Dear Students, Faculty, Residents, Staff, Alumni, Board Members and Friends,
Good morning on a gray, temperate morning from Washington, DC, where I am attending a meeting of the Society of Federal Health Professionals as a member of their Board of Trustees. Around Salus, things are beginning to wind down as many of you have completed finals and practicals and are preparing for externships, clinical rotations, or graduation. Either way, it’s an exciting time!
This week brings one, particular story to highlight:
DICE HOSTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Our Department of International and Continuing Education is excited to host our sixth cohort of students in our MSc Clinical Optometry with an Advanced Studies certificate degree program. Our MSc students are participating in controlled patient care sessions and hands-on Advanced Studies workshops. Content areas include Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy, Contact Lens, and Vision Impairment and Rehabilitation. When complete, we look forward to celebrating with them Spring Commencement.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday, our nation reached a million, tragic deaths from COVID-19. Today’s message honors the memory of our fellow Americans and the families and communities whom they have left behind.
On Thursday, I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Dr. Anthony Fauci at the Philadelphia College of Physicians. I’d like to share some of what I learned with you. First and foremost, Dr. Fauci suggests we will be living with COVID for many years. Over time, as new vaccines and treatments become available, this disease will be something we manage, rather than eliminate. Evidence is compelling: vaccines have proven to be the #1 tool in reducing hospitalizations and death. By some estimates, the deaths of 234,000 Americans could have been prevented had they been vaccinated.
Fauci also highlighted vaccine inequity. The disparity between vaccine rates in high income, developed countries (approaching 70% and higher) compared with less developed nations (averaging about 15%) is stark, and also, preventable. Until developed countries provide greater access to vaccines, we will continue to see variants with the potential to evade current immunity.
On the treatment side, several promising drugs are very effective antivirals and adjunctive treatments. All of these will continue to decrease death rates from COVID.
Dr. Fauci, along with many experts, believes that COVID will likely become more like the seasonal flu. Our toolbox has grown since 2020: vaccines are safe and extremely effective; new treatment options are also very safe and appear to work well. As healthcare providers, we need to know as much as we can about COVID, how to prevent it, and how to treat it, if necessary.
In full disclosure, I recently won the “COVID lottery” and firmly believe that if I was not fully vaccinated and boosted, I would have suffered a more serious case. I am grateful to have gotten away with a two-day head cold.
As we prepare for the weekend, let’s remember and honor the memory of our loved ones and fellow Americans whose lives have been lost to this terrible pandemic. We can all do more to prevent future deaths both here and abroad.
Be smart, be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!
Mike
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