Salus Weekly Update: Week of January 19, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this snowy morning as most of us work virtually from home. Even with the snow earlier in this short week, it’s been busy on campus between classes, labs and clinics all going full speed. It’s amazing how these shorter weeks often feel like they are really long!

As we prepare for today’s snow, here are some items that I hope will be of interest to you:

OPTOMETRY CAREER FAIR: The Bennett Career Services Center is hosting a Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) Career Fair on Sunday, January 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hafter Student Community Center. Network with nearly 50 employers to learn about several career options for future graduates. Click here to register.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. O’SULLIVAN: Gerard (Gerry) O’Sullivan, PhD, joined the Salus University family in March of 2023 as interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs (VPAA) after the retirement of Dr. Barry Eckert. Learn more about Dr. O’Sullivan’s expertise in higher education, and how it benefits Salus in his current role as provost and VPAA here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: While studying Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, Max Manson’s, MS ‘19, paper on focal hand dystonia led Mason to learn about sensory rehabilitation and learning braille to try and alleviate symptoms of the condition in the fingers. That helped his decision to enroll in the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy program within the Blindness and Low Vision Studies Department at Salus University. Learn more about Max’s career journey here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we close out this week that started and ended with a snowfall I thought it appropriate to end this week’s update with a few pictures from Tuesday and this morning of our beautiful campus. Wishing everyone a safe and restful weekend. Please be careful when venturing out as not only will it be very icy, but temperatures will also be extremely cold. We want everyone back next week SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

The Importance of Our Constitution: Week of January 5, 2024

 

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

Happy New Year! We’re excited to welcome everyone back to campus for our Spring Semester. It’s going to be an exciting year as we continue preparations for our merger with Drexel. Here are some things that I hope you will find of interest:

FIRST FLOOR SOUTH RIBBON CUTTING: We are excited to officially unveil our renovated first floor south student lounge and cafe spaces with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Join us in the first floor south area on January 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to celebrate. Lunch and giveaways will be provided. RSVP for the ribbon cutting here.

REMEMBERING DR. ALGERNON PHILLIPS: Algernon Phillips, OD ‘69, MD, a trailblazer for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University’s commitment to global service, passed away on December 29, 2023. Dr. Phillips founded PCO’s Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) chapter and paved the way for the global healthcare impact PCO/Salus maintains today. Dr Phillips and his family have been a part of our PCO/Salus family for many years. The entire Salus community sends our condolences to Dr. Phillips’ family and friends and thanks him for his tremendous impact on the University.

DISCOVERING CAREERS IN BLVS: Hear from Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) alumni Katelyn (Kate) Maffei, MEd ‘21, TVI, VRT, and Kinshasa Coghill, MS ‘02, CLVT, CVRT, OMS, and current student Carolyn Pijanowski '24VRT, '24O&M, on how they discovered the BLVS profession, and why people from all backgrounds should consider the BLVS field. Read more about their journeys here.

OPTOMETRY CAREER FAIR: The Bennett Career Services Center is hosting a Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) Career Fair on Saturday, January 21, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hafter Student Community Center. All PCO students are invited to attend. Click here to register. 

NORTHEAST REGIONAL ADVISORS FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS: Today, we are thrilled to welcome representatives from the Northeast Regional Advisors for Health Professions where we have the opportunity to showcase all of our programs to over 80 participants as well as local regional colleagues. 

YOUNG ALUMNI: Hear from one of our young alumni, Abigail Possinger, AuD ‘22, about her journey into the audiology profession, and her experience at Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology. Read about her experience here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week, newly elected Montgomery County Commissioners and Row Officers affirmed their oaths of office. The public ceremony marked a number of historic firsts: 

• Jamila Winder is the first African American woman to Chair the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners;
• Neil Makija, the first Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) to be elected County Commissioner, has also been named Chair of Montgomery County’s Board of Elections;
• Dr. Janine Darby is the first African American woman to be elected County Coroner;
• Tina Lawson is the first African American woman to be elected County Register of Wills.

It was exciting to attend this historic event! What struck me most was that in taking their oaths of office, each official vowed to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth. Our elected leaders don’t pledge loyalty to a person or governmental agency, but rather to the Constitution, one of our nation’s founding documents that delineates our rights as individuals and defines the separation and balance of power among our three governing branches.

As we begin this new year, it’s important for all of us to remember that the basis for our democracy originates from the Constitution. I encourage you to learn more about the Constitution as we enter what will be a consequential election year.

Our students return to campus next week and faculty and staff are preparing for their arrival. Take this last weekend to recharge and come back SALUS STRONG! This is going to be an exciting and eventful year for all of us!

Finally, it’s been almost two years since we’ve had any significant snow around here. It appears this we might experience at least a minor snowfall over the weekend. Please pay attention to weather reports and be careful when out and about. Have a great weekend!

-Mike

Advancing Integration Effort: Week of November 17, 2023

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus on a beautiful Fall day. It’s been a busy week as students prepare for finals, we hosted our Drexel colleagues on campus and opened our new cafeteria. Here are some other items of interest for you:

BIG NIGHT FOR LOFK: The Salus University stars came out for the 16th annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser Saturday night, not only to support the LOFK program but to honor one of our own, Susan “Dr. O.” Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, MA, FAAO, as the 2023 Lighthouse Award winner. Thanks to all who attended, made donations and participated in our online auction. To read more about the evening, click here. And if you are interested in LOFK giving opportunities, click here.

THANKSGIVING MEAL: Salus University is making it a little easier for those not traveling home for the Thanksgiving holiday. The University will offer a complimentary holiday meal prepared by Metz Culinary. The meal choices are a turkey dinner plate (chicken will be substituted if turkey is not available) or a vegetarian option. Dessert will be included as well. For those interested, click here to fill out the form. Please place your order by noon Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. The date for the meal pick-up will be Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2023. Respondents will receive an email reminder with the pick-up time availability.

CHER CAREER FAIR: Salus University's Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students got a peek into their futures at the first-ever College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) career fair held Nov. 6, 2023, at the Hafter Student Community Center gymnasium on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. The event included 24 businesses from the Philadelphia region and some that represented companies from across the nation. It was a great opportunity for our OT and SLP students to network. Click here to read more about the event.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Robert Fitzgerald, MS ‘99, has always advocated for disadvantaged populations. The training he received at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was instrumental in helping him build a successful career in that area. And he’s maintained a strong connection with Salus by serving on the Blindness and Low Vision Services (BLVS) department’s advisory board and serving as a preceptor for the program. Read more about Robert here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week, President John Fry and several of our Drexel colleagues met to discuss and advance Integration Council efforts. We were delighted to show them our newest spaces on campus and The Eye Institute, where Salus deans, directors and president’s council members had an opportunity to gather with their Drexel counterparts.

Relationship building is so important as we move closer to July, when many of our functions will begin to integrate in earnest. One of the most important predictors of success in any merger or partnership is the development of trust and familiarity. It is normal to feel unsettled because of the upcoming changes. Creating space and time to interact socially requires a commitment on both parts, particularly as the holidays approach and schedules get busier. The time invested now in building trust and camaraderie will pay dividends later as the work of integration gets more complex.

As we create opportunities to build connections among our Salus and Drexel colleagues in the coming months, please let me know how we can help and support your efforts to strengthen relationships with your counterparts beyond the work of the integration council. I know how excited our Drexel colleagues are to have us join them. Together we will make exceptional contributions to the higher education landscape. 

Special thanks to Rick Echevarria, Amie Leighton, Chris Esposito, Rich Stankovis, and our facilities, technology, security and Metz food services staff for getting our newly renovated cafeteria and first floor areas ready for the soft opening earlier this week. The firepit is a great addition to our patio and it’s great to see folks enjoying it! Also, thanks to Jacquie Patterson, Alexis Abate, Juliana Mosley-Williams and our institutional advancement and communications staff for the fantastic Looking Out For Kids event. Dr. O’s inspiring comments as she received the Lighthouse Award touched everyone in the room.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a time to recharge ahead of the sprint to the semester’s finish line in December. It’s going to be a nice weekend, so try to get outside and enjoy the last of the leaves! Be safe, continue to look out for one another and if you haven’t yet gotten your flu and/or covid vaccinations, please put that on your dockets. Let’s finish out this semester SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Remembering Our Veterans: Week of November 10, 2023

 

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

Good morning on this cool, fall morning! It’s been an exceptionally productive week on campus. Yesterday we had the opportunity to host Professor Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University (DCU) and his wife Katie on campus. Professor Keogh spent the day sharing his experiences and lessons learned with deans, directors and President’s Council members about the merger between St. Patrick’s University and DCU 6 years ago. While all this was going on, folks have been putting the finishing touches on the new cafeteria which will have a “soft” opening next week (photos attached). Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Walt Fleming, vice president of Field Maintenance and Quality Assurance for National Vision, Inc., has made significant contributions to optometry and vision care. Our congratulations and collective thanks to Walt, our Salus University Presidential Medal of Honor recipient. Click here to read more.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DEAN: So, just what does a day in the life of the dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University look like? Well, it’s pretty exciting, according to Dr. Melissa Trego. She likens it to a Netflix show that always has a different plot line. Click here to find out more about Dr. Trego and her responsibilities at PCO/Salus.

CHER CAREER FAIR: The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) held its first-ever career fair earlier this week for students in our Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs. The event featured 24 businesses from across the region. Click here to see what our students thought of this important networking opportunity.

CAPSTONE PROJECT: For her capstone project, Shannon McCabe, PA ‘23, explored whether social media has a positive or negative effect on females with eating disorders. Her research looked specifically into women with anorexia. Read more about her findings here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today is the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Here in Philadelphia, on November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the Continental Marines. Since that time, Marines have distinguished themselves in defending our freedoms around the world. During my 33-year Navy career, I had the privilege of serving with the Marine Corps for almost a third of that time.

Tomorrow, 11 November, we recognize all veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War,” officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, a temporary cessation of hostilities, between the allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Originally designated Armistice Day by President Wilson, November 11 commemorates the armistice that began that day. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to recognize all veterans.

As a retired Navy veteran, I regularly reflect on how lucky we all are to have women and men who make sacrifices and place their lives on the line every day to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms we have, such as Tuesday’s election day. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment for the Navy and Loyalty, Honor, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage for the Army have been the moral and ethical compasses that have guided women and men in uniform for 248 years.

Here at Salus we are particularly lucky to have some of our nation’s finest learning with us. Ozoaru Chukwu, or Lyna -- as most of us know her, recently shared with classmates her journey to Salus having served overseas in significant tours. I am inspired by Lyna’s selfless service to our country, her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of others, exceptional leadership and remarkable courage. (see photo)

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with our military service members. We, too, have commited our time and talent to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals we also must be guided by an ethical and moral compass that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – that of Honor, Courage, and Commitment; or U.S. Army - Loyalty, Duty, Honor, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, take time to thank the many veterans and service members around us and to recommit ourselves to acting with honor, exercising courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and doing what’s right for our patients, clients and students. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to lead by example.

Have a great weekend! Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

The Importance of Voting to Preserve our Democracy: Week of November 3, 2023

 

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

Good morning on this crisp Fall morning from our Elkins Park campus where our everyone has been busy between classes, labs and clinics. Our first floor renovation project is all coming together nicely, albeit a couple of months late, as construction crews begin to put the finishing touches on the project. Just yesterday (of course the coldest day of the semester, so far) our patio furniture was delivered and set up. I’m hoping for some warmer weather next week so folks can get out and enjoy it! Here are some other items that I hope you will find of interest:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: Our annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser is just one week away and tickets are still available for the event at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. You can purchase your ticket here. Click here to learn more about the LOFK story, how it all began and how it has grown over the years. And click here to read more about Johnny Archer from NBC10, the emcee for the event.

CHER CAREER FAIR: Our College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) will have a career fair from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 6, in the Hafter Student Community Center. There are 23 employers scheduled with positions open for occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists (including CFY) nationwide – these are not just employers from Pennsylvania. If you have not already pre-registered, please do so here. Contact the Bennett Career Services Center with any questions.

BLVS AWARDED TWO GRANTS: Salus University’s Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) has been awarded two five-year grants from the U.S. Department of Education to support the preparation of two of its programs - Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility (O&M) professionals. Read more here.

O&P FACULTY FOCUS: For her entire life, Jacalyn Harris, MPO, CPO/L has watched her father Chris Sickels, an amputee, go through various iterations of his prosthesis. This experience sparked Jacalyn’s interest in the engineering involved in artificial limbs. Learn more here about our newest faculty member in the Orthotics and Prosthetics department.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME TO END: Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2AM Sunday 5 November. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Our democracy and the right to vote are more fragile than most realize. On Election Day this coming Tuesday, November 7th, we get to exercise a core tenet of our democracy: to vote for candidates who closely align with our values and beliefs. To ignore this responsibility minimizes the sacrifices of thousands who gave their lives so we and others can be free.

Think about the issues that impact our freedoms including: the right to vote, the elimination of racism and discrimination, and respecting everyone’s individual rights. These issues directly impact the care and treatment of the people and communities we serve. Choosing candidates who will work to ensure equal access to high quality healthcare and healthcare choices advances the work we do every day to improve health outcomes.

As you consider for whom you will vote, check candidate voting records that can help predict how candidates will vote in the future. Remember that social media posts tend to represent opinions rather than facts. Verify facts using multiple sources before taking a position. Today’s world has become more dangerous, divisive and polarized. Electing leaders who best represent your values and beliefs helps ensure the integrity of our democracy.

It's going to be a bit colder this weekend so if you go out and about, please plan accordingly. Covid is still out there, as the flu, so please take appropriate precautions. If you haven’t gotten your Covid and flu vaccines yet, please put that on your “to do” lists.

Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG, prepared to vote on Tuesday, 7 November!

-Mike

The Importance of Listening: Week of February 19th, 2021

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

It is clear that winter is upon us given the snow and ice we’ve experienced over the past couple of days! Please be very careful driving and walking around the parking lots today as there still may be some icy patches. It looks like the groundhog might have been correct! But, even as we are challenged with the elements of winter, our world-class faculty, students and staff have made multiple pivots to ensure essential clinical labs and classes still met prior to the storm. I cannot thank our faculty enough for the number of times they’ve had to improvise, compromise and adjust to ensure our students are receiving the best education possible. Even with the bad weather, other events have been happening on or around campus.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Ryan Hollister, MS, associate director of the Bennett Career Services Center (BCSC), and Molly Marcus, PsyD, a counselor from the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), conducted a lunchtime webinar Wednesday called “Building Resilience,” which discussed resilience, mindfulness and strategies for remaining positive and persevering through difficult times. Later that evening, Juliana Mosley-Williams, PhD, Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, presented “Unconscious Bias & Microaggression in the Healthcare Environment,” which took a deeper dive into those aspects. And Thursday evening, our Black Student Union group hosted a very thought provoking discussion on “Hesitancy Toward Vaccines from Black People” in this country. The virtual meeting was offered to explore the history of healthcare in this country toward black people and their experiences with previous vaccinations.

WHY DEI MATTERS: Women in Optometry has released a podcast featuring Ruth Shoge, OD ‘06, Resident ‘07, MPH, speaking on “Why Diversity and Inclusion Matter for Everyone.” Dr. Shoge serves on the University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee as well as the Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. To listen to the podcast, click here.

HIGHER ED CONSORTIUM: Salus recently joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE), marking the first time in more than two decades that the consortium has expanded its membership. The consortium was established in 1993 and represents more than 20,000 students in small colleges located across four counties of metropolitan Philadelphia. To read more, go to salus.edu/SEPCHE.

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR: After establishing a successful optometry career, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University alum Sakesha Caston, OD ‘00, has now added children’s book author to her resume. Dr. Caston has published her book “Mommy Loves My Little Toes,” an idea that first formed when her son Jesiah was a baby. To read more, go to salus.edu/CastonAuthor.

VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR: Join Yards Brewing Co. founder and head brewer, Tom Kehoe, as he takes us through the history of Philadelphia's Brewery and four tasty brews during a virtual happy hour at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Alumni Association's student virtual learning grant program. While it’s too late to have the beer delivered to your door, you can still stop by and pick it up if you’d like to participate. For information and to register, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Way back, when I was a 2nd year student at PCO starting my rotation at The Eye Institute, Dr. Joel Silbert, Dr. Bob Walker and later Dr. Jeff Nyman would remind all of us the importance of listening to our patients. They told us, as I’m sure you are all hearing now, how if we took a good history and listened carefully to our patients, we could almost be able to make a provisional diagnosis from what we heard. Throughout my entire career, both here and when I was in the Navy, that lesson has been reinforced in many situations.

Once again, the importance of listening is being reinforced through many of your thoughtful comments concerning commencement. To that end, while I still believe the responsible action for us to do now is continue down the path for the virtual ceremony, I have asked our staff to explore options for a modified outdoor event, for those who would feel comfortable enough to attend one. No promises at this point, but I want you to know that we totally understand many of your desires and are working to see how we could accommodate both the virtual and outdoor events in a way that appropriately celebrates your successes, while at the same time ensuring everyone’s health and safety. We are listening!

As we approach this frosty weekend, I want to encourage you to try to get out and enjoy the fresh air. We’re all under a great deal of stress, so getting out and playing in the snow might be a good way to help alleviate some of that. In the meantime, please continue to socially distance, wear your double-layered face mask and wash your hands frequently.

Please be safe, remain healthy and stay SALUS STRONG!

Mike