxation and reflection and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Celebrating Our Summer Enrichment Program: Week of June 11th, 2021

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

Greetings from a very busy Elkins Park campus where our hot and muggy weather is finally gone, although it’s a bit soggy this morning! We have our summer cohort of Blindness and Low Vision Studies students on campus for their face-to-face learning experience in addition to students from all our other programs. It’s fun watching our BLVS students navigate around with their blinders and canes. In addition to this, here are some other activities that will be of interest to you:

THE COLLEGE TOUR: We had a great time last night at the launch party for the Salus segment of The College Tour, a TV series produced by Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning producers featuring individual episodes on colleges and universities across the country. Special thanks to Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams for serving as our Mistress of Ceremonies and to Alexis Abate and her communications team for putting the event together. I’d also like to thank the stars of the show, those students and faculty who made the production come to life, for sharing their stories with all of us. The evening included a viewing of the show, which streams on Amazon Prime and Roku, a meet-and-greet with the “stars”, refreshments and a DJ. To read more about The College Tour experience, go to salus.edu/TheCollegeTour.

OTI DIRECTOR: Brianna Brim, assistant professor of Occupational Therapy, has been named director of the Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI), located at The Eye Institute. James Konopack, PhD, dean of the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) made the announcement this week. Brianna brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, legislative and advocacy leadership, interprofessional education, and a strong record of scholarship and student mentorship to OTI. Congratulations Brianna! I know the OTI will be in great hands!

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: I’d like to extend our congratulations to Joel Silbert, OD ‘73, FAAO, former director of the Contact Lens Program and former chief of the Cornea and Specialty Contact Lens Service at TEI, who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE); and to Brooke Kruemmling, PhD, COMS, Associate Provost, who was presented with the Salus coin on June 2 in recognition of her leadership on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. 

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus features Christine McCormick, MS, MMS, PA-C, an assistant professor in the University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. Find out how she went from wanting to be a professional dancer to becoming a PA and which Disney character “influenced” her wedding dress. To read more, go here.

SLP PODCAST SERIES: The next installment of our podcast series about the Speech-Language Pathology program at Salus University features department chair and program director Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, as he speaks with a clinical educator and three students about about their field experience in the preschool setting. To listen to the podcast, click here.

ARTICULATION AGREEMENT: Salus University and Manhattan College recently signed an articulation agreement creating a pathway for Manhattan College students to earn their master’s degrees in occupational therapy. Under the agreement, students who gain admission into Salus via the 4+2 program will be able to complete their Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree program in two years. Read more about it here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: On Monday we will be welcoming 15 students into our revitalized Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) thanks to a very generous grant from America’s Best/National Vision Inc. The initial SEP was developed by Dean Robert Horne in 1977. It was funded by a government grant to support, “disadvantaged students”. Since then, the mission of the program has shifted to help assure that Salus continues to attract talented students of color who want to pursue health professions. As a testimony to the success of the SEP program, Pennsylvania College of Optometry remains one of the most diverse optometric programs in the country with the largest black student enrollment. Of note, while PCO may be number one, we still have a great deal of work to do to ensure that all of our programs, to include optometry, are representative of those communities we live and work in.

Finally, I want to once again, address the importance of getting vaccinated. As we survey our current student body as well as incoming students, while we’re doing fairly well, we are not at levels I would expect a university specializing in the health sciences to be. If any of you who have not yet gotten vaccinated and need to get more information about these very safe and effective vaccines, here are some links you can reference: The Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WebMD, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to name just a few. Additionally, the Black Doctors Consortium has been extremely successful in decreasing vaccine hesitancy amongst the African American community in Philadelphia. You can learn more about their efforts here. Keeping the Salus community healthy and safe is our primary concern. Because we also work closely with patients and clients, we have an additional responsibility to keep them safe, as well as protect ourselves and our loved ones. Thus, it is our expectation that unless people have a medical or religious reason not to get vaccinated, they do the right thing and get the jab. Please, if you’re not vaccinated do it now. As you prepare for this weekend, try to get out and enjoy the nice weather. If you are unvaccinated, wear your mask when indoors or outside around others. Please watch out for one another and stay SALUS STRONG!

A Reminder to Get Vaccinated: Week of June 4th, 2021

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

Good morning. It’s a bit gray outside but I can assure you that inside things are bright and cheery. As a testimony to the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, many of our students and faculty have been participating in face-to-face classes and continue to work hard in clinical labs and our patient-centric clinics. Here are some events happening around campus: 

COMMENCEMENT WEEK: Wrapping up Commencement Week that led into the Memorial Day weekend, here are some stories on the Salus website that you may have missed: 

— The 122nd commencement ceremony, which recognized a total of 303 students, was unique in that it offered both a virtual and an in-person option for the graduates and their families. Read about the first-ever drive-thru ceremony here. And read about the virtual ceremony here. Barring any unforeseen circumstances with the pandemic, we should be back to our traditional in-person commencement venue in the fall.

PRIDE MONTH: June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate progress, inclusion, to affirm members of and raise awareness about efforts for equal justice and opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community (and the communities within). Pride Month began due to a riotous rejection of oppression known as the Stonewall Uprising. This event was a turning point in the movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.

MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITATION: This week, we highlight Standard III - Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience. Ethics & Integrity. Our working group is led by Elizabeth Tonkery, OD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Associate Dean, Accelerated Scholars Program, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, who is joined by Samantha DiPinto, student, Osborne College of Audiology, Bhawan Minhas, OD, FAAO, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Director, On-Campus Residency Programs; Primary Care/Ocular Disease Residency Coordinator, and Fabiana Perla, EdD, COMS, CLVT, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, College of Education and Rehabilitation. Together they are documenting how we design and deliver world-class curriculum and learning experiences for future healthcare professionals.

INITIAL TENURE RECIPIENTS: Congratulations to Dr. Victor Bray and Ms. Kerry Lueders on receiving their initial 5-year tenure approval from the Board. This represents a significant professional achievement.

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Christin DeMoss, OD ‘17, Resident ‘18. While a student at PCO/Salus, Dr. DeMoss was vice president of her class and was also involved with the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) as a trustee and trustee-elect, and during her fourth year, was the national AOSA secretary. Now she’s an assistant professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. To read more about Dr. DeMoss, go to salus.edu/ChristinDeMoss.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Featured in this week’s Where Are They Now is Frank Mai, OD ‘16. Dr. Mai has trained under some other PCO/Salus alums — Gary Fishberg, OD ‘78 and Robert Wang, OD ‘10, FAAO — and now is a clinical supervisor at the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And he just got married last month! Read more about Dr. Mai at salus.edu/FrankMai.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As the number of Covid cases in our area continues to decline more and more people will feel comfortable getting out and about. While that is very encouraging, it does not minimize the importance of getting vaccinated. I know I sound like a broken record, but we are the ones who need to set the example for others to do the right thing and get the Covid vaccine. The safety and effectiveness of these vaccines has been well-documented with the millions of people who have already received them. More importantly, as populations have become increasingly vaccinated, the numbers of Covid cases have decreased proportionally. Vaccines work - they keep us safe and they keep all those around us safe. Please, if you’re not already vaccinated and don’t have a medical or religious reason not to be, get that jab! We don’t want anyone getting sick. Looking ahead, I am optimistic that our incoming class will follow suit, act professionally, and arrive on campus vaccinated. As you prepare for the weekend, please continue to act responsibly, wear a face mask indoors when required or if you’re not yet vaccinated. Continue to wash your hands frequently and look out for one another. Stay safe and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Getting Vaccinated: Week of April 9th, 2021

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

Greetings from our beautiful Elkin Park campus. While this has been another short week, it’s also been a busy week on campus between practical examinations, practice for national boards and all the labs, clinics and classes that have been going on. In addition to all that, here’s some more great information about some of our staff and activities happening around campus:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: We’re closing in on the date for Salus University’s 14th annual “Looking Out for Kids” fundraiser, which will be held virtually at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1. This year’s event will honor TD Bank as the “Lighthouse Award” winner. Once again, NBC10 News anchor Rosemary Connors will host the event. To purchase virtual tickets or VIP reception boxes online, visit here.

DEI COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING: Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee is undergoing a restructuring. Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams, the University’s special assistant to the president for DEI, is accepting applications from those who would like to serve on the committee. It will consist of 15 members from across the University to ensure diverse and inclusive representation. The three colleges will have a student and faculty representative (six members). Additionally, several areas have been suggested for possible member representation for the remaining seven members. Dr. Mosley-Williams will serve as chair and I will serve as an ex-officio member. All committee members will be expected to serve a two-year term, and may serve for one additional term. Please contact Dr. Mosley-Williams for details on how to apply.

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Kenneth Newton, CCC-SLP. Ken is known affectionately in the Speech-Language Pathology department as “Zen Ken” because he likes to remind students to relax and breathe while they navigate the challenges of graduate school. Read more about Ken here.

SPRING COMMENCEMENT KEYNOTE SPEAKER: I am extremely happy to announce that Congresswoman Madeleine Dean has agreed to be the keynote speaker for our Spring Commencement ceremony. Congressman Dean has focused on decency and the common good throughout her years in public service. She has worked to address issues that affect all of us, including stopping gun violence and guaranteeing health care for all. I had the opportunity to talk with the Congresswoman last week and I’m certain that her message will resonate with all of us.

SALUS SUPERSTAR: We sadly bid farewell recently to a Salus superstar, Donna Agnew, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, director of the University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program, who has taken on a new challenge at the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Donna’s leadership and expertise has resulted in this program becoming one of the leading PA programs in the country. Thank you for all you have done for Salus, Donna. We wish you all the success and will miss you. In Donna’s absence Mr. Dan Pavlik will serve as the interim director of the program. Read more about Donna’s farewell here.

SALUS SUPERSTAR, TAKE 2: We also recently said goodbye to Francine Pearlman-Storch, OD ‘79, Resident ‘80, who retired after more than 40 years in the Clinical Skills lab at Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University. Read more about her career and the farewell ceremony we had for Dr. Pearlman-Storch here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features Arieneh Tahmasian, OD ‘17. The training in pediatrics and traumatic brain injuries she received at PCO/Salus made her an appealing addition to a practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Read more about Dr. Tahmasian here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: While I was walking around campus this morning, watching all the activity, I was struck by what the campus looked like 13 months ago. We were about 2 weeks into the pandemic, not knowing what was to come next. I went back to look at the Weekly Update I wrote that week to get a sense of what we might have been thinking at that time. Governor Wolf had just closed all K-12 schools until the end of the academic year, we were beginning our plans to return to clinics and labs, if permitted, and continuing with virtual classes. What a difference 13 months makes.

We’ve been through what, hopefully, has been the worst of the pandemic. Thanks to the new, miraculous, careful development of highly safe and effective vaccines being deployed regionally and nationally, unless things change, we are anticipating a “normal” Fall semester opening. This means we’ll have in-person classes, labs and clinics for all programs. Since getting vaccinated is such an important part of getting back to normal, I strongly encourage all of you to get vaccinated. These vaccines have been developed with over 10 years of research and close scrutiny. They are safe and proving to be extremely effective. It’s truly amazing, that after a very slow start, almost half of our country has received at least one dose of the two dose vaccines and the deployment is accelerating over time (see chart below).

Even with all this good news, as I’ve reminded you before, now is not the time to let our guard down. There are still variants of the virus in our area that are more contagious and potentially more deadly. Please continue to wear your double face mask when around others, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Once fully vaccinated (two weeks following your last vaccine dose), you can meet in small groups at home or other places with others who have also been fully vaccinated, without a mask. We are not relaxing our mask or social distance requirements on campus since not everyone is vaccinated.

I hope you all get out and enjoy some of this nice spring weather this weekend. It’s only going to get nicer as the weeks roll by. As you do get out and about, please continue to follow all of the CDC guidelines to stay safe, stay healthy and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Keeping COVID Victims in Our Thoughts: Week of April 2nd, 2021

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

It’s been a relatively short week. I know that students, faculty and staff have been busy preparing for board exams and clinical practicals, in addition to attending virtual and in-person classes and providing patient care in our clinics. Here’s some of what’s going on around our Salus Community:

HOLY DAYS: This time of year includes several cultural and holy days that are significant to many in our community: 

• Passover (March 28 - April 4) — The Jewish holiday observed for eight days (sundown to sundown) celebrates the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt.
• Holi (March 29) — An annual Hindu festival held in the spring to signify the triumph of good over evil, the end of winter, and the arrival of spring and the harvest.
• Holy Week (March 28 - April 4) — Holy Week is a Christian observance from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus, who died on Good Friday and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all who believe.

SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendars for this year’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) Externship Celebration. The virtual event will be held on April 27, 2021, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2022 as they journey into externship. This year's event will be interactive with trivia and a few other surprises. Please click here to RSVP to the event.

BEHIND THE SCENES: In the latest episode of “Behind the Scenes at TEI,” we get some insights from Jeffrey Nyman, OD, FAAO, director of emergency services at The Eye Institute (TEI), and its most senior staff member. The nature of emergency care can be unpredictable, but Dr. Nyman gives us an inside look at how his day unfolds. To read more, click here. 

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. Dr. Lustig plays guitar, piano, percussion and sings. For years she has had a particular interest in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian folkloric music. Find out more about Dr. Lustig here.

NEW CLASS OF RESIDENTS: Congratulations to the class of newly matched PCO optometry residents. They will be honing their skills in Primary Care/Ocular Disease, Pediatrics/Vision Therapy, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Cornea/Contact Lens and Neuro Ophthalmic Disease. We look forward to seeing you at The Eye Institute this summer!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Check in on Alexandra Kistner, MS ‘17, and how her career has progressed since graduation in this week’s “Where Are They Now.” A member of the inaugural Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) class in 2015, she is now a speech therapist in the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania. To read more about Alexandra, go here.

VACCINE AVAILABILITY: Vaccine availability is becoming more ubiquitous in our region. It’s taken a while to get there but by the middle of this month, any person over the age of sixteen will be eligible. What has been incredible about these new vaccines is how effective (100%) they have been proven to be against severe COVID disease and hospitalizations. If you have not yet had the opportunity to receive either the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, here’s a link to the Commonwealth’s website that will explain the vaccine rollout timeline and help guide you to one of many pharmacies in the area where vaccines will be available. I strongly encourage all of you to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Once you are vaccinated, here is the CDC guidance that outlines what you should and should not do.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we look forward to having 4-days off from class, clinic and work, I ask that you take a few moments to remember all those who have lost their lives to COVID. To date, over 552,000 Americans have died, with the global toll over 2.8 million people. While we are not yet out of the woods, your perseverance, resiliency, creativity and stamina have allowed all of us to weather this storm better than most. That said, now is NOT the time to let our guard down. We must continue to be vigilant in all we do, even if we’re vaccinated, to help stem the spread of the virus. To that end, please continue to wear your double face mask when around others who are not in your immediate circles and are unvaccinated, continue to socially distance and wash your hands frequently.

Over the course of these next four days, try to take some time for yourselves and get out and enjoy the nice weather. Fresh air and exercise are great for rejuvenating yourself both physically and mentally!

We wish everyone celebrating Passover, Easter or Holi peaceful and restful holidays.

Finally, we are SALUS STRONG because of your unyielding commitment to excellence in everything you do. I look forward to seeing you around campus and clinics next week. Stay safe, stay active and continue to look out for one another.

Mike