An Exciting Time at Salus: Week of February 11th, 2022

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

Good morning from a sunny and relatively warm Elkins Park campus where I am writing this update from our new digs on the 4th floor of the North building. Together with Academic Affairs, we have moved from our office spaces in the West building to accommodate the construction of our Orthotics & Prosthetics spaces and new Activities of Daily Living lab. This is an exciting time to be at Salus! Here are some things of interest:

BOOSTER DEADLINE: Our February 13th deadline is quickly approaching. By Monday, all students, faculty and staff are to be boosted with an FDA-approved vaccine (or such later date that an individual first becomes eligible for a booster – i.e. six months after having received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine). Please remember to upload your booster information by Monday. An email has been sent with additional instructions. 

ACCELERATED SCHOLARS PROGRAM: Three of our students share why they chose the Accelerated Scholars Program at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University. This program enables students to complete the traditional optometry program degree requirements in an accredited 36-month, year-round, campus-based program. To read more about their perspectives and experiences, click here.

OT vs. PT: In our latest podcast, we talk with Brianna Brim, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPP, director of the Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI) and an assistant professor of Occupational Therapy. Second-year OT students — Bradley Hess, Aditi Kadakia and Rachel Boas; join in. They talk to us about the difference between OT and Physical Therapy (PT) and why they chose Salus University’s OT program. To read more, click here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Jaime Schulang, MA, director of Student Financial Affairs at the University. Find out about her lifelong love affair playing the viola and how she met her musical hero. Read more here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend Senator Bob Casey’s 2022 Higher Education Roundtable in Washington, DC. Thirty-five college presidents attended the meeting. Congresswoman Susan Wild, from the 7th Congressional District, kicked off the meeting with her priorities for higher education including support for college completion and obtaining skills that will allow them to earn livable wages. Ambassador Susan Rice, President Biden’s Domestic Policy Advisor, discussed the importance of Pell Grants. Of note, Ambassador Rice’s mother, Lois Rice -- a corporate executive and on the College Board, was instrumental in getting the original Pell Grant program passed almost 50 years ago. Ambassador Rice stressed the importance of making higher education accessible to everyone.

During the discussion period, I noted that while Pell grants are extremely beneficial for attending undergraduate schools, the current Pell guidelines have no impact on graduate programs. While we strongly advocate for additional funding for the Pell Grant program, these must be made available to graduate students as well as undergraduates. According to the Washington Post, 40 percent of today's federal student loans are given to graduate students with borrowing increasing by $2.3 billion over the course of six academic years. Comparatively, undergraduate borrowing decreased by $15 billion over the same time period.

These discussions are extremely important to raise awareness among leaders and policymakers to the challenges our students face. Know that I will continue to champion issues that impact you.

As you prepare for Super Bowl weekend, I hope your favorite team wins! In the meantime, as you participate in Super Bowl festivities or are out and about, please remember to wear your facemask around others (even in light of discussions to eliminate mask mandates, which I believe are premature) socially distance when you can, and continue to wash your hands frequently. As always, be safe, be smart and look out for one another – together we 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

Additional Mitigation Strategies to Enhance Protection of Our Salus Community: Week of January 7th, 2022

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’d like to welcome all of our students back as you prepare for next week’s activities on this snowy, frigid Friday! We look forward to seeing you in labs and clinics next week!

As COVID cases mount in the current surge, we will continue to update you on the steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our Salus community. Here is the latest: 

BOOSTER CLINICS: All students, faculty and staff are expected to have their booster by February 13, 2022, or as soon as eligible per CDC guidelines. Chelten Drug Store will host two booster clinics on campus for those who still require the booster:

• The Eye Institute on Friday, January 21: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Elkins Park Campus on Friday, January 28: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Registration information is forthcoming.

UPGRADED MASKS: In last week’s update, I announced our upgraded mask requirement to provide increased protection against rampant transmission of the Omicron variant. If you do not have an upgraded mask, you can request one at the security desk.

VENTILATION: Last week, we noted the addition of MERV13 filtration systems in classrooms at Elkins Park. These filtration systems have also been added to multiple work areas and public spaces at The Eye Institute. These units will run continuously.

DINING: Food is permitted in designated dining areas only. No food is permitted in classrooms, stairwells or hallways. People are permitted to have water in classes.

RETURN TO WORK PROTOCOL: To all of our Salus family members who are recuperating from COVID-19, please know we are thinking of you and wishing you a quick recovery. 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. Please email him first at bzuckerman@salus.edu. He will then contact your program. 

In other news:

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Natalie Standig, who works in the Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE) department. Find out what new hobby Natalie and her husband took up when the pandemic hit and how it has become rewarding and enjoyable for the couple. Read more here.

OTD PROGRAM BENEFITS: In our latest podcast, we talk with Tavii El, MSOT ’21, and Mary Zhu, MSOT ‘21, two students currently in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. They discuss their transition from the Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program to the OTD program, and the benefits of completing it all back to back at Salus University. To listen, click here.

FITNESS CENTER HOURS: The Hafter Student Community Center (HSCC) fitness center hours have changed. The new hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

FOND FAREWELL: Landon Godsey III, program director at the Hafter Center, has departed from Salus effective January 3, 2022. Landon served as a mentor and friend for many of our students over the years. We send him our best wishes for his future endeavors. Click here to read more about Landon. 

One more word about COVID: Thanks to the work of many members of our University community, our pandemic safety track record over the past twenty-one months suggests we are well prepared to handle this latest surge. Still, the coming few weeks will test our collective resiliency and fortitude. Know that as conditions change, we will remain focused on the health and safety of our Salus community. Together we are SALUS STRONG!

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

Importance of Getting Your Booster Now: Week of December 10th, 2021

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

Greetings from a chilly Elkins Park campus. It’s been another busy week at Salus as we wind down the semester. Some students are already off-campus completing virtual final exams while others are still in clinic and doing practical exams in labs. In addition to all of this, here are points of interest for your review:

PODCAST SERIES: In part one of our new Biomedicine podcast series, we hear from Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, dean of Research and director of Graduate Programs in Biomedicine. He talks to us about the uniqueness of the Biomedicine program and how it can advance any healthcare career. Listen to it here.

BLIND TENNIS: Richard Feldstein, OD ‘62, has been playing tennis for more than 75 years. His love of the sport combined with his passion for helping people as an optometrist led him to Highland Park Tennis Club in Pittsburgh, a clinic teaching blind children and adults ages six to 80 to play tennis. Dr. Feldstein offers his consulting expertise at the Pittsburgh club where he's made significant contributions to a research project that now runs in conjunction with the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Read more about Dr. Feldstein's impact here.

O&M PILOT PROJECT: A pilot program developed and implemented by the University's Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) department in partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, specifically for Vanderbilt’s on-staff Physical Therapists (PTs), provided Orientation and Mobility (O&M) skills-based training PTs could offer their patients. Read more about the extremely unique opportunity we are thrilled to offer with Vanderbilt here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Our latest Staff Spotlight features someone with whom I have the pleasure of working every day. After serving first PCO, and then the University for a total of 30 years, most of you already know Lisa Lonie, who serves as my executive assistant keeping the office running smoothly. She's the best! As you will see by clicking here, Lisa has many talents and interests!

MEET THE CAST OF THE COLLEGE TOUR: In our next profile on the cast of The College Tour, meet Ashka Patel '23OD. During the show's "Building Community" segment, Ashka described her experience providing care to patients in the University’s clinical facilities first and foremost and then at local elementary schools and abroad to places like Panama treating underserved populations. Read more about Ashka here.

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next Audiology Grand Rounds will be today, Dec. 10 at 12:15 p.m. Kris Such will present on “Dementia & Adapting Testing Procedures to the Condition.” Click here to join the meeting.

FACULTY AND STAFF GIFTS: Don't forget to pick up your Salus hoodie sweatshirts and large Salus umbrellas for all (regular FT/PT) faculty and staff. Academic Affairs is giving out the gifts to faculty and academic administrative staff. Union and administrative staff can stop by the new Human Resources located on the 4th floor of the Breyer Office Park building at the Elkins Park campus to grab your gifts. Human Resources will also be at The Eye Institute (TEI) today to continue with distribution. 

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER: Help Pi Theta Epsilon, the Occupational Therapy honor society, meet their goal of raising $1,000 for OT research in the St. Catherine Challenge. You have a couple more days to participate in the holiday fundraiser by purchasing Gertrude Hawk Chocolates. Order your chocolates by Dec. 12 by placing your order here.

TOY DRIVE: The National Physician Assistant Student Society (NPASS) is asking for support with a Marine Toys for Tots Drive to support children in our community. Happening now through Dec. 13, they are seeking new, unwrapped toys to donate to local children. The drop-off location is a large, white Toys for Tots bin outside the cafeteria at the Elkins Park campus. Monetary donations can also be made via QR code available on the collection box. For more information, please visit https://www.toysfortots.org/Default.aspx.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We have been closely following the Omicron variant, especially the studies that have been looking at the efficacy of our vaccines. The most recent laboratory studies suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with a booster, offers good protection against the variant. Given Moderna is also an mRNA vaccine, many have suggested that it will perform similarly. Thanks to all who have already taken the initiative to get a booster. To our students, I strongly encourage you to get your booster prior to heading home for the holiday break. If you can’t, please get a booster while home prior to returning to campus in January. To Salus faculty and staff, now is the time to get your booster.

In addition to Montgomery County facilities, many nearby pharmacies provide boosters: 

• Yorktown Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• CVS
• Riteaid
• Walmart

Let’s aim to have everyone on campus “boosted” by February 1st. It’s the only way to ensure our health and safety as a campus community and stay ahead of these threats.

Between the Omicron COVID-19 variant, final exams, preparing for externships and everything else swirling around us, our stress levels are understandably high. Over the holiday break, I’d like to suggest that you use that time as a mental health respite. Take the time to mentally disengage, unwind, enjoy being with your friends and families, get outside, get some exercise (in anticipation of all the great food we’ll enjoy during the holidays), rest and recharge for the upcoming semester. As always, counselors in the Center for Personal and Professional Development are available to talk with students. For benefit-eligible employees, Unum has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing unlimited access to consultants by telephone ((800) 854-1446), in addition to other resources.

Many students have already left campus since some of our final exams are being administered virtually. While we take all appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, even if you are fully vaccinated with a booster, continue to wear a mask when around large groups, both inside and outdoors, socially distance when you can and wash your hands frequently. Remember, what you do off campus, even during the break, can directly affect all of us on campus.

Enjoy the weekend, especially Saturday, when the temperatures are supposed to get close to 70, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Get Your Booster/3rd Shot Now: Week of December 3rd, 2021

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

Good morning from a blustery Elkins Park campus where most of our students begin finals. Wishing our students and faculty an successful end to a very full semester! Even as the final exam cycle of the semester commences, many other activities have been occurring on and off campus:

BLVS ADMISSIONS: In our latest podcast, we talk with Candida Mulligan, admissions officer in the University's Office of Admissions. She talks about the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program, and tips and tricks for applications. Listen to it here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHTS: Two new Staff Spotlights feature Stella Lee, who works in our Finance department, and Andrew Rohe, a security officer at Salus. Get to know more about Stella here as well as Andrew and his work beyond Salus as a performance coach here.

MEET THE CAST OF THE COLLEGE TOUR: In our next profile on the cast of The College Tour, meet Sonja Makitan ‘23OD. For the on-campus programs at Salus, a large percentage of the student body hail straight from undergraduate institutions with the average age being 23-years-old. But for Sonja, this is not the case. Although she is a traditional Doctor of Optometry student, she took a non-traditional route to the University’s Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). Read more about Sonja here.

FACULTY AND STAFF GIFTS: Last year, Academic Affairs and Human Resources purchased Salus hoodie sweatshirts for all faculty and staff around Nov/Dec. Unfortunately, they took so long to come in, we decided to give them out this winter. This year, Human Resources purchased large Salus umbrellas for all (regular FT/PT) faculty and staff. Hoodies and umbrellas for faculty will be distributed by Academic Affairs sometime in the upcoming weeks. Hoodies and umbrellas for staff will be distributed by Human Resources around the same time. Be on the lookout for emails regarding distribution/pick up.

OT HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER: Pi Theta Epsilon, the Occupational Therapy honor society, is participating in the St. Catherine Challenge to raise money for OT research. The goal is to reach $1,000 with a holiday fundraiser through Gertrude Hawk Chocolates. To order your chocolates, place your order here. The fundraiser is underway now and runs through Dec 12.

A DAY IN THE LIFE: Check out “A Day In the Life” featuring second-year Physician Assistant (PA) student Lauren Wychowski. She is currently in her third rotation, which is pediatrics. Read more about a typical day for Lauren here.

SLI SUPPORT GROUP: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the Speech-Language Pathology department, as he moderates a podcast that focuses on the Traumatic Brain Injury Group at the Speech-Language Institute (SLI). He is joined by one of its members as well as the supervisor and two students who have had the pleasure of working within the group. Click here to listen. 

COCHLEAR IMPLANT WORKSHOP: Thahira Kallumurikkal ‘22AUD was an audiologist in India for 14 years, but decided she wanted to upgrade her skills. That’s why she decided to enter the MSc in Clinical Audiology program in Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) where she had the opportunity to attend the College’s Cochlear Implant Workshop from Nov. 2-5. Read how beneficial the program was according to Kallumurikkal and other OCA students here. 

HOLIDAY TRADITION: For those who stayed local this holiday, the University provided a complimentary “Turkey Gobbler” dinner — prepared by the University Cafe’s Metz Culinary. Salus also continued its longtime Thanksgiving tradition of delivering meals to Jenkintown and Cheltenham police departments on Thanksgiving Day as well as AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. Read more about the festive to-go feasts here.

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next Audiology Grand Rounds will be today, Dec. 3 at 12:15 p.m. Julie Jimenez and Renee Kochinski will present on “Seesaw Nystagmus.” Click here to join the meeting.

TOY DRIVE: From Nov. 29 to Dec. 13, NPASS is hosting a Marine Toys for Tots Drive to support children in our community. They are seeking new, unwrapped toys to donate to local children. The drop-off location is a large white Toys for Tots bin outside the cafeteria at the Elkins Park campus. Monetary donations can also be made via a QR code that's available on the collection box as well. For more information, please visit https://www.toysfortots.org/Default.aspx and consider making the holiday brighter for less fortunate children in our community.

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you’ve been to our Learning Resource Center and in most of our larger classrooms, you’ve seen some large, white devices placed around the rooms making a very soft swishing noise (see below). These custom-built air filters are the work of Mr. Rick Echevarria and our exceptional facilities team. The design for the filters was developed by the dean of Engineering at the University of California, Richard Corsi. Tested by several labs, they have been proven more effective than more expensive HEPA-based portable air cleaners on the market. These devices give us an additional level of protection against the spread of the virus.

While taking the extra step to filter out the virus from our environment is helpful, the most important things we can do to prevent spread remain the same: get vaccinated, wear a face mask, wash hands frequently and social distance. As studies are ongoing, most public health and infectious disease experts agree that getting a booster/3rd dose enhances our protection from the newly identified Omicron variant. If you haven’t gotten your booster, make a point to get one now, especially as you prepare to head home for the holidays. It’s only a matter of time when the third shot will be considered “fully vaccinated.” I’d like everyone to be ahead of that. Additionally, if you’re not feeling well, please stay home and get tested to ensure no one is bringing the virus to campus or our clinics.

I know how frustrating this is. Just as we thought things were getting better, along comes a new variant. This is the nature of pandemics, especially when such a large portion of the world’s population remains unvaccinated. Things will get better. We need to continue holding our course. Thank you for all that you’re doing to help us stay the course.

Please take some time to relax during your study breaks. Get outside, if you can and just enjoy the fresh air! Continue to look out for one another and be safe. You are SALUS STRONG!

Mike

A Thanksgiving Message: Week of November 19th, 2021

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

Good morning of the longest lunar eclipse (see below)in over 568 years from our Elkins Park campus. I was crazy enough to get up to see part of it, which was well worth the extra cup(s) of coffee! Even as the earth eclipsed the sun from the moon, our students, faculty and staff have been extremely busy administering and taking practical exams, sitting in both virtual and face to face lectures and providing world-class care to our patients and clients. Below are items of merit to share with you:

DISTINGUISHED CAREER: After half a century of excellence, Dr. Satya Verma is retiring at the end of the year. During his long and distinguished career at PCO/Salus, Dr. Verma has served in various capacities stacking accolades during his tenure. Read more about Dr. Verma’s storied career and future plans here and join me in wishing him fair winds and following seas as he prepares for retirement.

NEW DIRECTOR: Dr. Chad Killen has been named the new director of PCO/Salus’ On-Campus Residency Programs where he will oversee all residents at The Eye Institute (TEI) in Primary Care/Ocular Disease, Low Vision Rehabilitation/Ocular Disease, Cornea/Contact Lenses, Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease and Pediatrics/Vision Therapy. Currently, there are 12 on-campus residents. Congratulations, Dr. Killen! Click here to read more.

INSIDE AUDIOLOGY AND SLP, PART II: In part two of our latest podcast, we talk with Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) and associate professor for Salus University's Osborne College of Audiology, and with Robert Serianni, chair, program director and associate professor for the Speech-Language Pathology program, about the audiology and speech-language pathology professions. Listen to the podcast here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight features Ruby Singleton, who has been with the University for 35 years in the Technology and Learning Resource Center Services department. Find out more about Ruby, what she enjoys about her job and what she does in her free time by clicking here. 

FLU SHOTS: Many of you probably have read about the flu outbreak at the University of Michigan. None of us would like to see that replicated here. If you have not already gotten your flu shot, please take the time to get it done prior to next week’s holiday. They are available throughout our region at most pharmacies as well as healthcare institutions.

ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING: As an unfortunate requirement of the times, the University will host an active shooter training for the Salus community from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, in the Toland Classroom at TEI. Philadelphia Police Detective Joseph Rovnan will lead instructor our training. He is nationally recognized as a subject matter expert in active shooter strategies, programs and response. Detective Rovnan will talk about safety both in and around the workplace, communications and tips for preventing, preparing and responding to situations including unauthorized visitors and threats to our Salus community. 

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: This week’s Audiology Grand Rounds begin at 12:15 p.m. today, Nov. 19. Kathleen McGovern and Maria Kirifides will present on “Cochlear Implantation Candidacy after Two Decades Without Sound Stimulation.” Click here to join the meeting.

FUNDRAISER FOR PHILABUNDANCE: Our chapter of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is conducting a fundraiser for Philabundance from now through Dec. 1. Boxes are outside the cafeteria for donations of nonperishable food and drinks. The top 10 items most needed are: peanut butter and jelly, cooking oil, canned tuna or meat, canned fruits and vegetables, canned stew and soups, oatmeal/breakfast cereal, whole grain pasta, 100% juice, rice, and boxed non-refrigerated milk. Foods low in sodium and sugar, and free of high fructose corn syrup, are preferred. SOTA is also accepting money donations for the organization. 

STUDENT ACADEMY OF AUDIOLOGY FUNDRAISER: Stop by CycleBar, 1470 Old York Road in Abington, at noon Saturday, Nov. 20, to ride and raise money for the Salus chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) organization.

GRANT AWARDED: Anna Grasso, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, assistant professor and academic fieldwork coordinator in the Occupational Therapy (OT) program at Salus University, was recently awarded a subgrant in partnership with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) to help low-income older adult homeowners in the Philadelphia area age in place. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program (OAHMP), which gave the project more than $824,000 to apply safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of the local aging population. Read more about it here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday next week, COVID-19 cases have been increasing in certain parts of the country. Thankfully, our region is still doing pretty well. Thanks to the miraculous vaccines that have been developed, this year we can, once again, celebrate the holiday with friends and loved ones. If you do decide to travel during the holiday, please take appropriate precautions: know what the spread of the virus is where you are going, wear your facemask when appropriate and test yourself prior to returning to campus.

Thanksgiving is traditionally a holiday when family and friends gather to recount the joys and blessings of the past year. I hope you use this time to take stock of the kindnesses we have shared; grateful for all that enriches our lives every day, even in the midst of the pandemic. With all that’s happening in our country and the rest of the world, we have much to reflect on, and also much for which to be thankful. During this challenging year, I offer thanks to our extremely dedicated faculty, residents, staff and trustees for your professional excellence, energy, compassion, enthusiasm in support of our students and our institution. You’ve accomplished so much, often without fanfare, but with great impact on our mission. It’s an honor and pleasure to work with such a committed group of professionals! I also thank our students for selecting Salus to pursue your chosen professions and for trusting us with your health and safety as we have navigated through the pandemic. You are the reason we’re here. We are extremely thankful.

As neighbors and friends pause to lend a hand to those in need, we are reminded of the indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility. This spirit is alive and well here at Salus daily -- whether taking care of patients or clients in our Eye, Ear, Speech and Language or Occupational Therapy Institutes, caring for children in schools or serving clients in the many clinical settings we support. Salus people live the Thanksgiving spirit every day. I sincerely thank and admire you for that.

As we prepare for next week’s holiday, thank you for all that you do every day to make Salus the special place it is to learn, work and support our community.

Mike

Remaining Vigilant About the Pandemic: Week of November 12th, 2021

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

Good morning from a cool, soggy Elkins Park campus. It’s been another busy week with many of us catching up from a week away while attending the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting last week. I know that many of our students are preparing for finals and clinical practical exams which we recognize adds a little more stress to an already packed academic schedule. Please don’t hesitate to contact our counselors in CPPD who are ready to help support anyone who thinks it would be helpful. Below are some additional things I hope you’ll find interesting:

COMBINING FUN AND SCIENCE: According to Bre Myers, AuD ‘06, PhD ‘17, CH-AP, a lot of amusement park rides excite the vestibular system in very specific ways. That gave Dr. Myers an idea: Take her students to an amusement park and have them report on how they felt after riding the rides. Find out more about that went by clicking here.

INSIDE AUDIOLOGY AND SLP: In part one of our most recent podcast, we talk with Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute and associate professor for Salus University's Osborne College of Audiology, and with Robert Serianni, chair, program director and associate professor for the Speech-Language Pathology program. They detail the audiology and speech-language pathology professions, how to know which one to choose, and how they work together in the healthcare field. Listen to the podcast here.

HOCKEY CHAMPION: Our very own David Meltzer, OD ‘02, FAAO, an assistant professor and clinical instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and a U.S. Army veteran, can add ice hockey champion to his resume. The team on which he plays, the Flyer Warriors, won the 2021 USA Hockey Warrior Classic recently in New Jersey. The tournament is the signature annual event of USA Hockey's Warrior program, which provides hockey access to nationwide teams of military veterans with VA-certified disabilities of at least 10 percent. Congratulations Dr. Meltzer! 

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Our latest Students At Leisure (SAL) story features Angela Delfino ‘23OT. When Angela looks to break away from studies for physical exercise and mental stimulation, she goes all out. Whether it’s rock-climbing, yarn crafting or aerial circus. Read more about Angela here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight features Monica Scirrotto, our director of Admissions here at Salus University. Recently, much of her free time has been devoted to her seven-month-old daughter. Read more about Monica here.

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next Audiology Grand Rounds will be today, Nov. 12, at 12:15 p.m. Jocelyn Jacob and Kathleen Wezensky will present on “Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Management in a Type II Diabetic.” Click here to join the meeting.

THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: During filming of The College Tour, Mohit Batra, OD ‘21, was a fourth-year student whose main goal upon his entrance to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) was to leave the school better than when he started. As student body president, he was able to do just that. Read more about Dr. Batra and his segment of The College Tour here.

TURKEY GIVE-AWAY: As has been our tradition for many years, as a way of saying, “Thank You” to our faculty and staff for all of your hard work, we will again be providing a free turkey, ham or tofurkey to all faculty and staff who would like one. Please sign up here by 4PM today to order one.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I go about my travels, I sometimes think I live in two different worlds – one at Salus where we have been diligent about getting vaccinated and wearing our face masks on campus and in our clinics – and one where many people are still refusing vaccination and more commonly, not wearing facemasks when out and about. This was once again accentuated in the news this week when a popular NFL star tried to rationalize why he wasn’t getting vaccinated.

The truth of the matter is that we are still very much in the throes of the pandemic (as evidenced by the recent increase in cases in many parts of the country) and to let our guard down now would be inconsistent with the way in which we’ve addressed our mitigation strategies to date. While numbers are currently trending in the right direction in our area in terms of numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, vaccination rates have slowed down considerably.

I am extremely happy and proud that our internal vaccination rate is about 98%, which speaks to everyone’s commitment to doing the right thing for themselves, their families and those we care for clinically. Our random testing program has yielded no more than a 1% positivity rate, which is well below what would be expected, which is great.

I am hopeful that sometime after the holidays the numbers will continue to trend in the right direction here and the CDC will be able to adjust the guidelines we currently follow. Until then, we’ll continue to stay our current course. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone’s cooperation! Like you, I cannot wait to get rid of these masks! But, until it’s safe, masked we will continue to be. For those of you who are eligible for a 3rd dose/booster vaccine, I strongly encourage you to get one as soon as you can. They are readily available through the county or most local pharmacies.

I hope everyone has a restful weekend. It won’t be long before the holidays are upon us. As you begin your planning, please keep in mind that what you do off campus will directly affect all of us on campus.

Please, remain vigilant, stay healthy, continue to look out for one another to stay SALUS STRONG!

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 Teamwork: Week of October 29th, 2021

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

Good morning from a windy and cloudy Elkins Park campus where the leaves are falling everywhere and the weather definitely feels like Fall!

MSCHE: As I noted yesterday, we successfully completed our Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) site visit yesterday with no required follow-up issues and accolades on several of our academic and non-academic processes. This was truly a team effort which allowed us to display the best of Salus during this process! We are Salus Strong because of all of you! More about this later….

THE BATTLE AGAINST CANCER: Check out this story on how PCO/Salus alum Kailee Watson, OD ‘12, and her connections to the University played a major role in a young patient’s battle against cancer. Dr. Watson describes how the experience helped reinforce her decision to come to PCO/Salus. Read the story here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Our next Staff Spotlight is on Lindsey Cardillo, HRIS administrator in our Human Resources department. Lindsey says what she loves most about her job is interacting with the different employees and departments at Salus. Read more about Lindsey here.

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Our next Students At Leisure (SAL) story features Ariella Erin Poon ‘24OD and the special way she commemorated the White Coat ceremony, which was virtual for her class because of the pandemic. Instead of dwelling on something that was beyond anyone’s control, Ariella made the most of it. Read how here.

ULTIMATE TREAT EVENT: Don’t forget about “The Ultimate Treat Event,” sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs, from noon to 1:30 p.m. today. Stop by the lobby table outside the cafeteria to pick up some Halloween treats, play trivia and have a chance to win some prizes.

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next Audiology Grand Rounds will be today at 12:15 p.m. Jessica Heritage and Jenna Jalowiec will speak on “Hybrid Cochlear Implant Use for Hearing Loss Caused by Ototoxicity.” Click here to join the presentation.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s resident story features Chandni Patel, OD ‘21, ’22 Resident, whose personal experience with how her vision change in high school influenced her to become an optometrist. Read more about Dr. Patel here.

WALK4HEARING EVENT: The Salus University chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) recently participated in the Walk4Hearing, where it raised a total of $1,635 (tripling its original goal of $500). The proceeds will go to the Hearing Loss Association of America, an organization focused on advocating and providing educational programs for individuals with hearing loss.

THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: Continuing to spotlight the cast of The College Tour, meet Tavii El, MSOT ‘21, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student at Salus, who became so enmeshed in student life while on campus that it only made sense for her to talk about Student Life during The College Tour segment. Read more here.

FLU SHOTS: It’s flu season and if you have not already gotten your flu shots, please take the time to get one this weekend. We want to keep everyone healthy!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Teamwork is integral to everything we do in healthcare. Organizationally, the importance of working together as a team is no less important. It’s been my experience that working together as a team provides opportunities for people to improve relations and professionally bond with one another over specific projects they undertake, besides accomplishing tasks more efficiently and effectively. Working through our Self-study and culminating with the site visit earlier this week, certainly provided us with these opportunities.

One other important result of working as a team is that members develop a greater sense of personal and professional accountability, as they don’t want to let their other team members down. We certainly exhibited all of these attributes as we worked through the MSCHE self-study process, in an exceptional way! We learned a great deal about ourselves that can be leveraged well into our future.

Each recommendation for improvement that was identified in our Self-Study presents opportunities for us to continually improve, which, ultimately is why we do all of this.

In the end, the fact that we had a successful MSCHE site visit comes as no surprise to me. Throughout my Navy and now academic career, I've had the good fortune to have served on several great teams, and the team we have at Salus is as good, if not better, than any of them. Whether it was how we transitioned to virtual teaching and learning at the beginning of the pandemic, created virtual commencement and white coat ceremonies, developed new relationships with local, state and national politicians or successfully worked through the MSCHE re-accreditation process, we have demonstrated we can operate as an effective team - I cannot thank you all enough for that! You are rock stars and together, make us the great institution we are today.

Have a restful and safe weekend - you all deserve it! Sunday is Halloween, so if you happen to go out trick or treating, please remember to wear your face masks when out and about (especially when indoors with lots of people around), wash your hands frequently and socially distance when you can. Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Healthcare: Week of October 22nd, 2021

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

Good morning on a beautiful Fall morning from our Elkins Park campus! It’s hard to believe that October is almost gone with Halloween just a week away. As you will see below, our students, faculty and staff have had an extremely busy week between routine classes, both in-person and virtually, labs and clinics as well as some very special events:

MSCHE SITE VISIT: After countless hours were spent preparing our accreditation self-study report, we will host our site visit team virtually next week. Thanks to all who participated in preparing our self-study and to our steering committee and standard representatives who will be participating in question and answer sessions. You should all be very proud of your efforts in demonstrating how Salus meets its accreditation requirements. A special thank you to co-chair Brooke Kruemmling for leading our efforts.

NEW DEI SERIES KICKOFF: I hope you got a chance to attend or watch live-streamed on Instagram our new event series for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, DEI Speaks! This series seeks to explore and share with the University community, diverse topics, speakers and events that will illuminate differences in cultural perspectives, sharpen understanding of interconnectedness, and provide educational enrichment of the highest quality. The inaugural event, co-sponsored by our very own Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), was held this week and featured Paula Harmon Boone, OD, Director of the National Optometric Association (NOA) “Visioning the Future” HBCU Mentorship Program and NOA Trustee for Region I, who talked about “Diverse Representation Matters in Healthcare.” 

COMMENCEMENT FOLLOW-UP: If you haven’t already had a chance, check our website for stories about last week’s commencement ceremony at the Kimmel Center, our Graduate Awards Luncheon and the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program’s Long White Coat ceremony and a feature on one of our legacy families.

SOCIAL MEDIA STAR: Shanae Johnson, an Admissions officer at Salus before leaving at the end of September, has always liked to cook. So TikTok videos were a way for Shanae to share some of what she learned about making her favorite dishes and recipes. And now, she’s a social media star. Read more about Shanae’s journey here.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Caren Cremen, a digital communications specialist in our Communications department. Caren loves seeing student-generated content on our social media sites and part of her role is reaching out to students to share that content. Read more about Caren here.

SUPPORT THE SAA: Come support the Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) at its “Dine and Donate” fundraiser from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at White Horse Coffee and Creamery, 700 W. Ave, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. 

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: Don’t forget about today’s Audiology Grand Rounds today at 12:15 p.m. Presenters Zachary LaBarth and Carleigh Leman will talk about the “Sudden Onset of Tinnitus, Hyperacusis and Hearing Loss." Click here to join the meeting.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s new resident feature is on Elizabeth Marunde, OD, ‘22Resident, who decided at an early age to become an optometrist. Read more about Dr. Marunde here.

MEDAL WINNER FEATURE: The final winner spotlight in our 2021 Presidential Medal of Honor series is John J. Fitzgerald III, DO, FACOG, associate director of the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. Read more about Dr. Fitzgerald's honor in receiving the award and how much the recognition means to him here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I’d like to close this week’s update with both a thank you and a reminder. I’d like to take this opportunity to once again thank Dr. Paula Boone for spending the day with PCO students and faculty to share her story of success as a Black optometrist leading the charge to provide excellent eye care where ever she was. For those of you who didn’t have the opportunity to meet Paula, you really missed an opportunity to remind us how inequities in healthcare impact thousands of people annually. Her message spoke to the core of what we are trying to accomplish at Salus – expand opportunities for all people, but especially Black, Hispanic and other people of color to become healthcare professionals so they can help to alleviate some of the systemic challenges currently resident in American healthcare delivery.

Our current Summer Enrichment Program has been a great first step in providing opportunities for students to excel in our optometry program. I’d like to see this expanded, university-wide as we gain more insights into how effective this program has been. Thanks to a grant we received from National Vision, Inc. last year, we have been able to energize our current program. Working together, we need to garner additional support so we can effectively build upon the success this program currently enjoys. At Salus, we’ve always led the way with our innovative and progressive clinical programs and now I believe it’s our time to take the lead in providing additional opportunities FOR students of color, whose path to becoming a healthcare provider is challenging, at best. Let’s put our collective efforts together to help realize this goal.

As you prepare for the weekend, please continue to be vigilant with wearing your face mask, social distancing and washing your hands. Boosters have now been approved for all of the vaccines so, if you are eligible (and most of us are as healthcare providers, including our students), I would strongly encourage each of you to consider getting one.

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

Mike

The Importance of "Thinking Bigger": Week of October 15th, 2021

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

Greetings on a delightful Fall morning from our Elkins Park Campus. It’s been an exciting, fun and busy week for all of us, especially those who participated in the Physician Assistant Long White Coat ceremony and our first in-person commencement ceremony since the pandemic began in March, 2020! We had the opportunity to celebrate some members of the Class of 2020 as well as the Class of 2021 during the festivities as well as hear an extremely inspiring message from our honorary degree recipient, the Honorable Alison Beam, Acting Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Check our website for stories on the Kimmel Center ceremony, our Graduate Awards Luncheon and the Physician Assistant Studies program’s Long White Coat ceremony.

NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY: We celebrated National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, a day that recognizes the milestones of being seen and heard and the continued strides for equity and respect, specific to the LGBTQ+ communities. The day allowed us to continue to raise awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, and combat the silence that often breeds homophobia and the hierarchy of sexual orientation and identity norms. National Coming Out Day originated 33 years ago with a march on Washington for lesbian and gay rights, and has been celebrated in all 50 states since 1990.

GRAND ROUNDS: Audiology Grand Rounds will be today (Friday, Oct. 15) at 12:15 p.m. The topic is “Navigating Patient Comorbidities and Subjectivity,” presented by Alexander Wozniacki and Luke Obenrader. Click here to join the meeting. 

IMPACT HBCU: On Tuesday evening Drs. Trego, Mosley-Williams and I had the opportunity to participate in Impact HBCU, where over 300 attendees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other undergraduate schools were able to learn about optometry, PCO, Salus DEI efforts, our Summer Enrichment Program and certain aspects of the optical industry. It was an informative and fun event!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: The Staff Spotlight this week is on Joe Noce, who works in the University bookstore. Joe has been playing in a classic rock/blues band for nearly 30 years. To read more about Joe, click here.

THE INSPIRATION CENTER: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at Salus University, as he moderates a podcast that focuses on The Inspiration Center, a community therapy organization in the country of Belize, where physical, occupational and speech therapists work with the families in Belize with children from birth through 16 years of age. He is joined by the students and the speech pathologists from the program who had the opportunity to cross borders to provide speech pathology care in areas of great need. Click here to listen.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL WINNER: In our continuing series featuring the individual Presidential Medal of Honor winners for 2021, read more here about Reade Fahs, Chief Executive Officer of National Vision Inc. and a member of our Board of Trustees since 2017.

THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: In another continuing feature for us, “Meet the Cast of The College Tour,” we introduce you to Samantha Wereszczak ‘22PA. Samantha was a respiratory therapist working on the frontlines of the Medical ICU where she experienced working collaboratively with other healthcare disciplines, which is what initiated her decision to start her path at Salus to become a physician assistant. Read more about her here.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s new resident feature is on Bailey Ford, OD, ‘22Resident. Because she had such great experiences with her eye doctors, Dr. Ford wanted to be the best doctor she could be for her patients. She believed that pursuing a residency would ensure that, especially at PCO/Salus. Read more about Dr. Ford here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we celebrated our graduates on Tuesday, I was extremely pleased to hear that one of Secretary Beam’s recommendations to our graduates, as well as all of us listening, was to, “think bigger.” As she mentioned the challenges of “inequitable healthcare, stalled education, hungry families, oversubscribed mental health and unemployment,” Secretary Beam challenged us to use this “once in a lifetime experience” to take “preconceived, rigid constructs and turn them on their head”. Noting that the pandemic has exposed many of the challenges that have existed for a while but surfaced because everything was so stressed.

Let’s try to capitalize on Secretary Beam’s wisdom and challenge what many have always accepted as societal norms and work to develop creative and effective solutions that will serve to improve the lives of all those we are entrusted to care for. Much of that work starts here, at Salus. We are committed to working towards improving access to quality equitable healthcare for everyone. For example, ensuring those students that did have their education “stalled,” have good vision, hearing and important tactile skills to succeed, and screening and appropriately referring those we find have food insecurity or mental health challenges. The care we provide must be holistic, integrated and empathetic.

As I told our graduates on Tuesday, and Secretary Beam also noted during her remarks, they’ve all been given a great gift – and this is their time to transform all they have learned into something that will positively affect the lives of all those they will care for. While each graduate will confront these challenges differently, they all will be extremely successful. For those of us remaining behind, our gift will be to operationalize these lessons as we care for our patients and clients in all of our clinics, seek to innovate our programs to apply lessons learned during the pandemic and to continue to push the envelope of excellence in everything we do.

As you prepare for the weekend, please take the time listen to Secretary Beam’s comments on our website to hear them first hand. Continue to wear your face mask when around others, vaccinated or not, wash your hands frequently and socially distance when you can. When you have the alternative, I highly encourage you not to eat inside when going to restaurants or bars. Take advantage of the nice weather while we have it! Remember, what you do off campus really does affect all of us on campus. Have a great weekend. Be safe, be smart, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Practicing Mutual Respect: Week of October 8th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus on a very nice Fall morning. The campus has been extremely busy between welcoming guests, conducting interviews and holding in-person classes and labs. On Wednesday, we had the honor to host Dr. Kim McCurdy, the Bureau Director of Post-Secondary and Adult Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education where we had the opportunity to show her around our Elkins Park campus and tell her all about Salus. Here are some other things that are happening that you might be interested in:

BACK AT THE KIMMEL!: We’re looking forward to being back at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia for commencement next week at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. (A reminder that the Kimmel Center requires proof of vaccination to enter the building.) Read more about our keynote speaker Alison Beam, Acting Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, here. The day before commencement on Monday, Oct. 11, we will have the Fall Graduate Luncheon starting at noon at Presidential Caterers. The evening before commencement, we will also have the PA Long White Coat ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Hafter Center. 

SAFE ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING: Let me add my voice to the reminder we got from our Department of Technology and Learning Resources about October being Cybersecurity Month. The United States Cyber Security & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has posted a helpful list of tips and tricks to keep us all safe with our online holiday shopping. Please take a moment and read these tips and tricks here. 

MEDAL WRAP-UP: Coming off our Presidential Medal and Alumni Association awards ceremony last week, I’d like to draw your attention to three stories on our website. First, the story on the ceremony itself, which you can read about here. Then, a story on the recognition we gave to longtime Board of Trustees chair Jo Surpin, which you can read here. And finally, a feature on one of the 2021 medal winners, Dr. Sarah Appel, which you can read here. Once again, congratulations to all of our winners.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s staff spotlight features Jackie Todaro, who works in the Osborne College of Audiology. To read more about Jackie, click here.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s new resident feature is on Anthony Boyd, OD, ‘22Resident, who discovered his love for optometry when he started working as an optometric technician at a private practice. What he didn’t immediately realize was that accepting the technician job was “the moment” that would solidify his future. Read more about Dr. Boyd here.

RETURN TO GUATEMALA: Nine students from the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program and one from the Occupational Therapy (OT) program, along with two PA faculty members, were in Guatemala from Aug. 21 through Aug. 29, our first mission trip since the pandemic started. To read more about this great experience for our students, click here. 

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next virtual Audiology Grand Rounds will be today (Oct. 8) at 12:15 p.m. Jenna Putnam and Courtney Luikert, both from the Class of 2023, will present on “Hidden Hearing Loss.”

FINAL THOUGHTS: It is an understatement to say that the past 19 months have been extremely challenging and stressful for all of us. I also recognize that the normal demands of learning new professions, teaching, providing clinical care and even challenges in our personal lives can occasionally lead to additional stress. These stressors can cause people to behave in ways they normally would not, sometimes manifesting in disrespectful interactions between people.

We have always been committed to equity, inclusion and providing a respectful environment to teach, learn and work at Salus and I want that to continue to be the norm, as it’s been a hallmark of what we believe.

Most recently, however, I have seen or experienced several examples of where stress may have gotten the better of people, with respect for one another or differences of perspective not being regarded. We often talk about being an institution that teaches how to cure, and in so doing, we also teach how to care. I would hope that we can transfer those values of cure and care in all that we do — with our patients and clients, of course, but also in our encounters with one another. We can all benefit from being more mindful in our communication and interactions, considering how it will impact our community members. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves”. We all should take these words to heart in our daily interactions.

If you are feeling stressed and would like to talk with one of our counselors, students can make appointments on the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) page on our website. Faculty and staff, can contact Human Resources. For those benefit eligible employees, Unum has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides unlimited access to consultants by telephone, in addition to other resources.

As you prepare for this weekend and the busy next week with Fall commencement and other associated activities, please try to reflect on the importance of mutual respect, care and concern for one another.

Enjoy the good weather. When you go out and about, please remember that what you do off campus affects all of us on campus. So, please wear your face mask when going inside and if you’re around large numbers of people outside. Be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike