Salus Weekly Update: Week of July 21, 2023

 

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

Good morning as we begin this soggy July day in Elkins Park. It’s been another busy week on campus with construction of the first floor of the south building progressing, as the outdoor patio area is starting to take shape (see photos below). This week we also congratulate our students from Taiwan as they complete audiology rotations on campus and prepare to head home. Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

SEP OFF AND RUNNING: Nine students interested in pursuing a career in optometry are participating in the University’s Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), which kicked off July 10, 2023. Click here to read more about their initial thoughts on the program.

NEW ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT: When Zachary Saunders, MSOT ‘17, was a student at Salus, he received the Unsung Hero and Spirit of Salus Award as well as the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association scholarship. After graduation, he joined the Alumni Association board to stay connected with Salus. And now, he’s stepped up to be the alumni board president, the first OT graduate to take the position. Read more about Zac here.

STAYING COMPETITIVE: Salus University’s Office of Admissions recently held a webinar on “Crafting A Competitive Application: Ways to Become a Qualified Applicant,” which will help prospective students through this process. For details, click here.

DICE BECOMES GISP: The department formerly known as DICE will now be called GISP, the Division of Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming within the Office of Academic Affairs. This renaming is also a repositioning of the program to provide institutional housing for and oversight of Interprofessional Education and Practice, new credentialing and micro-credentialing opportunities, institutional partnerships, and the expansion of our international programs. We are grateful to Dr. Vitek, Dr. Hanson and the DICE (now GISP) team for their leadership and foresight.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s been a few weeks since the Salus-Drexel signing ceremony celebrating our forthcoming merger, pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and specialized accreditors. I’m excited as we begin the necessary steps in the integration process. I wanted to take this opportunity to keep you apprised of our integration efforts to date.

Drexel President John Fry and I met last evening to discuss how the Integration Council will be set up to ensure we have administrative oversight of all of the academic, operational and regulatory processes that will be needed going forward. We will continue to keep everyone informed as we formalize the details.

As you can imagine, combining robust academic programs, bustling clinics, and high performing administrative units is a complex undertaking that is going to take time, patience and compromise. Our academic leaders have been in communication with MSCHE, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the United States Department of Education and specialized accreditors to ensure that our combined institution will be in compliance with all accreditation standards and government regulations – the key condition of the merger.

In the coming months, we look forward to building relationships among faculty and staff across all our respective disciplines and departments. I also look forward to continuing university-wide discussions with students, faculty, staff and alumni as our integration efforts get up to full speed. I will continue small group meetings to reach you directly and to answer any questions you may have.

As you prepare for the weekend, please remember to stay hydrated, use plenty of sunscreen when outdoors and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Embracing Change: Week of April 28, 2023

 

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

Good morning on a cloudy Friday in Elkins Park. Looks like we’re in for a rainy weekend here! It’s been another busy week on campus with students preparing for final exams and heading off to clinical rotations. We’ve also been meeting with small groups of faculty and staff to discuss our potential affiliation with Drexel. We greatly appreciate everyone’s questions and comments.

Here are other items that may be of interest:

SLP CAPSTONES: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students were loud and proud presenting their capstone projects recently in the Hafter Student Community Center. After a year of research, our SLP graduate students presented their collaborative group projects to faculty, staff, family and friends. Read more here.

GENE THERAPY BREAKTHROUGH: Alexander Dizhoor, PhD, Hafter Family Chair in Pharmacology and Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) professor, participated in an important research study on gene therapy, and its effectiveness in treating a rare form of congenital GUCY2D blindness. His recent work was published in the October issue of iScience, the National Library of Medicine within the National Center for Biotechnology Information and SciTechDaily. Click here to read more.

DR. CATANIA UPDATES BOOK: The book “Primary Care of the Anterior Segment” by Louis Catania, OD ‘69, FAAO, DSc, has become an iconic textbook in eye care over many years. And now, it’s been updated with a third eponym edition. To read more about Dr. Catania’s book, click here.

COHORT PREPARES FOR LAB: In our latest podcast, students from the seventh cohort of the Master of Science in Clinical Optometry international program share why they chose Salus and what they hope to get out of their time here. Click here for details.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of the past few months, I have experienced a number of personal losses: a beloved family member, the wife of a dear friend and mentor, and a close friend’s father. These events, combined with a recent “big” birthday, remind me just how fragile and short life is, and also how important it is to live every day like it is my last -- embracing the things and people I serve and love with a renewed sense of purpose and intention.

To that end, in a few short weeks, I am trying my first sprint triathlon since having back surgery in December. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines and observe. Training for this has felt creative and energizing. It has helped me focus on something proactive, even as I grieve. I look forward to testing my physical and mental readiness.

In a similar vein, I feel even more committed to embracing positive change and pursuing the things through which our Salus community can have the greatest impact. The affiliation we are currently exploring with Drexel University is a prime example. Not only am I excited about what this can mean for our students, faculty and alumni, but also for our patients and the broader community whom we serve. The sky is the limit -- in the research we could be doing collaboratively, the leading-edge training we could offer to emerging and continuing professionals, the interprofessional care we could provide to help our patients thrive. This is a vital step toward fulfilling Salus’ mission: advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

If there is one thing I know for sure, it is what makes Salus special: our people. The creativity, curiosity, energy and expertise that you bring to every interaction animates our mission. As we navigate through important, necessary discussions, your future welfare and professional growth are foremost in my thoughts and actions.

What I’ve learned over time is this: loss and change are inevitable. But with that, we have a choice in how to respond and move forward.

The journey we may be taking with Drexel is exciting and limitless, but not without inevitable challenges that can be surmounted with teamwork, transparency and vision. I invite you to join me in leaning into change and in envisioning together what might be possible. As I continue to meet with small groups of our Salus community over the next few weeks, please reach out if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

- Mike

Addressing Gun Violence: Week of March 31, 2023

 

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

Good morning on a crisp, spring day from our Elkins Park Campus. Unfortunately, we began this week with the senseless loss of more lives to gun violence at a small Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the students and staff at The Covenant School.

To our PCO students completing Part I of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam and others working on practicals and preparing for finals ahead of Spring Break next week, wishing you much rest over the break. More on both subjects in my final thoughts.

Here are some other items of interest:

SEPCHE HONORS CONFERENCE: Last Saturday we were privileged to host the annual Honors Conference of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) consortium. Students from Arcadia University, Chestnut Hill College, Holy Family University, Neumann University and Rosemont College presented original, scholarly work, voice and visual art presentations to over 130 participants. What an exciting, transformative learning experience it was to collectively enjoy such impressive and talented work!

A RETURN TO IN-PERSON CE EVENTS: On Sunday we welcomed our first in-person Continuing Education event on campus since the pandemic began. Special thanks to Dr. Melissa Vitek and our DICE staff for organizing “Dynamic Duos” featuring Drs. Navpreet and Jaspreet Hehar, Dr. Carlo Pelino, Dr. Mohammad Rafieetary, Dr. Erin Draper and Dr. Deanna Yoder-Black. Over 100 OD’s attended this exceptional professional development.

DECADE OF SUCCESS: Although the Biomedicine program at Salus University officially started in late 2012 — recently marking its 10th anniversary — the foundation for the program was underway a few years earlier. Read more about how it evolved and the continued success it has enjoyed by clicking here. 

JOURNEY OF LEARNING: Seven months into her affiliated residency through the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and every day has been a learning experience for Kelsi Jones, OD, ’23 Resident. Read more about Dr. Jones’ journey here.

FROM MUSIC TO AUDIOLOGY: The path Michael Davenport, AuD ‘09, took to becoming an audiologist actually started with music. Find out how Dr. Davenport became a staff audiologist for the Veterans Administration for the past 26 years by clicking here.

CAPSTONE INFLUENCE: It was during a clinical rotation at a geriatrics practice that Lauren Bunnell, MMS ‘22, came up with the topic for her capstone project, inspired by her preceptor’s lecture on different types of dementia. Read more about Lauren’s project here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists firearm-related injuries as the leading cause of death in persons 1 – 19 years of age, surpassing motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for this cohort

This failure to protect youth from this preventable cause of death only accentuates the magnitude of the public health emergency facing our country. Among 64 high-income countries and territories, according to the Institute for Health Data and Evaluation at the University of Washington, the United States ranks eighth out of 64 for homicides by firearm (age-adjusted). Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, two US territories, rank first and third on that list. 

In 2021, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recorded 48,953 firearm fatalities, the highest since the CDC began tracking these in 1981. Of these deaths, 85.8% of fatalities were male and 14.2% female. 25.8% of the fatalities were Black, non-Hispanic; 10.4% Hispanic; 60.5% White, non-Hispanic individuals. Of note, firearm suicide rates were highest among White non-Hispanic men aged 80 – 84 years. In 2021, rates of firearm homicides among Black individuals were 22.5 times higher than the year before. (Trends and Disparities in Firearm Fatalities in the United States, 1990 – 2021, JAMA, Public Health, 29 November 2022).

It is long past time for legislators and leaders to act in a non-partisan manner to help curtail this public health crisis. Recognizing that there is no single or easy solution to this epidemic, numerous studies highlight promising policies to reduce gun violence. Research published in JAMA (Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review, January 2017) demonstrates an association between laws strengthening background checks or requiring permits to purchase firearms with reductions in rates of firearm homicides.

Actively addressing the social determinants of health at a local and national level, curtailing the relatively easy access to certain types of firearms, such as military assault-style weapons, and continuing to raise the awareness of this epidemic are key to beginning to solve the issue.

As current and future health care providers, we have responsibility to continue to call attention to this epidemic to our local and federal representatives and advocate for increased resources that can address behavioral health issues, stronger gun control laws, including universal background checks prior to all gun sales, a limit on magazine capacities and a ban of military assault-style weapons.

The more we can learn about this epidemic, the more prepared we will be to help to curtail it.

For further information, I suggest you check out the following:

• CDC’s Gun Violence Prevention website 

• Montgomery County Gun Violence Prevention Page 

• National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform 

I know I am not alone in feeling weary and heartbroken over the loss of so many to gun violence. And while it is easy to feel overwhelmed, knowledge and action are effective coping strategies. As you prepare for the weekend and a well-deserved Spring Break, consider what steps you will take as a citizen and neighbor, practitioner and professional, to better understand and address this public health crisis.

I also hope you will take the time to disengage from your normal work and study routines and find time to connect with nature, get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring colors. I look forward to seeing many of you upon your return in a week. For those celebrating Passover and Easter next week, I wish you a blessed and restful holiday.

In the meantime, stay safe, look out for one another and enjoy your time off so you can return SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Shaping the future Delivery of Integrated Healthcare and Healthcare Education: Week of March 24, 2023

 

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

Good morning from Chicago where I have been attending the annual meeting of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) along with John Gaal and Chaitali Baviskar. As always, the meeting attracts world-class experts from around the country addressing the most pressing issues affecting healthcare delivery in our country. I am energized by the wealth and exchange of ideas to improve what we do in patient care and education. In my final thoughts, I’ll share a little of what I learned here, particularly from remarks given by keynote speaker Dr. Fareed Zakaria, host of GPS for CNN Worldwide.

First, let me share some exciting happenings around campus:

LIVING THE DREAM: Maura Waldner, MMS ‘22, enrolled in the Salus University Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program with the ultimate goal of working in dermatology. Less than three months after graduation, she is living her dream. Click here to read more about her professional journey.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: A big fan of Greek mythology, Sarah Gosnell, MS ‘19, suspected Salus University might be a good fit. Salus is named for the Roman goddess of safety and well-being (welfare, health and prosperity). So, it was no surprise she ended up at Salus pursuing her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Read more by clicking here.

DYNAMIC DUOS EVENT: The Department of Continuing Education (DICE) at Salus University will be hosting its annual Dynamic Duos event on Sunday, March 26. This continuing education program is a synchronous, in-person event at our Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. The program, COPE accredited for six continuing education credits, is designed to offer optometrists a comprehensive review of conditions impacting patient health and well-being. For more information on the event’s topics and to register, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In our keynote session “What it Takes to Thrive Amid the Forces in Society, Economy and Culture that are Creating the Future,” Dr. Fareed Zakaria posited that our society is being fundamentally altered by the speed of technology development, nearly instantaneous communications though social media, and other means of information dissemination, and that these developments are playing a contributing role in the polarization of society. He observed that 20 years ago, most Americans received their news from 3 television networks. The content would generally be the same on each network, closely regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Today, there are literally hundreds of ways people get their news online, with little scrutiny of accuracy, enabling viewers and listeners to choose news that aligns with their own opinions. That social media can amplify any viewpoint, irrespective of evidence or scrutiny, has led to proliferation of widespread misinformation. We saw many examples of this throughout the pandemic as we debated the efficacy of masking and safety of vaccines.

At the same time, the economy has been affected by many of these changes. Companies, such as Amazon and Facebook have leveraged these changes and have become outsized influencers in how we shop and communicate every day. Their impact on our culture and its evolution over time is significant and enduring.

This has direct implications for the way we communicate with our future patients and clients, and importantly, how they expect to communicate with us. Both are undergoing rapid change. The way we teach and prepare our graduates for their professions must also adapt to these forces.

And this is where things get really exciting. Teaching what have historically been lock-step programs in a more flexible, hybrid fashion; building on-ramps and off-ramps for students who work and raise families while pursuing training; enables us to prepare more graduates to address the growing need and demand for healthcare professionals. Embracing interprofessional education in a way not previously done – providing micro-credentials for students throughout their professional development, better prepares our students to learn continuously -- a habit requisite for excellence in comprehensive, integrated patient care. Expanding telemedicine across all our professions and learning to provide definitive care in more cost-effective ways improves access to better healthcare and improved health outcomes.

As we let go of old habits and beliefs, we can be an active contributor in shaping the future delivery of integrated healthcare and healthcare education. The changes we make forward our mission: advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

As you prepare for the upcoming weekend think about what changes you can make to be an active contributor in the future delivery of integrated healthcare. For those observing Ramadan, I wish you an easy and restorative fast. To all, please continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Respecting Each Other's Cultures and Backgrounds: Week of November 18, 2022

 

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

Greetings from Israel, where Dr. Melissa Vitek and I are wrapping up a trip where we have been providing lectures and workshops to optometry students at Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with its distinguished president, Professor Bertold Fridlender, and to compare notes on the impact of the pandemic on higher education in both Israel and the United States. We have much in common!

Last weekend, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our Looking Out For Kids fundraiser at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia honoring Lighthouse Award Leader Kovin Naidoo. Special thanks to NBC10 reporter Johnny Archer, Jacquie Patterson, Alexis Abate, Dr. Brandy Scombordi, Dr. Juliana Mosley Williams, our sponsors, faculty, staff, friends and family for creating together such an outstanding event. My personal thanks for your commitment and contributions – together we raised over $95,000 in vision and audiology support for children across the Philadelphia region! To read more about the evening, click here.

While we’ve been away, here are some other “goings on” at Salus: 

MSCO ADVENTURE: Salus Master of Science in Clinical Optometry (MSCO) 2023 international students spent a recent autumn morning hiking along the Wissahickon Park trails with other international students from Drexel University’s English Language Center (ELC). A group of more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff from both universities celebrated the changing colors of the leaves, traversed shallow creeks and learned a bit about the history of the Wissahickon Valley in Northwestern Philadelphia. Read more about their adventure here.

THE ART OF OBSERVATION: A common communication capability came in quite handy recently when a group of 12 Salus PA students visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to participate in a program called “The Art of Observation.” Click here to read more.

ANOTHER O&P ‘FIRST’: Hearing the words “first pour” for the first time might initially conjure up images of an after-work happy hour at a local watering hole. But for students in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) cohort at Salus University, “first pour” means something completely different in an academic context. Click here to learn more.

SALUS SOIREE: The Campus Activities Committee is hosting the 2022 Salus Soiree, "A Vivid Dream,” tonight at the Please Touch Museum from 8 to 11 p.m.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of my career, I have been deeply privileged to be able to travel and work in places all over the world. Across every culture and country, I am struck by the overwhelming decency, respect and dignity of the people I meet wherever I go.

At Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem, I was thrilled to be invited to lecture to a first-year optometry class of Arab, Israeli and Palestinian students. It was heartening to experience students’ genuine respect and appreciation of each other effectively bridging what could easily be fraught cultural, language and political differences. There’s a lesson here for all of us: it takes effort, time, skills and practice to treat each other with mutual respect, find common goals, exercise tolerance and open-mindedness, and it is achievable.

I am inspired by and grateful for the students, faculty and staff with whom I spent time with at Hadassah. It left me recommitted to the work we do at Salus to model for our patients, colleagues and students respect, collaboration, compassion and appreciation -- essential relational skills that build communities and strengthen societies.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to find time to relax and unwind. The weather is turning a bit chilly, so when you do go out and about, be prepared for that. If you have not yet received your flu or Covid vaccine, please put that on your “to do” list as no one wants to see an uptic on either as we approach the holidays. To make it easier, we will have another booster event at Elkins Park on December 7 from 10:30 am-2:30pm in the gym. Look for the forthcoming email reminder. As we approach the holidays, I want everyone to be able to enjoy them!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, if I don’t have a chance to see you this coming week. Be safe, remain healthy and stay SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

The Imperative of Exercising Your Right to Vote: Week of October 28, 2022

 

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

Greetings from sunny San Diego where I have been attending the annual meetings of the Armed Forces Optometric Society and American Academy of Optometry. It’s been great seeing colleagues and friends and watching our faculty shine in the lecture halls of the convention center. In addition to what’s been happening here, things on campus have been buzzing:

ARCHER TO HOST LOFK EVENT: We are thrilled that Johnny Archer, reporter and anchor for NBC10, will host for our annual “Looking Out for Kids” charity fundraiser November 12, 2022, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Archer attended Downingtown High School and Delaware County Community College. He received his bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media from Temple University. Read more here.

VISIONING THE FUTURE: Congratulations to PCO student Makayla Cain, PBHS ‘21, ‘26OD, who participated in our Post-Baccalaureate in Health Science and Summer Enrichment Programs (SEP)! She was recently accepted into the National Optometric Association’s (NOA) Visioning the Future program which advances the professional and career development of African American students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Click here to read more.

DIWALI CELEBRATION: Salus University marked the start of Diwali, known as the five-day Festival of Lights, which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains globally, with an on-campus celebration Oct. 24, 2002. Students, faculty and staff gathered on the Elkins Park campus, to celebrate Diwali, which translated means "rows of lighted lamps." Salus MSCO student, Pragna Saripudi ‘23OD, shared her culture and experience by making a presentation on Diwali.

CPPD UPDATE: A few items from the Center for Personal and Professional Development to consider: CPPD's Jana Walker will offer a six-week trauma informed yoga class over Zoom beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. All levels are welcome. Contact CPPD for Zoom meeting and pass code; Dr. Cristina Laracuente's schedule will change effective Nov. 1, 2022. She will be available in person on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and virtually on Thursdays from 1 to 8 p.m. Updated hours for the entire CPPD team can always be found here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Whenever I visit San Diego, I am reminded of the time when I served as Director of the Navy Medical Service Corps (MSC), leading allied health sciences and hospital administration specialties. During that time, two of our MSC officers were killed in the line of duty while serving in Afghanistan. One of those officers, Lieutenant Florence Choe, sought career advice from me during a brief meeting. I suggested it would be beneficial to her career to deploy, which she did. Lieutenant Choe and her fellow Navy officer were killed in a “blue on blue” attack when an Afghan soldier opened fire on them while they were jogging during that deployment. She was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans Military Cemetery, overlooking the Pacific (see below). The loss remains fresh in my mind and is deeply poignant.

Standing graveside on Wednesday, I couldn’t help but think about the ultimate sacrifice that she and so many have made to preserve democracy here and abroad. The freedoms we take for granted have been paid for multiple times over with the lives of generations of Americans.

As we approach Election Day on November 8th, prepare to exercise a core tenet of our democracy: vote for candidates who closely align with your values and beliefs. To ignore this responsibility minimizes the sacrifices of Lieutenant Choe and all who gave their lives so we and others can be free.

As you prepare to vote, please think about the issues that directly impact our freedoms including: the freedom for all to vote, supports the elimination of racism, and respects everyone’s individual rights. All these issues impact our shared commitment to serve our patients and equal access to high quality healthcare and healthcare choices.

As you prepare for the weekend and Election Day the following week, please keep those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in your thoughts and prayers. Stay safe, get your Covid booster and flu vaccine, if you already haven’t and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Remembering Those We've Lost During the Pandemic: Week of May 13th, 2022

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

Good morning on a gray, temperate morning from Washington, DC, where I am attending a meeting of the Society of Federal Health Professionals as a member of their Board of Trustees. Around Salus, things are beginning to wind down as many of you have completed finals and practicals and are preparing for externships, clinical rotations, or graduation. Either way, it’s an exciting time!

This week brings one, particular story to highlight:

DICE HOSTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Our Department of International and Continuing Education is excited to host our sixth cohort of students in our MSc Clinical Optometry with an Advanced Studies certificate degree program. Our MSc students are participating in controlled patient care sessions and hands-on Advanced Studies workshops. Content areas include Binocular Vision and Vision Therapy, Contact Lens, and Vision Impairment and Rehabilitation. When complete, we look forward to celebrating with them Spring Commencement.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday, our nation reached a million, tragic deaths from COVID-19. Today’s message honors the memory of our fellow Americans and the families and communities whom they have left behind.

On Thursday, I had the privilege of attending a lecture by Dr. Anthony Fauci at the Philadelphia College of Physicians. I’d like to share some of what I learned with you. First and foremost, Dr. Fauci suggests we will be living with COVID for many years. Over time, as new vaccines and treatments become available, this disease will be something we manage, rather than eliminate. Evidence is compelling: vaccines have proven to be the #1 tool in reducing hospitalizations and death. By some estimates, the deaths of 234,000 Americans could have been prevented had they been vaccinated. 

Fauci also highlighted vaccine inequity. The disparity between vaccine rates in high income, developed countries (approaching 70% and higher) compared with less developed nations (averaging about 15%) is stark, and also, preventable. Until developed countries provide greater access to vaccines, we will continue to see variants with the potential to evade current immunity.

On the treatment side, several promising drugs are very effective antivirals and adjunctive treatments. All of these will continue to decrease death rates from COVID.

Dr. Fauci, along with many experts, believes that COVID will likely become more like the seasonal flu. Our toolbox has grown since 2020: vaccines are safe and extremely effective; new treatment options are also very safe and appear to work well. As healthcare providers, we need to know as much as we can about COVID, how to prevent it, and how to treat it, if necessary.

In full disclosure, I recently won the “COVID lottery” and firmly believe that if I was not fully vaccinated and boosted, I would have suffered a more serious case. I am grateful to have gotten away with a two-day head cold.

As we prepare for the weekend, let’s remember and honor the memory of our loved ones and fellow Americans whose lives have been lost to this terrible pandemic. We can all do more to prevent future deaths both here and abroad.

Be smart, be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Combating the Effects of Stress and Burnout: Week of January 21st, 2022

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

Good morning on a blustery, cold morning in Elkins Park. I begin this update with sadness.

This week, we mourn the loss of Dr. Anastasia Rose Goerl, PCO class of 2021, who lost her hard-fought and brave battle with cancer. Please join me and the entire Salus family in keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers. You can read more about Annie’s very accomplished life here.

Other things happening around campus that might be of interest to you:

OT PAJAMA DAY: Occupational Therapy students recently participated in a “Pajama Day,” where they came to school in their pajamas as a way to feel more comfortable while trying to relieve some stress. Read more here.

DICE POTLUCK: The Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE) recent potluck event gave international students a chance to meet face-to-face. Read details of the event here.

NEWEST ART EXHIBIT: Check out the newest exhibit titled “The Light We See” at the D’Arrigo Family Gallery in the University’s Hafter Student Community Center. Click here for details.

CAPSTONE LINK: Salus PA grad Kaitlyn Carmo, MMS ‘21, draws a connection between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid disease in her capstone project. Read more here.

BOOSTER CLINIC: A reminder that Sun Ray Drugs is holding a booster clinic today at TEI from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, January 28, 2022 at The Hafter Center, Elkins Park Campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family members are welcome. Bring your vaccine card with both dates/doses; photo ID and insurance information, if applicable.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The last two years have been poignant reminders that life is fragile and much too short. As healthcare providers, offering respect, thanks, care and kindness to one another are central to who we are and what we do. I am so very thankful to be part of our Salus community where we strive to personify these qualities every day.

As we continue to navigate through the pandemic, these skills become even more important in combating the effects of stress and burnout. The good news is that the Omicron variant is waning both nationally and regionally. Montgomery County cases, while still relatively high, are significantly lower than last week. This is encouraging! Until cases significantly decrease, we will stay our current course, which has proven successful.

As you prepare for this upcoming cold weekend, try to relax, get outside and take some time or yourself. I will be catching some football match-ups on TV. While I’m among many disappointed Eagles fans, I’ll be rooting for the Packers as they take on the 49ers on Saturday!

Whether you get together to watch a game or just hang out, please continue to mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. What you do off campus really does affect all of us on campus.

And to Dr. Goerl’s family, our students, faculty and all of us who share the loss of Annie, we are keeping you close in our thoughts and prayers. Together we are SALUS STRONG.

Mike

Update Addendum: Week of May 8th, 2021

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

Good morning. I’m hoping everyone had a chance to read yesterday’s special message addressing the importance of getting vaccinated. If not, please take the time to do that. In the meantime, here are some of the other great things that are happening around our Salus Community. To all you moms out there – I hope you all have a restful and fun Mother’s Day tomorrow!

LOFK FUNDRAISER: Our 14th annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser — this year a combination live and virtual event — held May 1 was a tremendous success raising more than $170,000. The fundraiser’s specific focus this year was on the University’s Mobile Healthcare Unit, affectionately known as the “Big Red Bus”. The unit is in critical need of being replaced and the event helped to make that a reality. A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to this important community initiative and to the staff who organized the fundraiser. You can read more about it and even view a recording of the event here.

MSCHE: This week, we highlight Standard I - Mission and Goals. Our working group is led by Melissa Trego, OD, PhD, Associate Professor and Dean, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, who is joined by Daniel Pavlik, MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, Associate Professor and Interim Program Director, Physician Assistant Program, College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology Program, College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, and Elizabeth Sedunov, AuD, Assistant Professor, Osborne College of Audiology. Together they are documenting how our mission of advancing integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services is at the center of everything we do here at Salus. 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS: The recipients of the 2021 Salus University Alumni Association awards have been announced. The Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. Awardees are nominated by alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends of Salus. Once again, this year’s winners are an extremely talented and dedicated group of professionals. Find out who the winners are by clicking here.

A SERIES OF FIRSTS FOR DICE: A group of international students are a step closer to realizing their dreams of becoming optometrists who will be able to practice in the United States after having spent a week on campus recently. For the first time, the University is utilizing a hybrid online and face-to-face delivery model for the MSc in Clinical Optometry, with an Advanced Studies certificate degree program. Salus has been working with the students since the summer of 2020 by conducting online informational webinars that then expanded into online coursework beginning in January 2021. You can read more about their experience here.

AAPI HERITAGE MONTH: May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month), celebrating the wide range of cultures, history, accomplishments and contributions of the AAPI community. AAPI Heritage Month began as a week in 1978, under President Jimmy Carter and was extended and fully designated to the full month of May in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush. May is significant to the AAPI community for two reasons. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. More than 20 years later, on May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed, largely due to the project's more than 20,000 Chinese workers.

NATIONAL BIKE MONTH: May is also National Bike Month. Biking is a fantastic way to exercise and has many health benefits. You can celebrate this month by biking to class, work, events, or going to the Hafter Student Community Center and hopping on one of the stationary bikes there. For more information about Bike Month and the health benefits of biking, check out this website from the League of American Bicyclists. 

EXPANSION AWARENESS: One of our current tenants will be expanding their office space on the second floor of the Elkins Park 8380 building. This will include the vacant space and University's conference room suite N2500. This work is scheduled to start the week of May 10, 2021. While the demolition and “noisy” work will be completed before and after hours, any construction creates some noise and inconvenience. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding. Please contact the facilities department at facilities@salus.edu with any questions, concerns and/or comments.

Mike