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

Celebrating Our Agreement to Merge with Drexel: Week of June 16, 2023

 

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

Good morning and Happy Friday! It’s been a busy and exciting week as we celebrate our agreement to merge with Drexel, welcome students in our BLVS Summer Camp, spend time learning with our Thai students and conduct classes, labs and clinics.

We are delighted to share:

HISTORIC AGREEMENT: Salus University and Drexel University have ceremoniously tied the knot. Our two renowned institutions have formalized a merger agreement following approval from the Board of Trustees at each university. The signing ceremony, held Tuesday in the Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery on Drexel's campus, included an enthusiastic gathering of board members, faculty, staff and students from both universities. Read more about this important and historic milestone here.

AUDIOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES: The Master of Science in Clinical Audiology (MSCA) degree program at Salus is offered for international audiology practitioners to advance their knowledge and skills in audiologic care and to experience specialized training within a specific content area. Read more here about our latest group of international students.

A PERFECT FIT: Brandy Scombordi-Raghu, OD ‘98, Resident ‘99, grew up in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania. Historically a coal mining area, her school district was one of the lowest performing in the state. Unbeknownst to her at the time, a seemingly insignificant job in high school planted a seed for her future career in optometry. Read more about Dr. Scombordi-Raghu’s journey here.

ETHICS ESSAY CONTEST WINNER: As a former English teacher with significant writing experience, Luke Damiani MS ‘23, thought he might do pretty well in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Student Ethics Essay Award (SEEA) competition. And he did -- well enough to take the top prize. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As noted earlier, on Tuesday at a wonderful celebration hosted by Drexel University, President John Fry and I signed an agreement for our two universities to merge. Here is a link to some of the media coverage from the event.

This partnership charts an ambitious and innovative future for all of our programs. It significantly enhances and improves our student experience through expanded programs, new clinical opportunities, and a potential wealth of options for research collaboration and grant funding.

For our faculty, the merger provides enhanced professional development opportunities, research support, and of course, access to Drexel’s state-of-the-art facilities, as well as the opportunity to teach with the benefit of Drexel’s incredible technology infrastructure.

Our partnership preserves our endowment for our programs and the time-honored reputation for excellence that is the hallmark of The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the Osborne College of Audiology and the programs within the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation: Blindness and Low Vision Studies, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Biomedicine and Post-baccalaureate.

While the merger won’t become final for months as we secure the necessary regulatory and accreditation approvals, President Fry and I have already established a solid foundation of shared trust, integrity and drive for excellence that are fundamental to innovation and growth. I look forward to working with President Fry and his team as we form the Integration Council that will guide our efforts over the next year and beyond.

Thanks to so many here at Salus collaborating with their counterparts at Drexel, we have achieved all of the objectives that we prioritized during the course of our own strategic and scenario planning more than a year ago. I could not be more excited to begin the next phase of our collaboration.

During Tuesday’s signing ceremony, I presented President Fry with a FOX flag, a symbol we have used over many years of commencements when we launch our graduates into the world. The flag is a symbol of our shared excitement at Salus and Drexel. As we enter this exciting phase of integration, the flag says it all. Get ready: we’re preparing to launch!

As you head into the long weekend, keep in mind the significance and origin of the Juneteenth holiday we will observe on Monday. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared a formal end to slavery in the United States. However, slavery was not totally abolished across the country. On June 19th, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned from Union army troops that they were free, almost two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth represents a celebration of freedom and recognition of the perseverance and spirit of Black people in America.

Our colleagues at Cabrini University will host a celebration of Juneteenth from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 19th.

Enjoy your weekend – please be safe, look out for one another, wear plenty of sunscreen when your outside, drink lots of water and come back SALUS STRONG next week!

-Mike

Embracing Transitions: Week of May 5, 2023

 

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

Good morning and Happy Cinco de Mayo! It’s been another busy week at Salus with our students preparing for finals, upcoming commencement and new clinical rotations. We’ve had therapy dogs in the Learning Resource Center, bagels in the morning to help jump start the day, and the symphony of construction as work continues on our first floor renovation. Here are some other items of interest:

A HIGHER LEVEL: Yasmin Battat, AuD ‘09 wanted a higher level of training where she could attain more in-depth knowledge about her profession. So, she enrolled in the distance learning program in audiology at what was then the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) School of Audiology. Read more about Dr. Battat’s journey here.

ACCEPTED STUDENT DAY: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) programs hosted their inaugural accepted student days this past weekend. Students had the opportunity to visit the Elkins Park campus, tour the facilities, meet faculty, and interact with prospective classmates. Accepted student day was first offered for PCO students last year, but has since expanded to include the Audiology, SLP, O&P and Physician Assistant Studies (PA) programs.

OT CONFERENCE: Five Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program (OTD) students and two Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) students attended the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri from April 19 to April 23. SOTA officers Lexi Hunn MSOT ‘24, and Mia Nicolosi, MSOT ‘24, represented Salus at the annual Assembly of Student Delegates meeting, and Caityn Foy, DOT, MOTR/L, OTD program director, hosted a Salus University expo table and talked to prospective MSOT and OTD students.

AAPI HERITAGE MONTH: Monday marked the start of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month), recognizing the challenges faced by Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians and their vital contributions to the American story. 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.

FINAL THOUGHTS: On Tuesday evening, I was delighted to help “send off” our 3rd year Audiology students who are preparing for external clinical rotations. I always enjoy this ceremony, as I encourage our students to take full advantage of the learning that will challenge them clinically and academically, and that will help them build confidence in what they’ve learned at Salus. This got me thinking about transitions, and how at this time of the year many of our students are preparing to transition to their next stage of training or into professional practice opportunities.

Transitions can be exhilarating and exciting, and they can also feel uncomfortable, challenging and scary. Over the course of my 33-year career with the Navy, I transitioned a number of times to positions with increasing responsibility all over the world. Each transition helped me grow professionally and intellectually by getting me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to confront new ideas and situations. Some transitions were harder than others. As I reflect on all of them, the ones in which I learned the most were the ones I approached with an open mind, grace and ease—allowing myself not to know everything, reaching out when I had questions, and giving myself the space to make mistakes and learn from them.

Every day and every interprofessional and interpersonal encounter presents an opportunity to embrace change in the way we look at things, communicate and respond. Over their years of education and clinical training at Salus University, our students are being shaped by our faculty and staff to become exceptionally prepared healthcare professionals, educators and researchers. Each step along the path is a transition presenting students with challenges and opportunities that contribute to their professional formation.

As we continue our discussions with Drexel, our faculty and staff have been thinking about what a transition could look like if an integration moves forward. Like other transitions, this presents great opportunities, and it can also feel stressful, because the status quo will change over time. In healthcare and higher education, where our worlds intersect, change is the norm. This can feel difficult and destabilizing. Having been through a lifetime of significant transitions, I want you to know that I appreciate what you may be feeling. As you have questions, please reach out to me or our leadership team. We can navigate this together.

I cannot stress enough the importance of flexibility and agility as conditions in our industry change. These changes require transitions from the way we currently think to new ways of thinking that are more encompassing, collaborative and more complex. That’s the goal of the integration with Drexel: providing us with the opportunity to shape and evolve the future of our current programs in a way that we could not envision independently.

Marcus Aurelias, the famous stoic, once said: “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” In every transition I have encountered, I have asked myself, “What am I learning about my response to change, and how can I grow from this experience?” This question has helped me see the opportunity for positive growth that is always there, if I look for it.

As you start your weekend, try to reflect on the transitions you’ve experienced and the learning that has come out of them. Congratulations and best of luck to our audiology as well as our other students heading to clinical rotations. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and 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

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