Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays: Week of April 14th, 2022

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

Good morning on a beautiful Thursday! This week’s update is both a day early and abridged due to the upcoming holiday weekend.

Here are some items of interest:

COVID MONITORING: We have been closely monitoring the increase in cases nationally secondary to the the BA.2 variant of Omicron. Even though our positivity rates remain extremely low at the University, later today, out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Eckert will be sending out a message concerning a temporary modification to our masking policy beginning Tuesday, April 19. Please be on the lookout for that. 

INAUGURAL DEI EDUCATES! EVENT: In an effort to provide faculty and staff with a better understanding and to offer advice on how to be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community, our Diversion, Equity and Inclusion committee along with the Human Resources Department, recently hosted the inaugural DEI Educates! virtual event featuring Stan Kimer, president of Total Engagement Consulting, which specializes in diversity management and organizational effectiveness. Read more about the training session here. 

COMMENCEMENT KEYNOTE: Michelle J. Howard, Admiral, U.S. Navy, Retired, will be the keynote speaker for Salus University’s 124th commencement at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. I’ve known Michelle for years as we were both in the same Flag Officer indoctrination class. Read more about Admiral Howard here.

SLP CAPSTONES: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology program Class of 2022 students were able to demonstrate how well they worked together in small groups and communicated with each other during the annual Capstone presentations. Click here for details.

DEEP DIVE INTO POST-BACC: In this podcast, we talk with Candida Mulligan, an admissions officer in Salus University's Office of Admissions. She talks to us about the Post-baccalaureate program and how it is unique to Salus. Click here for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we continue Ramadan and approach Passover and Easter, I find myself reflecting on our important mission at Salus: We advance integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

Together, we do so much good for our students and the communities we serve. With everything happening in the world -- in Ukraine and in our own neighborhoods, Iet’s revisit the core values that have led most of us to the healing professions: gratitude, compassion, justice, honesty, humility, integrity, dignity and respect for human life, to name a few. No matter what holidays we celebrate, whether it be the continuation of Ramadan, Passover or Easter these practices are worthy of regular reflection and recommitment. Not only do they strengthen our service as educators and clinicians, they add meaning and purpose to our relationships. They enrich our shared humanity.

I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation over the holiday weekend.. Continue to be safe, continue to take all the appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and look out for one another. Together we are SALUS STRONG.

Mike