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

Thanking Our Board of Trustees for their Service: Week of September 15, 2023

 

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

Good morning from London, England where I am about to jump on a plane back to Philadelphia from the President’s Conclave at Oxford University, a rigorous and informative meeting of college presidents focused on key challenges facing higher education and novel solutions. Dr. Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University, and I were invited to discuss our institutions’ experience with mergers. His university is 5-years post-merger with St. Patricks University in Dublin. I look forward to inviting President Keogh to Salus in the near future to share with you his experience. I've attached a few photos from Oxford for your viewing pleasure.

In addition to this, here are some things you might be interested in:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 2023 Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. We are excited to honor Susan Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, FAAO — founder of LOFK — with the Lighthouse Award, which recognizes beacons of light and strength in the community in which they live, work and serve above and beyond their occupations. Click here to order your tickets.

NEW CHER INTERIM DEAN: Congratulations to Lauren Sponseller, PhD ‘18, OTD, MSOTR/L, MEd, CLA, chair of the Occupational Therapy (OT) department at Salus University, who was recently named interim dean of the University’s College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER). Click here to read more about Dr. Sponseller’s new responsibilities.

FORWARD THINKING: When Alfred Mwamba, AuD ‘14, graduated from Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), he became the first and only audiologist in his home country of Zambia, southern Africa. Since then, Dr. Mwamba has trained 83 people serving in 17 countries across Africa in hearing healthcare services. Read more here about Dr. Mwamba’s effort.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We are preparing to welcome our all-volunteer Board of Trustees on campus Sunday night for a social in our new cafeteria spaces followed by our quarterly board meeting on Monday. These 21 individuals have given their time, knowledge, professional experiences, and philanthropy over the course of their tenure on our board. Some members have been with us for almost 30 years, a remarkable commitment.

I am deeply grateful for their collective leadership and service, especially as together, we worked tirelessly to ensure the sustainability and growth of all of our stellar programs with our impending merger with Drexel. We would not be here without their insights, guidance and dedication. If you have the opportunity to express your thanks as a member of our Salus community, I encourage you to do so.

As you prepare for the weekend, it appears we’ve dodged Hurricane Lee but please keep those in its path in your thoughts and prayers. When you’re out and about, please remember that Covid cases are still rising in our area so if you are going to be around crowds, masking might be prudent. Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Exercising Your Right To Vote To Preserve Our Democracy: Week of October 21, 2022

 

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

Good morning! It’s a beautiful, cool Fall morning in Elkins Park where I hope everyone is as energized as I am! With our commencement ceremony in the rearview mirror, our planning for the Spring is underway with lots to do between now and then! Planning for the renovation of the first floor, south building is nearly complete. I can’t wait for construction to begin! Here are some other items of interest:

A DAY OF PRIDE: Eighty-eight graduates from our Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) and the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) received master’s and doctorate degrees at our 125th commencement ceremony last week. Click here to read more about the special day.

‘COVID CLASS’ GETS ITS LONG WHITE COATS: The 47 students in the Salus Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Class of 2022 walked into the Hafter Center for their Long White Coat ceremony Oct. 12 to the strains of “Celebration,” the 1978 hit by Kool and the Gang. The “COVID Class” as it was known was ready to finally celebrate. Click here for more about the ceremony.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY: Salus student Weilong Li ‘23PA understands his impact on future generations of Physician Assistants (PA) and is using his personal platform to advance the PA profession. Read more about his efforts here.

CLASS OF 2022-23 RESIDENT: Since she was little, Allison Raff, OD ‘22, ’23 Resident, knew she wanted to be a doctor. While an undergrad student at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, she learned about different professions and decided she wanted to have a specialty. Now she’s one of our residents. Read more about Dr. Raff’s journey here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Exercising our right and responsibility to vote is core to a functional democracy, and especially critical now, as a woman’s right to choose, health equity, gun control, economic stability, national defense and other consequential issues are hotly debated. Every one of the professions we train at Salus is statutorily regulated. Because of this, it is extremely important to understand where candidates stand on scope of practice issues, as well as all the other issues, no matter what profession you serve.

As we approach election day, I anticipate the ads we see will become more frequent and negative. I strongly encourage you to seek out multiple, reliable, unbiased sources of information when deciding for whom to vote. The U.S. government has a helpful guide with resources for making informed choices. Likewise, candidate voting records can predict how candidates will vote in the future. Social media posts tend to represent opinions rather than facts. I try to keep this in mind and verify facts using multiple sources before taking a position.

If you have not yet registered to vote, it’s not too late. In Pennsylvania, the deadline to register to vote is October 24th. If you decide to vote by mail or require an absentee ballot, it must be requested by November 1st and received by November 8th in order for it to be counted.

As you prepare for the weekend, get out and enjoy the Fall colors, which should be peaking around here. If you haven’t yet gotten your COVID bivariant booster and Flu shot, please get those scheduled as soon as you can. I’d like to ensure that we’re fully protected as we get closer to the holidays. Stay safe, remain healthy and stay SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Salus New Year Message: Week of January 1st, 2021

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

As we prepare to thankfully leave 2020 in our rearview mirrors and welcome in 2021, I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire university community for your continued support, indefatigable resiliency and compliance with our Salus Safety Strategy which has allowed us to effectively provide our world-class programs, overcoming significant challenges along the way. You all rock!

Reflecting upon 2020, with its many challenges, it has been a year of intense focus, clarity and noteworthy achievements, to include the completion of our Standardized Patient Simulation Laboratory; our Occupational Therapy Program received a 10-year reaccreditation; we celebrated milestone professional recognition for several of our faculty and staff members; we recognized 4 outstanding faculty members with the Presidential Medal of Honor; several of our professions have already achieved or are on the road to achieving 100% national board pass rates; we welcomed our new Special Assistant for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams; we welcomed our new Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, Dr. Jim Konopack; we wished Mr. Bill Brichta a fond farewell as he began his retirement and welcomed Ms. Regina Scriven as our new Vice President, Technology and Learning Resources and we recently received a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the state to help fund our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program.

While 2021 promises to be much brighter than 2020, we still have a ways to go before we approach any semblance of what we would consider normal. History reminds us that in the midst of a crisis, things might actually get worse before they get better. For example, in late 1944, following the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, it seemed as if the Second World War was all but over. On Dec. 16, with the onset of winter, the German army launched a counteroffensive that was intended to cut through the Allied forces in a manner that would turn the tide of the war in Hitler's favor. Thousands were killed or wounded. The battle that ensued is known historically as the Battle of the Bulge. The U.S. Army ultimately beat back the German offensive, but with great sacrifice, and continued their drive toward Berlin, thus helping to end World War II.

We can draw some parallels from this to what we’re experiencing today. While there are now several vaccines approved for COVID-19 around the world, experts are still predicting a rather grim winter for our country, given the current number of infections and hospitalizations. Thus, it’s imperative that we continue our diligence with wearing face masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing. While these measures are certainly effective, as you know, we have also implemented our “Return to Learn” testing program for all students and clinical faculty returning to campus for scheduled instruction. To date, over 500 people have signed up for their tests and I’m sure others are preparing to do that this week. Remember, you cannot return to campus for your scheduled instruction unless you have evidence of a negative test. Additionally, throughout the semester we will be offering testing solutions to our students returning to campus from their externship, clerkship and other clinical rotations.

There is light at the end of the tunnel as we look towards 2021. We will emerge from this public health emergency stronger, smarter and better prepared for the next time we’re confronted with any emergency that comes our way. We are better healthcare providers, with refined critical thinking skills. 

My staff and I are working hard to ensure we receive the vaccine along with other healthcare professionals at the appropriate time. As you know, we’ve applied to become a COVID-19 vaccine closed Point of Dispensing (POD) that will help to ensure all of us, including our immediate family members, are vaccinated efficiently. Hopefully, that will be approved shortly.

Needless to say, 2020 has been a most challenging year for us all; probably the most in our school’s 100-year history. Personally, I can’t wait to see our classrooms and labs full of students and faculty and be able to show up on campus and not wear a mask and douse my hands with hand sanitizer. But, that will all have to wait. Looking ahead, 2021 does promise to be a much brighter and exciting year. As vaccines become more ubiquitous, and people receive them, things will improve quickly. Salus is a great university because of the students, faculty, staff and volunteer board members that bring our university to life. That has never been more apparent to anyone looking at us than this year. I look forward to working with each and every one of you as we prepare for an exciting 2021 and position ourselves for another year of great accomplishments, growth and successes.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year. Stay safe, stay healthy and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Back on Campus: Week of June 19th, 2020

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where more students and faculty have been on campus to do important clinical lab work. Next week we’re anticipating even more activity on campus, which will be a very welcome sight!

When people finally get to campus, they’ll be greeted by a smiling (although you won’t see the smile due to the mask they’ll be wearing) security guard armed with a digital, non-contact thermometer. Hopefully, everyone has already filled out the “Sign On” questionnaire to help expedite entrance into campus buildings. When in the building I want to remind everyone of the importance of maintaining at least 6-foot physical distancing from each other (even though the urge will be there not to do this) and wearing your mask that covers both your mouth and nose. I’m linking an article that references a study reinforcing the effectiveness of face masks here. Of note, in each scenario that was evaluated, routine face mask use by 50% or more of the population reduced COVID-19 spread to an R of less than 1.0, resulting in flattening future disease waves. 

One of the other important facets of ensuring everyone’s safety is having access to reliable testing. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and would like to speak to a health care provider, we have arranged for you to be able to do so through Jefferson Health’s JeffConnect. You can either download the app from the App Store (Apple) or on Google Play (android) or access it from your web browser at JeffConnect. After your register, you can schedule a telehealth appointment. If warranted, the Jefferson provider will arrange for you to be tested at one of Jefferson’s mobile test sites. Subject to applicable co-pays, the health insurance coverage (students, faculty and staff) offered by Salus University covers the telehealth visit and any ordered testing. If you maintain other health insurance coverage, please check with your carrier.    

Our Speech-Language Institute is providing cutting edge telehealth to their clients. In order to serve as many clients as possible this summer, driven by limitations caused by the pandemic, the Speech-Language Institute (SLI) opened its virtual doors May 26 to established clients, both pediatric and adult, via telehealth appointments. SLI clients and graduate students, virtually supervised by SLI's Clinical Educators and Faculty, are using Blink Session to provide all therapy services. Blink Session is a HIPAA compliant, secure telepractice platform, able to connect clients to services while housing a variety of virtual materials for clients and students. Over the past month, we have scheduled close to 200 sessions, with clients logging on and receiving treatment for more than 90 percent of those 200 appointments. 

 

The Faculty Focus story this week is on Andrew Meagher, OD ‘15, Resident ‘16, FAAO, PCO assistant professor and Glaucoma Fellow at The Eye Institute (TEI). Check out what skill Dr. Meagher has that has come in handy during quarantine. Read more about Andrew here. 

 

While in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement for continued social distancing remains an important prevention tool, the Salus Running Club has once again emerged to provide an outlet for runners, from beginners to experienced ones. Check them out here.

 

Earlier this morning, we transitioned our current website to include the new College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) structure. The main change will be the cohesion of the two current colleges into one (program pages under the new college will essentially stay the same). We wanted to have this complete before the start of the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Yesterday, I asked Maura Keenan, our VP for Human Resources, to inform our University community that we’ve begun the search process for a Special Assistant for Diversity and Inclusion who will report directly to me. As a University Community it’s imperative that we make a commitment to learn, act and influence others as we address racial injustice and inequities personally, professionally and societally. Having a subject matter expert on staff will help us to successfully incorporate racial equality, health inequity, multiculturalism and inclusion into each of our program’s curricula in a meaningful, sustainable way. As we get started down this journey, I am very interested in what people are reading to learn more about Black and cultural oppression in our society. I’ve started reading “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander. Let’s post what we’re doing on our Salus Facebook page. That way we can each share experiences and observations.

Today is the first anniversary of Pennsylvania declaring June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day in Pennsylvania. Last year, on June 19, 2019, Governor Wolf signed legislation that designates June 19 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day” in Pennsylvania. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and read General Order #3, the proclamation freeing all slaves.

On the subject of freedom and equality, earlier this week the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal law prohibits employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The court said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate because of a person's sex, among other factors, also covers sexual orientation and transgender status. 

Additionally, yesterday the Court blocked an attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that protects hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation. That’s great news for any current or prospective students who may fall into this category.

The next Grand Rounds at The Eye Institute (TEI) is titled “When Bad Retinas Go Good,” Friday, June 26, presented by Dr. Mark Miriello, PCO instructor. For more information about the program, click here.

As you prepare for the weekend ahead, please remember that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Watching the news and listening to some of the politicians, one might think that we’ve moved beyond the pandemic, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Please continue to practice social/physical distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a face mask when around others. Be safe, be smart and continue to be SALUS STRONG!

Mike