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

Placing Quality and Safety Above Profitability: Week of February 2, 2024

 

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

Good morning on this first Friday in February, Groundhog Day! It appears that Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow so we should have an early Spring! We’ll see!

It’s been an extremely busy week on campus as we hosted our all-volunteer Board of Trustees for their annual and quarterly meetings, held a Community Meeting to discuss what we’ve learned about the merger with Drexel to date with faculty and staff and shared similar information with our student leaders. In addition to all that, our classes, clinics and labs have remained busy and productive. Here are some additional items I hope you will find of interest:

MYTH BUSTERS: Hear from Salus University faculty across academic programs as they bust common, program-specific healthcare myths. Read about these common healthcare myths here.

BLVS PODCAST: 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, share what a day in the life of a BLVS professional looks like, in addition to giving a sneak peak into Salus University’s programs. Check out the podcast here.

DAY IN THE LIFE: Follow second-year Occupational Therapy student Madison DeLong ‘24OT through a day in her life on her level 2 fieldwork rotation. Read more about Madison’s day here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I recently read an article in the New York Times that discussed how the change in corporate culture at Boeing from one of quality, safety and superior aircraft design to attaining maximum profitability has had a significant impact on what was their stellar reputation for safety. It prompted me to reflect on the American healthcare system, which has been leaning in this direction for many years.

As healthcare institutions across the country placed more emphasis on productivity by counting Relative Value Units (RVUs) and Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs), the focus on quality declined as cost and productivity became key drivers. Unquestionably, both cost and productivity are important factors in any business, but just like Boeing, the healthcare industry has a sacred responsibility to those in our care to ensure that quality and safety are the primary measures of success.

As students preparing to enter the American (and in some cases Canadian) healthcare systems, you have an opportunity to help introduce a change in culture. Our Oath to Professionalism states that, “I will uphold and honorably promote by example and action the highest standards, ethics and ideals of my chosen profession.” Providing high quality and safe care clearly falls within that charge.

Healthcare should be value based – meaning our patients and clients should always expect high quality, safe care at a reasonable price. Outcomes should drive ultimate costs. While significant discussion has surrounded this method of remuneration, there is little to show in execution. If quality and safety are first, improved health outcomes should follow. Providing healthcare with a profit-only focus leads to reduced health outcomes, dissatisfied patients, clients and providers.

As you prepare for this weekend, please think about how you will influence our healthcare systems to return to a quality, safety and value-based system. Today’s disjointed, expensive and embarrassingly ineffective system is not sustainable. 

Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back SALUS STRONG next week!

- 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

Remembering VADM Mike Cowan: Week of December 15, 2023

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus as we get ready to celebrate the end of the semester. It’s been a busy few days as students have been completing finals and faculty have been getting grades ready for submission.

Here are some other items of interest:

WHY BLVS?: Check out this question-and-answer session with one of our young alumni, Katelyn Maffei, MEd ‘21, TVI, and learn why she wanted to pursue a career in Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) at Salus. Click here for more.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: While studying for an undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services at Penn State, Emily Jollota’s, MS ‘17, OTR/L, little sister suffered a concussion playing high school sports for which she received occupational therapy (OT). While witnessing that experience firsthand, something clicked for Jollota. Click here to find out how that led her to our Occupational therapy program.

GIFTED LENSES: A select group of New Jersey students were gifted an inscribed Volk lens from the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology (NJAO). Special thanks to NJAO president Michael Chocky and Dennis Lyons, OD '73, for facilitating.

TEXAS IPE CONSORTIUM: Earlier this year Salus joined the Texas IPE Consortium (which despite its name, includes academic institutions from all over the country). We did this as part of our commitment to Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE). Skilled facilitators are essential for quality IPE, and Consortium membership gives us access to an IPE Facilitator Certificate Course that was held virtually on November 10, 2023. I am very pleased to announce that 15 faculty and professional staff now hold IPE Facilitator Certificates! Congratulations to Rachel Brackley, Brianna Brim, Anna Grasso, Lynn Greenspan, Jacalyn Harris, Ryan Hollister, James Kelly, Erin Kenny, Jamie Maffit, Bre Myers, Maria Parisi, Julie McCulley Quinlan, Anne Marie Ruckdeschel, Robert Serianni, and Luis Trujillo.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Life is too short. I was reminded of this earlier this week with the passing of Vice Admiral Mike Cowan, 34th Surgeon General of the United States Navy. Many in our Salus community may remember his inspiring remarks at the White Coat ceremony for our 2019 entering class.

Our nation has lost a true pioneer, innovator, and visionary leader – a one of a kind individual who knew how to motivate others, redefine the norm, clearly articulate an issue and get things done. VADM Michael Cowan was a tremendous friend, mentor and advisor whom I will miss dearly.

I first met Mike Cowan when I was stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, my first duty station, and he had taken his newly minted Military Training Network on the road to teach providers Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Fortunately for me, he decided to make me one of his “projects” and ultimately an instructor. Over the course of several years, I traveled with Mike and his team throughout Europe as one of his instructors. I remember jogging through the woods in Germany, drinking a good bit of beer and listening to hundreds of his stories about his Military Medicine adventures around the world. Little did I know that he was starting the arduous process of molding me into the leader I am today. Just last month, some 40 years later, I was still seeking his advice. One of the best pieces of advice Mike ever gave me was to be gentle with people. That’s a lesson we could all stand to learn, especially in today’s very contentious and polarized world.

VADM Cowan was never satisfied with the status quo, nor was he one to shy away from debate, especially when it came to providing optimum healthcare to our forces. A prolific writer and researcher, he reminded everyone who would listen about the importance of prevention, preparedness and continued advocacy. He described the importance of Force Health Protection in a way that truly made a difference in the way people responded. He wrote the book, literally, in The National Disaster Medical System: How the Nation Will Care For 50,000 Casualties in One Place, on how our nation should approach disasters. He pushed hard to rally all around him to embrace its cutting-edge ideas. He thought this was essential for the nation, as well as for Military Medicine.

VADM Cowan made everyone around him better thinkers, innovators, activists, and military health care professionals. His influence on military medicine has left an enduring mark on the entire military health system. We all owe Mike Cowan a great debt of gratitude, as his creativity, intellect and vision laid the groundwork for Military Medicine to be as successful it has been in both preventing and responding to medical contingencies around the world.

As I write this, I believe VADM Cowan would not want us to mourn him, but rather, to pick up the torch. There is much work to be done in healthcare nationally and in Military Medicine.

We will miss his quick wit, unparalleled intelligence and uncanny ability to distill a problem into its most solvable parts. I will miss him. Our Salus family was privileged to have honored VADM Cowan, first in 2019 and most recently with an honorary degree. VADM Cowan recorded a message to our graduating class of 2023 that I will share here.

May he rest in peace. Please join me in keeping the Cowan family in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a restful weekend and great winter break. If you’re traveling, please be careful as we want everyone back here in January 2024 SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Our Affiliation with Drexel University: Week of April 21, 2023

 

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

Greetings on this cool Friday morning from our East Oak Lane campus where I look forward to speaking with our clinic providers this morning about the goings on at The Eye Institute. It has been great to see our students at work in their clinical rotations. To our staff and providers at TEI and all our clinics, our collective thanks for all you do to model outstanding patient care.

In other news:

POST-BACC SUCCESSES: Not only do graduates of the Salus University post-baccalaureate program get a leg up by being guaranteed an interview in the University program of their choosing, but it also prepares students to pursue their educational path at other universities as well. To read more, click here.

BLVS 2023 ALUMNI OF THE YEAR (AOTY): Lindsay Lee, MEd ‘19, says she still feels fresh in her career. After all, she graduated from the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program at Salus University just four years ago. That’s why it was somewhat of a surprise when she found out she was named the 2023 BLVS Alumna of the Year from the University’s Alumni Association. Click here to read more.

SLP AOTY: When her husband got a call on his phone informing him about some award his wife had won, Carleen Dumas, MS ‘18, was a bit confused. Why would he get a call about an award that she had won? A follow-up email cleared up any confusion: Dumas had been named the Speech-Language Pathology 2023 Alumna of the Year by the Salus University Alumni Association. Read more here.

NEW GALLERY EXHIBIT: New artwork graces the walls of the D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus of Salus University. The exhibit, which debuted March 25, 2023, features the work of artists Demetra Tassiou and Corinne Dieterle. Click here for details.

FACULTY & STAFF SPRING FLING: Our first Salus University Faculty and Staff Spring Fling, which will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 11, on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus, replaces the faculty and staff holiday party that we haven’t been able to have in the past few years.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week we announced that we are in the process of exploring an affiliation with Drexel University, pending the completion of due diligence and approval of both Boards of Trustees and other required regulatory and judicial approvals.

I believe that an affiliation with Drexel brings together the strengths of both of our institutions in graduate health sciences, education, research and clinical practice including Drexel’s medical, biomedical, public health, nursing and health professions, and our physician assistant, optometry, audiology, biomedicine, blindness and low vision studies, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics programs. There is no better partner to help us operationalize our mission: Advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

The combined array of health care disciplines, together with our shared commitment to the communities we serve, provides an unprecedented opportunity to develop educational offerings and premier clinical care that meet emerging developments in healthcare innovation.

According to author Stephen Covey, trust is built upon credibility, consistent behavior, alignment, reputation and contribution. (The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, 2008). Every interaction we’ve shared with our Drexel colleagues has reflected these attributes, which adds to my excitement about what might be possible through this potential affiliation. As we complete our due diligence process, we are building trust through developing relationships among faculty and staff. The combination of trustful relationships, shared vision, expertise and excitement will fuel academic, clinical and research collaboration and innovation. There are no limits to what we might build together.

I look forward to forthcoming, scheduled conversations with small groups within the Salus community to hear your reactions and to answer questions you may have about the current exploration. I see the partnership with Drexel as a great opportunity for both universities to build upon our storied histories, professional expertise and commitment to excellence in service to others as we consider a potential future together.

I hope everyone takes some time to get outdoors this weekend to enjoy the Spring weather. Please look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Remembering Our Veterans: November 11, 2022

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park Campus where our students, faculty and staff are busy with classes, labs and clinics. Our Chestnut Hill satellite clinic has a new façade that looks professional and inviting. The private practice pilot that we’ve initiated there is off to a strong start thanks to the great work of our faculty and staff! In addition to what’s happening on campus, here are other items of interest:

LOFK IS HERE! Join us for our Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 12th at the National Constitution Center. If you haven’t purchased tickets, please consider going to our website here to help us provide healthcare for children in need.

AAO CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was front and center at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) “Academy 2022” centennial celebration recently in San Diego. Fifteen Salus faculty and six residents presented posters, four faculty gained AAO fellowship, 14 faculty gave presentations, two faculty gave symposium lectures and two faculty delivered Grand Rounds. Read more about the conference here.

O&P PERSPECTIVE: Check out this podcast with Amber Lewis ‘25OP, a first-year student in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at the University. She gives us insight on the program and why she chose Salus O&P. Click here for details.

SALUS SOIREE: This year’s Salus Soiree is scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Semi-formal attire is requested. All students and guests must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination or provide a negative test taken within 72 hours of the event. Contact the Student Council for details and tickets.

30 YEARS AND COUNTING!: Congratulations to our Orientation & Mobility and Blind and Visually Impaired (VRT) programs celebrating 30 years of approval from the Department of Education! We are so proud to be home to these nationally distinguished programs!

SELF-CARE BAG: Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) counselors Janeyshka Ortiz-Flores and Andrew Jaskot will see you outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. Stop by their table to say hello and collect a self-care bag.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday marked the 247th 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 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.

Today, 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. Fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or 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. 

While on active duty, we observed Navy and Marine Corps birthdays and Veterans Day by participating in cake-cutting ceremonies and attending a few veteran’s events. As a retired Navy veteran, I think of these days a bit differently. I appreciate how lucky we all are to have men and women who place their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we have, such as election day last Tuesday. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment have been the moral and ethical compass that have guided the men and women in uniform for 247 years.

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with all who serve in our armed forces. We, too, commit our time and energies to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals, we are also guided by an ethical and moral compass – one that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – Honor, Courage and Commitment.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, think about how we can leverage our own commitment to conduct ourselves with honor, to exercise the courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and to do what’s right for our patients, clients, and those around us.

-Mike

Take Time To Recharge: Week of July 15th, 2022

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

Good morning from Iceland, where I am enjoying some much needed R&R with a couple of my daughters and my brother-in-law. It’s 48 degrees and sunny, which is pretty normal for a July morning here.

A very warm welcome and congratulations to all of our new residents! I look forward to seeing you! The summer semester is beginning to wind down, and finals and clinical practical exams are quickly approaching.

Here are a few developments from our Salus community:

PRACTICING WELLNESS, TAKE TWO: Check out part two of our feature titled “Practicing Wellness as A Graduate Student.” Part one covered mitigating burnout whereas part two addresses managing imposter syndrome, an internal experience leading to beliefs and perceptions of being incompetent. Read more here.

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Kerry Lueders, MS ‘99, COMS, TVI, CLVT, director of the Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) program and the Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (LVI) within the Department of Blindness and Low Vision (BLVS) at the University. To read more about Kerry, click here.

SLP/AUD OPEN HOUSE: The University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) and department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) recently offered an open house to prospective students. The inaugural half-day event was for those wanting to study communication sciences and disorders. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: For so many of us and our teams who pushed beyond what we thought was possible during the last few years, it can be difficult to step back and recharge. But it's important to prioritize this. Take the time to rest and rejuvenate -- it's critical for continued wellness and motivation.

I look forward to getting back to campus next week. In the meantime, take some time to recharge and get outside to enjoy the summer weather and distress. We’ll be welcoming our incoming classes for our fall semester in a few short weeks. Time is flying!

Please continue to follow CDC guidelines when out and about, look out for one another and stay SALUS STRONG!

Hiking one of the four glaciers in Iceland

Mike

Our Shared Commitment With You: Week of July 1st, 2022

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

Good morning on a steamy first day of July from our Elkins Park campus. In addition to our normal cadence of classes, labs, and clinics this week, we were delighted to welcome our newest cohort of international students from Taiwan and the Board of Directors from the Sunday Breakfast Club, a leadership organization advancing civic dialogue in the region.

Here are some recent developments:

ADAPTIVE SPORTS DAY SUCCESS: Our first Adaptive Sports Day last weekend was a huge success. The daylong event, held at the Hafter Student Community Center, welcomed disabled community members to participate in a host of activities, including yoga, seated volleyball, a mobility obstacle course, adaptive golf, tennis, pickleball and wheelchair basketball. We also introduced the community to our new Orthotics and Prosthetic program, which welcomes our first students this fall. Click here to read more.

AVOIDING BURNOUT: Check out the first of a two-part series titled “Practicing Wellness as a Graduate Student: Avoiding Burnout” on our website. This first part reveals why burnout is important to address, identifies the stages of burnout and offers tips for mitigating burnout. Read more here.

HELPING HER COMMUNITY: Thahira Kallumurikkal, AuD ‘22, an audiologist at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company's (Seha) Oud Al Touba Diagnostic & Screening Center in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, has played an important role in spreading awareness and support about the pandemic in her community. In fact, she's written a book about it. Click here to read more.

SUSSMAN SCHOLARSHIP: The family of Naomi Sussman, MS ‘12, who passed away in 2018, has generously created the Naomi Sussman Scholarship, which offers an annual award to a student studying Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) or Orientation and Mobility (O&M) at Salus University. Read more here about this special alum and her love of the Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program at the University.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As some of you know, my wife and I have been raising a Seeing Eye Dog, Godiva, for the past 20 months. Yesterday, we dropped her off at “college” to begin her formal education at The Seeing Eye. The entire process from meeting Godiva when she was seven weeks old to now has been a true labor of love. It also represents a commitment to preparing her to serve others. I see this commitment as a parallel to what we do at Salus. While we don’t get students when they’re seven weeks old, we do get most of you right after you’ve finished college – ready and eager to learn your new professions. This new relationship represents a shared commitment between you and your Salus family. A big part of our responsibility, much like we have done with Godiva, is to prepare you to adjust to the many different situations that you will encounter professionally and even sometimes personally.

Often, issues that you may not think are directly related to your specific professions but have significant public health implications are addressed either here in my weekly updates or in your classes. Two such issues that touch all of us are gun violence and the most recent Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v Wade. Other than the COVID-19 pandemic, these two public health issues are, in my opinion, the defining public health issues of our generation. Take time to sift through the media hype and truly understand the short- and long-term ramifications of these two public health challenges. Read multiple sources before passing judgment, and more importantly, before giving advice to your future patients – because they trust your guidance. Brian Zuckerman, our legal counsel, will be leading a discussion on the legal basis behind the Supreme Court decision and its impact on reproductive rights laws later this month. It’s an important opportunity to learn more.

All of our professions provide meaningful opportunities to help others. To do that effectively, we need to understand and to be articulate about the public health issues of our day.

As you prepare for the long 4th of July holiday weekend, please keep those in military service and veterans in your thoughts. Let’s especially keep in mind those in the Salus family who have family and friends who serve, and for all families and peoples who wish to be free.

Please stay hydrated, wear sunscreen when outdoors and continue to follow CDC masking guidelines. If you are not feeling well, test yourself to ensure you haven’t contracted COVID. Take some time over the weekend to think about your commitment to your patients and how you are would address questions concerning the issues I’ve discussed above.

Have a great weekend – be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

The Importance of Taking Care of Yourself: Week of August 6th, 2021

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

Good morning from a sunny and bright Elkins Park campus where we are, once again, all wearing masks, whether we’re fully vaccinated or not in accordance with the latest CDC guidance. As always, the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and patients remain our top concern. Even with the increased precautions, our incredibly talented faculty, student body and staff continue to move things ahead, both on and off campus as we prepare for orientation our White Coat Ceremony and the start of Fall classes. Here are some things you might find of interest:

LVR ACCREDITATION: Congratulations to Salus University’s Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) program, in the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS), for being the first program of its kind to achieve accreditation from The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER). Read more here.

MEET THE COLLEGE TOUR CAST: In the first of a series, we meet the Salus cast of The College Tour, a TV series produced by Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning producers featuring individual episodes on colleges and universities across the country. A film crew from The College Tour spent a week at the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus in early March to capture its specialness. This week we feature Kelly Malloy, OD ‘96, Resident ‘97, FAAO. Click here to read more.

WELCOME BACK: The international mixed cohort that was on campus in April is back again starting today (Aug. 6) for Advanced Studies workshops/labs over the next two weekends and Controlled Patient Care during the weekdays. Their in-person activities culminate on Aug. 20 with White Coat ceremony.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: We’re showcasing some of the great staff members who work at the University in a social media series called “Staff Spotlight.” Some of these will also turn into expanded feature stories on our website. We kicked off the series with Bonnie Taylor from the Institutional Advancement department. Learn more about Bonnie here.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Grand Rounds will be at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, titled “We All Know What Dr. Meagher’s Gonna Talk About . . . Glaucoma” with Dr. Andrew Meagher. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As the progress we have made in fighting the pandemic has most recently reversed course, our levels of stress, fear and uncertainty as we begin this month have undoubtably increased. We continue to face important decisions about how to keep the University community, our families and those patients we care for as safe as possible. While we often think about the toll on our physical health, we often neglect our mental health, which is equally important. As most of you know, the World Health Organization defines health as, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This pandemic has certainly tested that definition as it applies to all of us.

As we prepare to start our Fall semester, I want all of us to take an accounting of our total health and see what we can do better to ensure we are addressing our mental health needs. For many, that might entail looking at your nutritional, exercise and daily sleep routines. Instead of reaching for that donut, maybe you should think about some healthy snack foods such as fruits or nuts and consider adding something to your normal exercise routine such as a short jog or walk? How many hours of sleep are you getting each night? As the semester gets busier, sleep often becomes a casualty of unsuccessful time management. Most experts recommend at least 7 hours of sleep per night for us. While you may not be able to do all of these things, just hitting some of them will make you more productive and feel better.

Even when doing “all the right things,” sometimes we just need someone to talk with who can listen to our concerns, fears and frustrations. To that end, for our students, we have a very engaged and effective counseling service in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) which I encourage you to access, if needed. There’s no shame in reaching out - it’s no different from asking your PCP why your foot hurts. For our faculty and staff, Human Resources has places for you to turn as well. 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. For all employees not enrolled in our health plan, your health insurance companies will have mental health resources you can access as well.

I suspect the pandemic will continue to throw challenges our way. I can assure you that we will continue to carefully monitor the situation and make necessary changes in how we conduct our business based on CDC recommendations as well as local conditions. As more people get vaccinated, the better things should get over time. In the meantime, it’s important that we continue to look out for each other and do what’s necessary to balance our educational mission with keeping everyone healthy and safe. That means, continuing to wash our hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, not coming to campus or clinics if you’re not feeling well and wearing your facemask when around others, even if you’re fully vaccinated and socially distance when you can. Also, please remember that the deadline for everyone to be fully vaccinated is next Friday, August 13. If you are not completely vaccinated by that time (2 weeks following your last dose of the vaccine), you will be required to submit proof of a negative test prior to coming onto campus.

Enjoy the weekend and please reflect on what I’ve written, especially as it applies to your mental well-being. I hope to see everyone on campus remaining healthy and SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Making a Difference in Healthcare: Week of May 15th, 2020

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

Greetings from sunny Horsham, PA, where we finally are experiencing nice Spring day! Even in the midst of the pandemic, it’s so nice to have beautiful morning to get out and exercise! 

One of silver linings of the pandemic is that we’ve really begun to harness the power of online continuing education.  Last week we did our first virtual Grand Rounds with over 120 people participating. Thanks to Drs. Candice Evernden and Megan Rother for providing two exceptional inaugural lectures and to Dr. Vitek and our ICE department for putting this all together!

Speaking of CE, on Sunday, May 17, 2020 optometrists can earn 6 COPE approved credits by virtually attending our annual Glaucoma Symposium. You can register for the event here.

Last Saturday five students from our Physician Assistant Studies program were a big part of a delivery chain that helped get much needed PPEs from South Carolina to Temple University Hospital. We’re so proud of our student Morgan Lukievics, Allison Tomack, Elizabeth Scott, Marina Brown and Kimberly McCarty, all ’20PA, who answered the call for volunteers from the National Student Response Network (NSRN) and really helped make a difference. Read more about this great effort by our students on our website by clicking here.

In the College of Education and Rehabilitation, our Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program renewed its partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Service Foundation (NEPALSF), which will make $25,000 available to support students in our programs. The result of this partnership will help to increase services to individuals with visual impairments, particularly in the northeast region of Pennsylvania. In other news from the program, Orientation & Mobility student Sherri Hoffert has received this year's AER Blasch O&M Scholarship award, and BLVS adjunct faculty member Shelly Faust-Jones has received the 2020 Penn-Del AER Richard L. Welsh Service Award. 

We continue our salute to Better Hearing and Speech Month with Part II of “Raising Awareness About Communications Disorders”. Read more about that here; and with a Faculty Focus feature on Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, the director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute.

Dr. Bhawan Minhas, director of our on-campus Residency Programs since 2016, has received the Alumni Association’s 2020 “Distinguished Service Award.” This award is presented to a non-alumnus who is closely identified with Salus and who has provided notable service to the University and their profession. I can’t think of any more deserving individual!  Read more about Dr. Minhas here. 

We recently partnered with St. Joseph’s University to offer students, faculty and staff additional opportunities to earn advanced healthcare business certifications, online and in person, without considerable interruption to individual schedules. Read more about how you can leverage this partnership here. 

One of our faculty members recently sent me a copy of a very heartwarming Ted Talk by Eddie Jaku, a 99-year old Holocaust survivor, that’s well worth taking the 11+ minutes to listen to. When we look at all that’s going on around us today, it’s so important to put things into proper perspective and be thankful for what we have, even in the middle of a pandemic. Listening to how this man survived the Holocaust and today claims to be the “happiest man alive” is both inspiring and instructional. If you want to smile and be uplifted, even if just a bit, I encourage you to take  a few minutes and check out Eddie’s story here.

On Monday our volunteer Board of Trustees will be holding their first ever (I believe) virtual quarterly meeting.  Throughout this public health emergency, our Board has been fully engaged ready to offer advice, counsel and support as we’ve made many difficult decisions moving forward. We owe them a debt of thanks for their time and talents as they are also having to deal with the same challenges we are in their own businesses and personal worlds, in addition to their work with Salus.

Finally, next Friday we will celebrate the many accomplishments of almost 300 Salus graduates during our virtual commencement ceremony. Please join us as we honor and pay tribute to our Class of 2020 on May 22^nd at 2 PM right here.

As you prepare for what looks to be a pretty nice weekend, I encourage you to get out and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Remember to wear your face mask if you’re going to be around others or inside a store. Continue with frequent hand-washing and practicing social distancing. While we don’t have a definite date from Governor Wolf yet, I’m encouraged by the decreasing numbers of cases we’ve seen in both the Commonwealth and our county. 

Like Mr. Jaku in the Ted Talk, try to put things into perspective as we work our way through this emergency together as one team, One Salus. We are SALUS STRONG and before we know it, we’ll be back on campus defining our next normal.  

Be safe, be smart, stay healthy!

Mike

Finals are Done: Week of May 10th

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

We finally made it to Friday! Most of our students are done with finals (at least after this morning) and are taking some time to relax before they graduate in a couple of weeks, head off to externships or prepare to begin summer semester.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Jingyun Wang, PhD, associate professor, who attended and presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference last week – congratulations!

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) Centennial Gala on April 27, 2019 marked the official kickoff of Focus on Our Future: The Centennial Campaign. With this campaign, we are committed to raising critical private support to ensure that the impact PCO and Salus has on our students, our region, and our world is even more powerful in the next 100 years. The campaign seeks to raise $5 million in funding to enhance our endowment, increasing support for student scholarships; improve educational facilities; and bolster our community service programs. 

Learn more about the campaign and to donate. 


A few weeks ago in April, faculty and graduates of BLVS attended the Penn Del AER Conference where they represented Salus with both presentations and poster sessions. Fabiana Perla, EdD, COMS, CLVR, chair of the Department of BLVS and Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald, BLVS presented on their exploratory study of rehabilitation services to inmates with visual impairments; and Lachelle Smith, director of the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy program and Emily Vasile, MAT, TVI, MS, CLVT, instructor, presented All Aboard: Discovering a Collaborative Pathway Toward Independent Living – How Parents, TVI, and VRTs Can Chart a Child’s Path to Success.

I had the opportunity to participate in the Temple University Fox School of Business commencement ceremony yesterday, looking at things from a totally different perspective than I’m used to. It was interesting having to sit through the ceremony, listen to the speakers and then enjoy my five seconds of fame as I walked across the stage to get my blank diploma! Apparently, Temple and most bigger schools mail your diplomas to you after the graduation ceremony. Many of you might have experienced that in undergraduate school. This practice really highlights the importance of the work that Dr. Jim Caldwell, Shannon Boss and their staff do in preparation for our commencement ceremonies at Salus. We DO give real diplomas at graduation. They’re meticulously prepared in the right order so the right students get them every time – at least that’s been the case since I’ve been here. There is much to be said for attending a smaller institution like Salus. We sincerely value and cherish each one of our students and feel honored you’ve trusted us with your education. In reflection, I’m glad I went to graduation, “walked” and enjoyed the experience as a student. This whole experience helped me to keep my perspective fresh, especially now as we get ready to launch our next class of Salus graduates in about two weeks.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your well deserved break. Have some fun, spend time with friends and family and recharge your mental batteries!

Mike

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: Week of January 18th

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

Greetings from Elkins Park, where I’ve decided to put my weekly update out a day early knowing that we’re fast approaching a three-day weekend and possible bad weather. 

I want to give a shout out to our Blindness, Low Vision Studies (BLVS) program in our College of Education and Rehabilitation. They just completed a very successful pilot of an online micro-credential course entitled, “Neurological Visual Impairment in Children”.  The course is designed for professionals in blindness and low vision and was the first of its kind for the college. The course was so well-received that the second course offering will begin as soon as February 4.

Melissa Weiler Gerber

Tomorrow, from 1 – 3 PM in S305, Salus Time will be featuring Melissa Weiler Gerber, President and CEO of AccessMatters.  This organization, formerly Family Planning Council, “innovates, empowers, and works to equalize access to sexual and reproductive health care for teens and adults in need.” Their efforts and expertise allow them to engage and empower even the hardest-to-reach populations in our city and help to close the gap between those who have access to sexual and reproductive health and those who do not. Their relationships with a myriad of health care providers and strategic partners allows AccessMatters to identify opportunities and solutions where others do not.  I realize this is on a Friday preceding a three-day weekend, but I would strongly encourage students and faculty to attend this very timely and important presentation.  Let’s see if we can fill the room!  Check out their website for more information.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to educate the community and our patients about a disease that is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

As it is 2019, planning is going full-speed for our Centennial Celebration. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Salus/PCO. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry allows us to recognize the many accomplishments of our institution and our alumni, as well as the significant influence PCO has had on optometry and the greater public health since the very inception of the optometric profession. Invitations for the gala event, to be held on April 27, 2019 at the Hilton at Penn’s Landing, should be going out soon. Please help me to energize alumni across all of our specialties to participate in this landmark event! In the meantime, I highly encourage you to view our centennial website that has a plethora of stories, videos, and images from our storied history.

On Monday, we join the nation in remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  What advice and words of wisdom would Dr. King give us in these times?  What would he motivate us to do on this holiday — and every day?  Surely, he would expect us to use this time to respect others and work to improve those lives that we are committed to care for.  At Salus, we continue to value being more inclusive of all students, staff, faculty and all of our patients and clients, helping to ensure we bring equity and inclusion to all aspects of everything we do. We strive to assure that the work of Martin Luther King Jr. lives on every day in our own endeavors.  Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a university holiday.  However, the day also is a designated day of service — “a day on, not a day off.” I hope you will take this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of the day and find ways to engage with your community on Monday to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

So, as the weekend approaches, please keep watch on the weather, especially Saturday night as temperatures are projected to drop. Enjoy your time off and please take some time to reflect on the meaning of Monday’s remembrance.

Greetings from Budapest: Week of July 16th

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

Greetings from Budapest, Hungary where I’ve been as part of my MBA program. It’s been an interesting week, having the opportunity to learn about how healthcare, law, education, IT and other businesses work in this country. We had the opportunity to visit the U.S. Embassy here where we got their perspective on Hungary’s economy and how Americans are positively viewed here. It was pretty enlightening. A real treat for me has been my early morning runs along the Danube and across the many bridges here. It’s a beautiful city. So enough about me…

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Kathleen Youse, who was elected as the next President of the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS) for a three year term. It’s great to see Salus represented in national organizations and this particular honor speaks to Kathleen's leadership and other professional skills. Congratulations!

I also want to congratulate our Blindness and Low Vision Studies on entering year two of their $75,000 grant partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Service Foundation. This partnership was established to reduce the shortage of education and rehabilitation professionals in blindness and low vision in our Commonwealth. Well done!

I’ll be back in the office on Monday preparing for a busy week that involves welcoming guests from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center at Sun Yat-sen University, China and kicking off our first scenario planning workshop.  

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Stay safe and look out for one another!

Mike