The Importance of Advocacy: Week of April 19, 2024

 

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

I hope everyone had a productive week as we get ready for the final stretch of our Spring Semester. Many are preparing for clinical exams as well as finals. Commencement is right around the corner!

 Here are some things I hope you find of interest:

MATCH DAY: It was Match Day – when Doctor of Optometry graduate students find out where they’ve been matched for their yearlong residencies – and Daniel Hoffman ‘24OD had settled into his lunch break with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. This was the day he would find out where he was matched for his residency program. Read more here about the anticipation and nervousness that Match Day brings.

AUDIOLOGY EXTERNS SENDOFF: The University’s Doctor of Audiology Class of 2025 is unique for a couple of reasons. First, members came into the program during the pandemic; and second, the Class of 2025 will graduate next year in the 25th year of the program’s inception which was initially launched in 2000. For now, though, they’re all headed to externships. Read more about their sendoff celebration here.

DEI EDUCATES!: Many of you will remember that the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and its committee hosted two virtual Safe Zone Trainings through the DEI Educates! program in 2023. We have invited facilitators, Stan Kimer and Deanna Jones, to join us again, given their educational and engaging session last year. We are offering two virtual training sessions on April 30 and May 8. You only need to attend one session in its entirety. Please click here to register for your desired training session. The Zoom link will be shared with registrants the week of the training.

‘THE ART OF HEALING’: Jana Walker, LSW, a counselor in the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), has been interested in psychotherapy and spirituality for more than 20 years. And now, she has brought those two things together in a new book called “The Art of Healing.” Click here to read more.

MORE CLINICAL OPPORTUNITIES: The Drexel University College of Medicine has recently secured more opportunities for the clinical education of our medical students. The University’s longstanding academic medical campus affiliation with Bayhealth Medical Center in Delaware has been expanded. It will serve as a new regional medical campus for the College of Medicine beginning at the start of this 2024-2025 academic year. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the American Optometric Association’s annual Federal Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. The goal of the summit is to bring optometric leaders and students up to speed on key legislative issues facing the profession. Groups of optometrists and optometry students are assigned to their district legislators to lobby on behalf of the profession.

This year, we focused on four key areas:

1. Putting Patients and Doctors back in control of their healthcare decisions by passing the Dental and Optometric Care (DOC) Access Act which would combat abusive practices in the federally regulated vision and dental plan coverage markets.
2. Asking Congress to take action to stop Medicare pay cuts to optometry and other professions.
3. Ensuring that the over 1000 optometrists working at the Department of Veterans Affairs are permitted to practice at their highest level of training and licensure to assure veterans have access to full-scope eyecare wherever they are seen and ensuring VA optometrists are paid at the same level as physicians, dentists and podiatrists.
4. Reining in abusive contact lens seller practices by regulating contact lens verification robocalls from companies which too often lead to patients receiving a different device than what was originally prescribed.

I was asked to join several groups that visited the offices of Congresswomen Dean and Congressman Fitzpatrick. Both representatives were extremely supportive and sensitive to the issues we raised.

These interactions are so important, since all our professions are regulated through legislation, most often at the state level. It is extremely important for all of our students, in each of our professions, to learn about the legislative process and get involved as early as possible. This process governs the scope, safety and remuneration of our professions. I remember juggling my schedule when I was a student to do just that. Those were the days where we were fighting for the right to use therapeutic drugs, something we all take for granted today. The four issues we addressed this week touch on the same types of issues we had to confront over forty years ago. While the names of the issues may change, groups will always be out there attempting to erode or restrict what you’ve been taught to do for your patients. Hence, it is essential that you become actively engaged in advocacy for your profession.

As you prepare for the weekend, please remember to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG! Below are a few photos from the DC meeting:

-Mike

Back in the Swing of Things: April 12, 2024

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

Good morning on a gray Friday from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been a busy week with everyone getting back into the swing after Spring Break.  Our clinics, labs and classrooms have all been abuzz with activity. With the end of semester in sight, our students and faculty are working hard toward a “strong” finish. 

SLP CAPSTONES: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology Class of 2024 students Jessica Concannon, Alyssa Dallmer, Sydni Delfiner, and Olivia Fogarty had the opportunity to present their capstone projects recently, one more step closer to graduation this spring. The project addressed some misinformation on developmental milestones provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also expressed the importance of parents/caregivers using Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) backed research when advocating for their loved ones, specifically utilizing the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as a resource. Click here to read more.

A WHIRLWIND OF OT TRAVEL: Travel therapists are going to travel. And, Emily Hamilton, MSOT ‘21, has been all over the country since graduating from the Occupational Therapy (OT) program at Salus University. The whirlwind of travel in the first few years of her career has been comfortable for her while she continues to learn and gain experience, something she attributes to how the Salus OT program prepared her to become a professional. To read more, click here.

FROST-FREE SIDEWALKS: Researchers in Drexel’s College of Engineering recently reported on the science behind a special concrete that can warm itself up when it snows or freezes. By introducing phase-change materials to the concrete mixture, researchers were able to create slabs that can warm themselves to melt snow and ice when temperatures approach freezing. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week, our leadership team shared a number of important progress updates on the merger with Drexel. Importantly, we remain on track to complete all accreditation and regulatory requirements for Change In Ownership on June 30, 2024, pending MSCHE approval.

We also shared a number of benefit decisions during the update on Human Resources. A summary of those decisions will be posted to the ADP employee platform on Tuesday.  

I want to acknowledge all the feedback I am receiving from faculty and staff about the impact of these changes. The changes are impacting community members differently depending on individual circumstances. Change is never easy and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and input with me.

As you work through these changes, we will continue to support you with information and resources to assist your decision making. Look for future calendar invites to upcoming HR sessions and benefit vendor fairs.

I also encourage you to review the Frequently Asked Question documents that we’ve posted to the ADP employee website. These are a ready reference for you responding to dozens of questions from faculty and staff.

Even as transitions are challenging, they also present opportunities for renewal and revitalization. I am confident that Salus ultimately will emerge stronger as part of OneDrexel, if we lean into the change with resilience, adaptability, and optimism. 
 
The sun and moon created an awe-inspiring phenomenon earlier this week. Check out NASA’s spectacular coverage of this rare event. Below is a photo I took here at Salus.

As the moon obscured the light of the sun, we experienced uncertainty, disruption and excitement at the same time. It reminded me of where we are in the merger now. Like the emergence of sunlight after the eclipse, our merger presents an opportunity to expand our horizons and what’s possible, advancing our mission, deepening our collective impact and innovating in ways previously unimagined.

As you prepare for the weekend, I hope that you can reflect on the opportunities that await our merger with Drexel. I’d also ask that as you discuss subjects that may be controversial with your classmates, friends and family members, you do so with respect and an open mind. 

Please take the time to get outdoors to enjoy the nice weather (if it ever stops raining!) so you can be ready to take on whatever comes your way next week. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG! Have a great weekend!

- Mike

Nothing is Impossible! Week of April 5 , 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where many of us have considered building an ark given all the rain we’ve had! At least the sun is out this morning! It’s been a busy week getting back in the swing following Spring Break. Here are some things I hope you will find of interest:

NANCY GRIFFIN RETIRES: After 46 years, Nancy Griffin tried to quietly leave her job in the Office of Admissions at Salus University without much fanfare. But word got out she was retiring and the plethora of congratulations from her co-workers was anything but quiet. Congratulations, Nancy! Read more here.

YOUNG ALUMNI: Check out this question-and-answer session with one of our alumni, Jonathan Zobek, MEd ‘22, and learn why he wanted to pursue a career in teaching students with visual impairments. Click here to read more.

NOTICE OF MERGER: Salus and Drexel are committed to conducting the upcoming merger with minimal interruption to our students. Our two institutions are also committed to continuing the full complement of programs offered by Salus. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions by students. Read more here.

SOLAR ECLIPSE: In our region we will experience 85% of the solar eclipse beginning at 2:08 this coming Monday. The next time we’ll see something like this in the U.S. won’t be for another 20 years; in 2044. If you are planning on watching the eclipse in real time, it’s imperative that you have the proper eye protection. People can end up with solar retinopathy simply by looking directly at the sun for long periods of time during the eclipse, which also can result in permanent vision loss. Please, ensure you have ANSI approved eye protection or use an indirect viewing method if you plan on watching the eclipse.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last week at the annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership of the American College of Healthcare Executives, I had the opportunity to sit in on a session with speaker Mick Ebeling. Originally a Hollywood producer, he established Not Impossible Labs whose mission is, “to change the world through technology and story by addressing societal “absurdities” or problems to improve the lives of everyone.” By leveraging brainpower in one room, they aim to create, “the conditions for radical collaboration that lead to progress: custom, never-been-built solutions that respect people’s humanity, enable their independence and enrich their experience in the world.” Their mission reminds me of what we do through our community outreach and the cutting-edge research both here at Salus and at Drexel.

One project, directly applicable to the work we do here at Salus, is Project Daniel, an endeavor that brought the first prosthetics lab powered by 3D printers to Sudan, Africa. Project Daniel has transformed the lives of hundreds of amputees who otherwise would not have access to low-cost, functional prosthetics by teaching local residents how to build prosthetic limbs using 3D printers.

As we move forward with our merger with Drexel, I see unlimited potential for developing cutting edge solutions to some of the issues faced by individuals with visual, auditory, or physical challenges by thinking the way Mick Ebeling thinks, that nothing is impossible. Collaborative, solution-oriented teams will get it done. It may not be easy, but novel solutions will be discovered by leveraging creativity, expertise and technology. That’s exciting!

As you prepare for the weekend, think about problems that people say are impossible to solve or ones that you think are unsolvable and project the mindset that Mick Ebeling believes - nothing is impossible. See how that changes your perspective on things. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG because Nothing is Impossible! Have a great weekend.

- Mike

Reflecting on Our Mission: Week of March 22, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this very cold day in Spring! It’s been another busy week on our campus with PCO students taking their Part I section of national boards, others preparing for practicals and exams, and our Salus-Drexel Integration Council members doing the important and necessary work in preparation for our 30 June Change in Ownership date. Thank you to all who are going above and beyond to provide a stellar educational experience for all of our students, in addition to the extra work required to get us to “the finish line.” Special thanks to Maura Keenan and Kathleen McMullen who continue to assist faculty and staff in reviewing Drexel’s benefit options in advance of the June Benefits Fair. Here are some other items I hope find of interest:

O&P ACCREDITATION: Congratulations to our Orthotics and Prosthetics program, under the direction of Dr. Chad Duncan, for being granted initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), effective March 15, 2024. Initial accreditation is only awarded to those programs that have successfully demonstrated compliance with rigorous standards, ensuring the best possible educational experience for students. Read more here.

SLP STUDENT INVOLVEMENT: Since summer 2023, the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students have been assisting with an early-childhood class — dubbed Toddler Read and Play Time — at We Rock the Spectrum (WRTS) in Northeast Philadelphia. This is part of an opportunity offered to first-year Master of Science SLP students to apply for off-campus clinical rotation experiences, including involvement with the Speech-Language Institute’s (SLI) specialized support groups. Click here to read more.  

TWO SEPCHE EVENTS: The University is sponsoring two upcoming events for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE). The first is the SEPCHE Honors Conference, which will be held tomorrow morning, 23 March at 9:00 AM at the Hafter Student Community Center on the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. The second event is titled “Civic Engagement in 2024: A Conversation with SEPCHE Presidents,” in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Political Science Association’s (PPSA) 85th Anniversary annual meeting Friday, April 5, at Chestnut Hill College in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Click here for details.

WOMEN’S HOOPS: The Drexel women’s basketball team has won the Coastal Athletic Association Championship and will now play in the NCAA Tournament against the University of Texas at 3 p.m. today, March 22. GO DRAGONS!

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach our Spring break, I find myself reflecting on our important mission at Salus: We advance integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services. In our forthcoming merger with Drexel, I am excited about how, together, with the convergence of our two very similar missions, we will do so much good for the students and communities we serve.

With all that is happening in the Middle East, Ukraine, other parts of the world and in our own country, it’s also important to revisit some of 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. These practices are worthy of regular reflection and recommitment. Not only do they strengthen our service as educators, researchers, and clinicians, they also add meaning and purpose to our relationships. They enrich our shared humanity.

I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation over break. Try to reflect on all the goodness that you provide others through your given professions. That’s a gift. Below is a photo I took last weekend of our fair city on my Sunday morning bike ride that I thought I would share to help get us in the mood for our upcoming break. Stay safe, get some rest and come back to us SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Understanding How Each of Us Are "Wired": Week of March 15, 2024

 

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

Good morning on another spring-like day in our region! It’s been a busy week on campus, hosting consultants who are helping us prepare for an upcoming Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association accreditation visit next month. Special thanks to Bob Serianni and his staff for their wonderful preparation for this visit. We were also delighted to welcome Don Mueller, CEO of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children; and our third year PCO students completed final preparations for Part 1 of their national boards.

In addition to all of this, here are some other things I hope you find of interest:

BOT RETIREMENT: Keith Ignotz has been a member of the Salus Board of Trustees for 32 years. In that time, he has seen PCO develop new programs and establish Salus University, an institution with multiple colleges and programs, continued growth and financial stability. Now Keith, along with Jo Surpin and Derrick Artis, OD ‘89, MBA, have retired from the board. Read more about Keith’s tenure here, and look for a future story about the contributions of Jo and Derrick.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Alyson McFadden, MSOT ‘22, was a competitive swimmer as an undergraduate student at California University of Pennsylvania who experienced a significant shoulder injury. The mother of a teammate was an occupational therapist who worked with McFadden and helped her to the point where she was able to continue to swim for the duration of her college career. That was the impetus that inspired McFadden to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy (OT) at Salus University. Click here to read more.

FASHION FRIDAY, AUDIOLOGY: A dog, hearing aid, drag queen, love sign, and CrossFit. Although topics seemingly unrelated, these items make up Rebecca Blaha’s, AuD, interest and personality. These items are incorporated into her attire as pins on her Salus University lanyard, which she wears daily while providing patient care at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI). Click here to read more about the latest installment of Fashion Friday, Audiology faculty edition.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week, Salus University Vice President of Human Resources Maura Keenan and Human Resources Coordinator Kathleen McMullen kicked off another round of small group sessions to help faculty and staff review Drexel’s benefit options ahead of selection later this semester. Additional sessions are forthcoming, and you can also reach out directly to Maura and Kathleen to meet one-on-one if you have specific questions.

Feedback from our first two sessions suggests that many are finding the review process very helpful. And it is prompting additional questions, which is understandable. For many, this is the first time our transition to Drexel is “hitting home,” as we consider firsthand what choices to make among Drexel’s benefits. Each of us is “wired” a bit differently, and we each address change differently as well.

I’ve been discussing our transition with a friend who recommended I read a book by Thomas Erikson on the DiSC behavioral model. The book describes four types of human behaviors—dominance, influence, steadiness and compliance, broken down by colors – red, yellow, green and blue. It details how they interact with each other, as well as their communication and coping traits. The author points out that, “communication happens on the listener’s terms.” People hear what they want to or expect to hear, no matter who or what is being said, because the message is ”filtered through whatever their frame of reference might be.”

As we discuss our upcoming merger with Drexel, I see various DiSC profiles among the range of perspectives we are encountering. Some of us are wired for change – and embrace it – while others, primarily tend to prefer the status quo. One is not better than the other, but it does present some challenges when communicating change.

While, instinctively, we might all be aware of this, it’s a nice reminder that we are all a little different and will respond to change differently. That’s okay as long as we respectfully recognize those differences, and work to try and understand each other’s points of view. That said, change is coming and it’s exciting. To those in our group who may be having a difficult time with the change, we will do everything we can to make the transition to Drexel as seamless and comfortable as possible, understanding that some might have to adapt more than others.

Next week, several of our senior staff, deans and program directors will participate in a DiSC leadership training to learn how different behavior profiles navigate change, as we work to support our collective transition to Drexel. If you have taken a DiSC assessment, what have you learned about how you approach change? I would love to hear from you.

As you prepare for this weekend, please try to get out and enjoy the nice weather. Next week, although it may be a bit cooler than this week was, we’ll celebrate Spring, and prepare for our Spring Break, right around the corner. If you are so inclined, try to learn a bit more about DiSC analysis – I found it very enlightening.

On a much lighter note, check out the picture of the unusual looking vehicle we encountered when walking around the Drexel campus earlier this week. I thought it looked like a lime-green shoe!

Have a great weekend – best of luck to our PCO students taking boards. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Salus Weekly Update: March 8, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus on this crisp Friday morning! We end this week with the news of yet another shooting injuring youth in Philadelphia. Several of us were at a meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker, last evening, who had just come from the shooting scene. She was visibly shaken by the event and shared her concerns about the wellbeing and safety of everyone involved in the shootings, as well as her determination to stop these horrible events. Please keep those who were wounded and injured as a result of this mass shooting in your thoughts and prayers. On a more uplifting note, our geese are back and are staking out their territory. Check out the photo below. Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

WHY SALUS OT: The Salus University approach to Occupational Therapy (OT) education is to provide a distinctive and innovative program for the academic and clinical preparation of a master’s degree, advanced specialty certificate, and doctoral degree. We recently surveyed current OT students and asked why they chose Salus to further their education and prepare themselves for their careers. Click here to read what they had to say.

SAG DEADLINE EXTENDED: The nomination deadline for the Salus Awards Gala (SAG) has been extended to April 1. Please take the time to make your nominations and recognize those who have made your experience at Salus memorable! If you have already made your nominations, please encourage your classmates and faculty members to do the same. Nominate Faculty here! Nominate Classmates and Student Organizations here. There are also QR codes around campus that will lead you to the nomination forms.

COMPUTER HISTORY: In the early 1980s, Drexel became the first university in the country to require all students to have a personal computer, a mandate made possible through a first-of-its kind partnership with Apple Inc. It was a first within higher education that earned Drexel a national reputation as a bold and technologically advanced institution. Click here to read more.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week we held one of many Salus community meetings to keep everyone apprised of recent developments relating to our upcoming merger with Drexel University. To say that I’m excited about this partnership of two great institutions is an understatement. In my opinion, the opportunities that will be afforded our students, faculty, staff and alumni are unlimited. While I see all of the positives in this, I also recognize and understand the uncertainty and fear that our faculty and staff may be feeling as this major change affects you and your families.

As promised and to support your consideration of Drexel’s healthcare plans, Human Resources has arranged multiple sessions beginning Tuesday to review your current healthcare benefits and the wide array of options at Drexel. We will host as many sessions as needed to ensure you have an opportunity to compare plans ahead of benefit selection in May.

As we have said in multiple meetings, not everything will be the same. We strongly encourage you to explore what’s available on Drexel’s Benefits webpage. In addition, we have shared on our ADP portal two integration updates addressing dozens of questions received from faculty and staff. We also continue to work with Drexel’s HR team to provide as much information to you as possible as soon as it is available. You can keep abreast of updates on the integration website. This site will be updated regularly.

Very few people like change, but in today’s higher education ecosystem and post-pandemic environment, academic institutions that do not actively embrace change are doomed to mediocrity, and at worse, failure.

As I have shared with you previously, there is abundant wisdom in the teachings of the great Roman Stoics, especially as they discuss embracing change. In their teachings, they note that “change is unavoidable.” Marcus Aurelius wrote that “Change is nature’s delight”. He further states, “Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? Can any vital process take place without something being changed?”

As we look to the future, the changes we are embarking on are essential to enhance and expand the Salus student experience and to ensure the sustainability of all our world-class programs through perpetuity. I’m not suggesting it’s going to be easy – it’s not – but I can guarantee, if embraced in a positive way, it will be exciting and fruitful. We are working to make the transition as seamless as possible for everyone involved.

For our faculty and staff, as you prepare for the weekend, try and review your current benefits on the ADP website so you can have a productive discussion when you participate in the HR sessions scheduled in the upcoming days and weeks.

For our students, please know that the Office of the Provost, along with our deans, program directors and faculty are actively exploring with Drexel colleagues all available opportunities to enhance the educational experiences of current and future students. This is a major driver of the “why” for our merger. For students preparing for boards, I wish you productive studying and the very best of luck (which you won’t need, since you know your stuff)!

Don’t forget: this Sunday our clocks “spring forward” with the change with daylight savings time at 2 am. If possible, adjust your activities to compensate for the lost hour of sleep. As always, please continue to look out for one another, try to get outside, enjoy some fresh air, and come back Monday SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Practicing Good Sleep Hygiene: Week of March 1, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this first day of March! It’s been another busy week on campus as well as down in Atlanta where many of our optometry faculty, residents and some students have been participating in the Southern Educational Council of Optometry meeting. I wanted to extend my thanks to Megan Weyler and the Drexel Human Resources team for taking the time on Monday to provide an overview of Drexel Human Resources to Salus faculty and staff. We know that many questions are still unanswered, but this was a great first step in helping everyone to understand some of the tools that will be available us as we continue to navigate through the merger. Much more granular, individualized information will be available to all of us in early Spring, after our teams have had the opportunity to complete a line-by-line comparison of all of our benefits. In the interim, I encourage all faculty and staff to visit the Drexel HR website to learn more about what’s offered to us. Here are some things I hope you will find of interest: 

SALUS FASHION, TAKE ONE: As Salus University’s general counsel and compliance officer, Brian Zuckerman, JD, thinks his workday attire can feel a bit repetitive. For him, socks are an opportunity to show a little bit of individualism. Socks that make a statement are something I know a little about as well. Click here to check out the first of three stories about fashion at Salus.

AUDIOLOGY AWARD: Aaron Roman, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, an assistant professor in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), has been named an Early-Career Audiologist Award winner by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). Dr. Roman is in his second year at the University, where he teaches courses in the residential Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program and serves as a clinical audiologist providing comprehensive care at the on-campus clinical facility, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute. He also serves as a clinical preceptor for AuD students and works with pediatric and adult populations. To read more, click here.

WHY SALUS: Hear directly from Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students on why they chose our SLP program. Click here for details.

A CLOSER LOOK AT DREXEL: As we continue the integration process with Drexel University, we wanted to take a deep dive into Drexel’s academics and student life. Click here to learn more.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the past few weeks, I’ve touched upon several subjects that are associated with the stressors we see in our lives to include loneliness, bullying, and gun violence. Today, after having to get up at 3 AM to catch an early morning flight I thought I’d address another stressor, one that many of us deal with routinely. That is sleep deprivation. While attending the continuing education meeting of the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS) in Atlanta this past week I had the opportunity to attend a very insightful lecture on this very topic, which prompted me to do some additional research. I’d like to share some of my take-aways from the lecture and what I found in the literature that I’m certain is applicable to everyone reading this update.

According to the Sleep Foundation, as we sleep, we cycle through four stages of sleep. The first stage can last between one and seven minutes. You are probably not dreaming but just starting to relax. During the second stage of sleep, we are more relaxed. Our breathing, heart rates slow and brain activity slows. This stage lasts between ten to twenty-five minutes. During the third phase of sleep, also called “slow or delta wave” sleep we are in much deeper state, more relaxed, and much harder to wake. Sleep experts believe this is the restorative phase of our sleep cycles where the brain has a chance to rest and even assists with memory and creativity. It may also bolster the immune system and other key bodily processes. This phase can last from twenty to forty minutes. The fourth phase of sleep is REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, where our brain becomes more active. While we can dream in any of the sleep phases, the dreams we have during the REM stage tend to be more vivid. Most people will not enter REM sleep until they have been sleeping for up to ninety minutes. REM sleep is believed to be essential for cognitive functions such as memory, creativity and learning. We cycle through these phases several times during the night (or when we sleep) – see diagram below. 

Just like doing exercise to ensure we maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and shower every day to ensure we have good general hygiene, paying attention to our sleep hygiene is also an important habit to get into. It’s important to develop a consistent sleep schedule. To obtain this you should have routine exposure to nature daylight, avoid screen time and alcohol a couple of hours prior to bedtime as well eliminating noise and ambient light from your sleep environment. This will also help to properly adjust your circadian rhythm, the twenty-four internal clock in our brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to changes in our exposure to natural light in our environment. While this may seem like common sense, many of us have a difficult time practicing good sleep hygiene on a regular basis.

As we try to address stressors in our lives, getting enough good sleep on a regular basis can play a key role in how we are able to navigate through the many things confronting us daily. As you prepare for the weekend, and many of you, national boards, try to work on improving your sleep hygiene as I believe it will pay dividends in overall performance academically and personally.

Be safe, get some rest, look out for one another, and remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike