Leveraging the Wisdom of the Stoics: Week of December 1, 2023

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

Good morning on this first day of December! Campus and clinics are humming with productive energy as students prepare for practicals and final exams. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to view several of the Healthcare, Professionalism and Diversity course presentations in the Hafter Center. The topics addressed the fullest range of social determinants impacting health across diverse and underserved populations in the United States and abroad. Congratulations to our student teams and faculty mentors on the impressive display of team problem solving!

Here are some other happenings:

TOLAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Congratulations to Megan Patterson ‘25OD, who has been named the 2023 Joseph C. Toland Memorial Scholarship winner. The scholarship is awarded to a worthy third-year Doctor of Optometry student (or students) in good academic standing who demonstrates a distinctive ability to provide competent and compassionate care to their patients. Read more here.

THAILAND FIELDWORK FOR OT: Four Salus University Occupational Therapy students were the first from the program to have an international Level 1 fieldwork experience recently in Thailand. Not only did the students experience traditional learning objectives, but importantly, their learning emphasized development of cultural humility and understanding client needs in a setting beyond the United States. Click here to read more about the trip.

O&P 5K ANY WAY: The first-ever 5K Any Way Fundraiser hosted by the Salus Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (SOPA) attracted 80 participants on the morning of Nov. 11, 2023, at Alverthorpe Park in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Read more here.

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Re’naijah Purvis ‘24PBHS calls herself a “crystal nerd.” She doesn’t just make crystal bracelets as a side activity to her studies, she draws energy from them. They were so popular within her inner circle that friends encouraged her to make and sell them to others. Check out the latest story here in our Students at Leisure series.

CLINICAL TRAINING PODCAST: In our latest podcast, we hear from Master of Science in Clinical Optometry students from Oulu University in Finland about why they chose Salus for their clinical training. Click here to listen.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we navigate the coming weeks of final exams and the impending merger with Drexel, we find ourselves at a crossroads of challenge and transition. In these pivotal times, I am reminded of the enduring wisdom of Stoics – Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, whose words resonate deeply with our current experiences.

To our students, as you embark on a final push this semester, remember Marcus Aurelius’ guidance, “It’s okay to be discouraged. It’s not okay to quit.” Your journey in learning, filled with its unique challenges and opportunities, is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence. Each day and each exam bring you closer to your professional aspirations. The reward of knowledge is available to all who persistently and actively pursue it. No one ever said this would be easy.

To our faculty and staff, Seneca offers cogent advice: "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." The challenge in achieving our goals often lies not in the external obstacles we face, but in our own reluctance or fear to confront them.

Our merger with Drexel is a blending of our strengths and Drexel’s. It represents an opportunity for growth, collaboration and innovation. Our collective resilience will guide this transformation, paving a way for a future where our collaborative efforts will flourish to the benefit of our students and the greater university communities.

Together, we face paths that require endurance, whether in our academic pursuits or institutional changes. Marcus Aurelius reminds us that our ability to endure originates from the strength within us. Our challenges are temporary; our resolve is enduring.

As we move forward, let’s do so with a spirit of persistence, courage, professionalism, endurance and unwavering dedication towards a future that is not only bright but also full of potential and promise. Together, we will not just endure; we will thrive.

We are all here to support each other; to learn, grow and succeed together. Let’s embrace these challenges as opportunities to showcase our collective strengths!

As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect on the words of the Stoics as they apply to many of the challenges and opportunities we encounter every day. Try to get out and enjoy some of the warmer weather and come back next week SALUS STRONG, ready to tackle those exams and matters associated with our upcoming merger.

 -Mike

Salus Weekly Update: Week of July 21, 2023

 

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

Good morning as we begin this soggy July day in Elkins Park. It’s been another busy week on campus with construction of the first floor of the south building progressing, as the outdoor patio area is starting to take shape (see photos below). This week we also congratulate our students from Taiwan as they complete audiology rotations on campus and prepare to head home. Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

SEP OFF AND RUNNING: Nine students interested in pursuing a career in optometry are participating in the University’s Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), which kicked off July 10, 2023. Click here to read more about their initial thoughts on the program.

NEW ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT: When Zachary Saunders, MSOT ‘17, was a student at Salus, he received the Unsung Hero and Spirit of Salus Award as well as the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association scholarship. After graduation, he joined the Alumni Association board to stay connected with Salus. And now, he’s stepped up to be the alumni board president, the first OT graduate to take the position. Read more about Zac here.

STAYING COMPETITIVE: Salus University’s Office of Admissions recently held a webinar on “Crafting A Competitive Application: Ways to Become a Qualified Applicant,” which will help prospective students through this process. For details, click here.

DICE BECOMES GISP: The department formerly known as DICE will now be called GISP, the Division of Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming within the Office of Academic Affairs. This renaming is also a repositioning of the program to provide institutional housing for and oversight of Interprofessional Education and Practice, new credentialing and micro-credentialing opportunities, institutional partnerships, and the expansion of our international programs. We are grateful to Dr. Vitek, Dr. Hanson and the DICE (now GISP) team for their leadership and foresight.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s been a few weeks since the Salus-Drexel signing ceremony celebrating our forthcoming merger, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and specialized accreditors. I’m excited as we begin the necessary steps in the integration process. I wanted to take this opportunity to keep you apprised of our integration efforts to date.

Drexel President John Fry and I met last evening to discuss how the Integration Council will be set up to ensure we have administrative oversight of all of the academic, operational and regulatory processes that will be needed going forward. We will continue to keep everyone informed as we formalize the details.

As you can imagine, combining robust academic programs, bustling clinics, and high performing administrative units is a complex undertaking that is going to take time, patience and compromise. Our academic leaders have been in communication with MSCHE, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the United States Department of Education and specialized accreditors to ensure that our combined institution will be in compliance with all accreditation standards and government regulations – the key condition of the merger.

In the coming months, we look forward to building relationships among faculty and staff across all our respective disciplines and departments. I also look forward to continuing university-wide discussions with students, faculty, staff and alumni as our integration efforts get up to full speed. I will continue small group meetings to reach you directly and to answer any questions you may have.

As you prepare for the weekend, please remember to stay hydrated, use plenty of sunscreen when outdoors and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

When Will We Address Gun Violence With Urgency? Week of April 14, 2023

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful Spring morning from our Elkins Park campus. Our students and faculty have been busy preparing for the last stretch of the semester with finals and practicals on many people’s minds. In other news:

MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: This week Salus University faculty, staff and students attended the Equity in Medical Education Summit at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, hosted by the DelVal DEI Consortium, of which Salus is a member. The event was sponsored by Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Juliana Mosley Williams, PhD, special assistant to the president for DEI, was a panel moderator and Monica Scirrotto, director of Admissions, and Melissa Trego, OD '04, Resident '09, PhD, dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) were panelists at conference breakout sessions.

CONGRATULATIONS DR. A!: Congratulations to Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan who successfully defended her EdD degree at the University of Pennsylvania earlier this week.

FITCH AWARD WINNER: Congratulations to Mark Boas, OD ‘86, our 2023 Albert Fitch Memorial Alumnus of the Year. From 1998 to 2020, Dr. Boas was a consultant at The Eye Institute (TEI) of Salus University, eventually joining the TEI clinical faculty from 2001 to 2015 and then advancing to assistant professor at the College from 2015 to 2020. He retired from the faculty and as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees in 2020. To read more about Dr. Boas and his accomplishments, click here.

INTERNATIONAL SLP EXCURSION: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at Salus University, as he speaks with a group of second-year SLP students about their international excursion in the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide clinical care. Click here for more.

SPRING FLING: The first Salus University Spring Fling will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 11, on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus. The afternoon will include carnival games, a DJ with dancing, group games and prizes and plenty of food. Come out to enjoy with colleagues and friends this fun event!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Just three days ago, yet another mass shooting occurred in Louisville, Kentucky, where over the course of one minute, five people were killed, including a 26-year old rookie police officer on the job for 10 days, and eight others were injured. As of mid-April, the Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 145 mass shootings in the United States this year. This is yet another mass shooting involving an assault-style rifle.

When will we, as a civil society, address this public health emergency with urgency? We know what works to intervene; we have evidence-based models and tools to blunt this epidemic. As healthcare providers, we can partner with all stakeholders – policymakers, business, civic and community leaders, law enforcement, faith communities, and health and social service providers, to advocate for sensible laws; invest in evidence-based interventions and prevention strategies; strengthen community based networks; and expand mental health and social supports. There is a role for each of us to play in saving lives, and we can achieve so much more together than individually.

As you prepare for the weekend, please keep all affected by gun violence in your thoughts and intentions. Think about what you can do to partner with others as you take action to reduce gun violence.

Try to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. It’s that time of the year when you should be using sunscreen, hydrating frequently and checking for ticks if you’re out in the woods. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Shaping the future Delivery of Integrated Healthcare and Healthcare Education: Week of March 24, 2023

 

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

Good morning from Chicago where I have been attending the annual meeting of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) along with John Gaal and Chaitali Baviskar. As always, the meeting attracts world-class experts from around the country addressing the most pressing issues affecting healthcare delivery in our country. I am energized by the wealth and exchange of ideas to improve what we do in patient care and education. In my final thoughts, I’ll share a little of what I learned here, particularly from remarks given by keynote speaker Dr. Fareed Zakaria, host of GPS for CNN Worldwide.

First, let me share some exciting happenings around campus:

LIVING THE DREAM: Maura Waldner, MMS ‘22, enrolled in the Salus University Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program with the ultimate goal of working in dermatology. Less than three months after graduation, she is living her dream. Click here to read more about her professional journey.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: A big fan of Greek mythology, Sarah Gosnell, MS ‘19, suspected Salus University might be a good fit. Salus is named for the Roman goddess of safety and well-being (welfare, health and prosperity). So, it was no surprise she ended up at Salus pursuing her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Read more by clicking here.

DYNAMIC DUOS EVENT: The Department of Continuing Education (DICE) at Salus University will be hosting its annual Dynamic Duos event on Sunday, March 26. This continuing education program is a synchronous, in-person event at our Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. The program, COPE accredited for six continuing education credits, is designed to offer optometrists a comprehensive review of conditions impacting patient health and well-being. For more information on the event’s topics and to register, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In our keynote session “What it Takes to Thrive Amid the Forces in Society, Economy and Culture that are Creating the Future,” Dr. Fareed Zakaria posited that our society is being fundamentally altered by the speed of technology development, nearly instantaneous communications though social media, and other means of information dissemination, and that these developments are playing a contributing role in the polarization of society. He observed that 20 years ago, most Americans received their news from 3 television networks. The content would generally be the same on each network, closely regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Today, there are literally hundreds of ways people get their news online, with little scrutiny of accuracy, enabling viewers and listeners to choose news that aligns with their own opinions. That social media can amplify any viewpoint, irrespective of evidence or scrutiny, has led to proliferation of widespread misinformation. We saw many examples of this throughout the pandemic as we debated the efficacy of masking and safety of vaccines.

At the same time, the economy has been affected by many of these changes. Companies, such as Amazon and Facebook have leveraged these changes and have become outsized influencers in how we shop and communicate every day. Their impact on our culture and its evolution over time is significant and enduring.

This has direct implications for the way we communicate with our future patients and clients, and importantly, how they expect to communicate with us. Both are undergoing rapid change. The way we teach and prepare our graduates for their professions must also adapt to these forces.

And this is where things get really exciting. Teaching what have historically been lock-step programs in a more flexible, hybrid fashion; building on-ramps and off-ramps for students who work and raise families while pursuing training; enables us to prepare more graduates to address the growing need and demand for healthcare professionals. Embracing interprofessional education in a way not previously done – providing micro-credentials for students throughout their professional development, better prepares our students to learn continuously -- a habit requisite for excellence in comprehensive, integrated patient care. Expanding telemedicine across all our professions and learning to provide definitive care in more cost-effective ways improves access to better healthcare and improved health outcomes.

As we let go of old habits and beliefs, we can be an active contributor in shaping the future delivery of integrated healthcare and healthcare education. The changes we make forward our mission: advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

As you prepare for the upcoming weekend think about what changes you can make to be an active contributor in the future delivery of integrated healthcare. For those observing Ramadan, I wish you an easy and restorative fast. To all, please continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike