Welcoming Our Entering Class: Week of August 12, 2022

 

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where the weather finally has gotten a little cooler! We are thrilled to welcome our entering class next week and to open our new Orthotics and Prosthetics lab on Monday!  

Here are a few items of interest: 

NEW O&P LAB: The result of a lot of hard work and planning is finally here. Please join us at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15 for the ribbon-cutting and opening of our new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) lab. The event will include a tour of our Activities of Daily Living Lab. Both are located on the fourth floor of the West building of our Elkins Park campus. To RSVP for the ceremony, click here. To read more about the new O&P lab, click here.

LIGHTHOUSE AWARD WINNER: Kovin Naidoo, BSc, BOptom, MPH, OD ‘95, PhD, DHL (Hon), Global Head: Advocacy and Partnerships, OneSight EssilorLuxxotica Foundation, has been selected as the Lighthouse Award recipient for our 15th annual “Looking Out For Kids” charity fundraiser. Check out the story on Dr. Naidoo here.

SUMMER ART EXHIBIT: We are excited to showcase the work of the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists (MCGOPA) in our D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on our Elkins Park campus of Salus. Click here for more information.

THE PATH TO AN OT CAREER: Upon graduation, Alexis Long ’23 OT, hopes to pursue a career in pediatric care. But just like her undergraduate career, where she was open to any and all opportunities, the unexpected twists and turns in her academic journey have made Alexis eager to see where her Occupational Therapy career takes her. Read more here.

MONTCLAIR VISITORS IMPRESSED: A group from Montclair State University in New Jersey visited Salus University recently to tour the campus and hear more about the various health science programs Salus offers. And, many of them came away impressed with what they saw and now considering Salus as a graduate school option. Read more about their experience here.

WHITE COAT CEREMONIES: Next week we’ll recognize our students with White Coat ceremonies for all three colleges. This annual ceremony represents the transition from student to professional in training as first-year students receive the symbol of their profession – the white coat. Recipients from all of the University’s clinical specialties -- Optometry, Audiology, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology and for the very first time, Orthotics and Prosthetics degree programs, will be honored. Look for stories and photos of the events on our website.

ERRATA: Apologies to Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan and the OCA staff, where we mistakenly labeled the Osborne College of Audiology - PCA – We all know it is OCA!

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I noted earlier, next week will be a busy week on campus because it’s Orientation Week, when our new students have the opportunity to meet representatives from our Salus student service departments, clinical facilities and external organizations providing helpful resources to them during their time at the University. We’ll also acknowledge all who helped bring our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program to life. Please try to participate in as many of these events as you can.

As we start this new, exciting and hopefully, normal school year, please keep in mind: we’re all in this together. For our students, our sole mission is to ensure your success as you learn and embrace your new professions. To our world-class faculty and staff, thank you for all you do every day to prepare and support our students. As everyone gets ready for the upcoming week, please be mindful of your physical and mental health and what you will do to protect and enhance both.

Have a great weekend - the weather should be perfect! Be safe, continue to follow CDC masking guidelines, wash your hands frequently and socially distance when you can. I look forward to welcoming all to our SALUS STRONG campus next week!

Mike

Celebrating Earth Day: Week of April 22nd, 2022

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

Good morning on a beautiful spring day from our Elkins Park campus where students are beginning final exams, clinics are busy, and we are back to wearing face masks full-time — at least for another week, depending upon current conditions.

Some items of interest:

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDEES: Congratulations to our 2022 Alumni Association Award winners! Our alumni association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of Salus University. Awardees are nominated by University alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends. Read about this year’s winners here.

CPPD HERE TO HELP: Dr. Cristina Laracuente from the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) will be available outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, to chat and provide psychoeducational information about stress. CPPD's Jana Walker continues to offer trauma-informed yoga classes via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. Beginners are welcome. Contact CPPD for more information.

ICE TIME: Dr. David Meltzer, assistant professor and clinical instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, is a member of the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors, a hockey organization for injured and disabled U.S. military veterans. Read more about Dr. Meltzer’s hockey experience here.

‘NATURAL IMPRINT’ EXHIBIT: The latest art exhibit, featuring the work of the two artists, is titled “Natural Imprint,” and is now on display at the D’Arrigo Family Gallery in the Hafter Student Community Center on the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus through June 3, 2022. Read more about it here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today is Earth Day. Since 1972, April 22nd has been celebrated by billions of people around the globe promoting awareness of the devastating effects of air and water pollution, climate change and population growth. Now, 50 years later, we’re confronted with some of the same challenges, with climate change leading the list of global issues that we must actively address now. When Earth Day was first conceived, we weren’t living with melting polar caps or rising sea levels. These were projections that “could occur” if we didn’t act. While we’ve made progress in reducing air and water pollution, we certainly have not done enough to slow the earth’s rising temperatures and related impacts.

As we prepare for the weekend, take time to think about what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint, save energy and contribute to the fight against climate change: walk to the store in place of driving; ride a bike instead of driving to do that errand; turn down the air conditioner or heat a couple of degrees to keep it from running so often; participate in a community cleanup; consider composting food scraps; get a reusable water bottle instead of drinking bottled water.

The small things we do to reduce, reuse and recycle make a difference in the health of our planet when we do these things collectively. As healthcare providers, part of our responsibility to all in our care is to educate and lead by example. The health of our planet directly affects the health of our patients and clients. Let’s set a good example to encourage others to do the same.

Have a great weekend. Please continue to wear your face mask when out around others, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Be safe, look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Additional Mitigation Strategies to Enhance Protection of Our Salus Community: Week of January 7th, 2022

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’d like to welcome all of our students back as you prepare for next week’s activities on this snowy, frigid Friday! We look forward to seeing you in labs and clinics next week!

As COVID cases mount in the current surge, we will continue to update you on the steps we are taking to ensure the health and safety of our Salus community. Here is the latest: 

BOOSTER CLINICS: All students, faculty and staff are expected to have their booster by February 13, 2022, or as soon as eligible per CDC guidelines. Chelten Drug Store will host two booster clinics on campus for those who still require the booster:

• The Eye Institute on Friday, January 21: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Elkins Park Campus on Friday, January 28: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Registration information is forthcoming.

UPGRADED MASKS: In last week’s update, I announced our upgraded mask requirement to provide increased protection against rampant transmission of the Omicron variant. If you do not have an upgraded mask, you can request one at the security desk.

VENTILATION: Last week, we noted the addition of MERV13 filtration systems in classrooms at Elkins Park. These filtration systems have also been added to multiple work areas and public spaces at The Eye Institute. These units will run continuously.

DINING: Food is permitted in designated dining areas only. No food is permitted in classrooms, stairwells or hallways. People are permitted to have water in classes.

RETURN TO WORK PROTOCOL: To all of our Salus family members who are recuperating from COVID-19, please know we are thinking of you and wishing you a quick recovery. Our Pandemic Safety Officer, Brian Zuckerman, is your single point of contact if you have questions regarding what to do if: you are exposed, develop symptoms, test positive or wonder when it is safe to return to campus and clinics. Please email him first at bzuckerman@salus.edu. He will then contact your program. 

In other news:

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Natalie Standig, who works in the Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE) department. Find out what new hobby Natalie and her husband took up when the pandemic hit and how it has become rewarding and enjoyable for the couple. Read more here.

OTD PROGRAM BENEFITS: In our latest podcast, we talk with Tavii El, MSOT ’21, and Mary Zhu, MSOT ‘21, two students currently in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. They discuss their transition from the Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program to the OTD program, and the benefits of completing it all back to back at Salus University. To listen, click here.

FITNESS CENTER HOURS: The Hafter Student Community Center (HSCC) fitness center hours have changed. The new hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

FOND FAREWELL: Landon Godsey III, program director at the Hafter Center, has departed from Salus effective January 3, 2022. Landon served as a mentor and friend for many of our students over the years. We send him our best wishes for his future endeavors. Click here to read more about Landon. 

One more word about COVID: Thanks to the work of many members of our University community, our pandemic safety track record over the past twenty-one months suggests we are well prepared to handle this latest surge. Still, the coming few weeks will test our collective resiliency and fortitude. Know that as conditions change, we will remain focused on the health and safety of our Salus community. Together we are SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Get That Vaccination Now: Week of July 9th, 2021

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

Good morning from a pretty soggy Elkins Park campus as Tropical Storm Elsa has been paying us a visit throughout the night. All of this morning’s rain hasn’t dampened the excitement of our Summer Enrichment Program students who started their in-person classes this week. Students from most of our other programs have also been very engaged in classes and labs which makes our campus a very busy, but fun place to be in the summer. In addition to all the great things happening on campus, here are some things that will also interest you:

NOA VIRTUAL CONVENTION: The National Optometric Association (NOA) 2021 Annual Convention is virtual this year. Starting today through Sunday, July 11, the online event will provide 15 hours of COPE approved continuing education. The chair of the National Medical Association (NMA) Ophthalmology section, Dr. Ninita Helen Brown, MD, PhD, will present with NOA president Dr. Sherrol A. Reynolds along with many more well-known speakers. To see the full schedule and register for a session or two over the weekend, click here. 

CIAO – CHOW: Last night we said farewell to our outgoing PCO residents and welcomed our class of new residents at the annual Ciao-Chow event. While normally held at one of our PCO faculty’s homes, this year we opted to hold the event at the Hafter Center to allow for more social distancing. As always, the evening allowed everyone to let our outgoing class of residents know how much we appreciated working with them and wish them the best as they prepare to launch their optometric careers and also welcome our new residents to the PCO/Salus team.

PCO WINS ESSILOR STUDENT BOWL: I know I wrote an addendum about this last week, but it’s so fantastic, I wanted to ensure it was included in the “real version” of the update. The Pennsylvania College of Optometry won the Essilor Student Bowl at Optometry’s Meeting last Friday evening in Denver!! Now, they just didn’t win it, they crushed it - one team member, in particular deserves special mention - Tyler Lesko - he pretty much carried the ball the whole length of the field for the event. We plan on honoring Tyler sometime in the near future but he needs to know how much we appreciate his efforts in bringing the Bowl back to PCO/Salus! Well done Tyler and our entire PCO team.

STUDENT AMBASSADORS: Salus University now has 17 students representing various academic programs who serve as student ambassadors at University events both on campus and in the community. Meet the student ambassadors representing what our Salus community is all about in the first of a three-part series.

NEW SALUS BOARD CHAIR: I am pleased to announce that, effective 1 July, Ms. Rebecca Delia became Chairwoman of our Board of Trustees. Ms. Delia joined our Board in 2018 and currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee and the Audit & Compliance Committee. She is currently Senior Vice President of Financial S&lutions LLC, a financial advisory firm to colleges and universities. Ms. Delia is a member of the advisory council for the Women’s Leadership Network of the United Way of the Capital Region and a Founding Board Member of Ladies First, a professional association of women engaged in the public finance industry.

FITNESS CENTER REMINDER: Sign-ups are still required for the Fitness Center at Hafter. You must reserve a workout block before you arrive, which you can do by selecting the "Book Class" tab in either the PTFitWorks app or on the salus.ptminder website. You can reserve up to five days in advance, must bring your Salus ID to scan into the building and must be vaccinated to utilize the Fitness Center. 

FACE MASKS: A reminder that if you’re working in any of our clinics or clinical procedure labs, you are required to wear a face mask, whether or not you are vaccinated. While required in those two areas, if you feel more comfortable wearing a face mask anywhere else on campus, please feel free to do so. All unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a face mask at all times while on campus and in our clinics.

OTI VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP: The Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI) of Salus University is providing a virtual summer camp for children entering kindergarten and first grade. The program began this week and will run through the week of Aug. 9. This camp offers one daily activity, six days per week, to encourage the use of occupation-based skills through play. To read more, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: For those of us in healthcare who remember our basic sciences, we all understand that the more chances a virus has to replicate, the more chances it has to mutate. Well, that’s exactly what’s very troubling about all those folks who are refusing to get the very safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

Fortunately for us, the five largest clusters of unvaccinated people are concentrated in the South and parts of the Midwest (see graphic). Even though Pennsylvania and our surrounding states are in much better shape, these large cohorts of unvaccinated people present a risk to all of us as they provide a host for the virus to replicate and potentially mutate to other, more virulent forms that might be resistant to existing vaccines. Right now, the current vaccines are very effective against all the variants of the virus, but there is no guarantee that will remain the case if given the chance to mutate on a larger scale. Given that fact, it is imperative for all of us to continue to help educate and convince those not vaccinated to get it done NOW. Not only are those unvaccinated people placing themselves at great risk, but they risk ruining the great progress we’ve had in slowing the spread of the virus. As a reminder, Salus will be requiring all students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated by August 13th, unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption.

If you know anyone not vaccinated, help them understand their decision doesn’t just affect them; it also affects all of us! We’re all in this together.

Have a great weekend. Be safe, stay hydrated in this heat and humidity, if you’re unvaccinated – GET THE JAB – and remember to wear a face mask when around others, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Juneteenth National Independence Day and a Change in Our Vaccine Policy: Week of June 18th, 2021

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

Good morning on a cool and sunny Juneteenth National Independence Day. As we pledged to do last Fall, today was designated a University holiday in commemoration of the June 19, 1865 announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery in Galveston, Texas. Just yesterday, President Biden signed a bill making this a Federal Holiday to allow all Americans to have the time to reflect on the significance of the day. Closer to home, here are some of the things happening around campus:

NEW VACCINE POLICY: As I hope you have all seen by now, we have updated our Salus Safety Strategy to require all students, faculty, residents and staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by August 13, 2021. You can view the video I recorded explaining our rationale on our website and read a copy of the updated guidelines here.

OCA APPOINTMENTS: Two internal appointments have been announced at Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) by Radhika Aravamudhan, PhD, dean of OCA. Bre Myers, AuD ‘06, PhD, CH-AP, three-year track program coordinator and associate professor, has been named assistant dean for Foundations; and Jonette Owen, AuD ‘03, MS, assistant dean for Clinical Education and assistant professor, has been promoted to associate dean for Clinical Education. Congratulations to Dr. Myers and Dr. Owen! 

GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION: Kenneth Newton, MS, CCC-SLP, wanted to find a way to memorialize some of the people he loves in a unique way. After a lot of thought, he decided the best way to do that was to give something back to the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus University in which he’s been an assistant professor for the past six years. Read more about Ken’s generous contribution here.

FRIEND AND MENTOR: It’s not unusual, according to Landon Godsey III, program director and fitness guru at the Hafter Center, that fitness trainers and their clients develop personal relationships. That’s because fitness training can be a highly personal journey for some people. Read more about how Landon has become a friend and mentor to several Salus students here.

MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITATION: This week, we highlight Standard IV - Support of the Student Experience. Our working group is led by James Caldwell, OD, EdD, Dean, Office of Student Affairs, who is joined by John Fitzgerald, III, DO, FACOG, Associate Professor, Associate Program Director, Medical Director, and Clinical Director, Physician Assistant Studies Program, College of Health Sciences, Laine Higa, OD, FAAO, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Monica Maisto, MS, Director, Office of Admissions, Andrea Tyszka, OTD, MS, OTR/L, SIPT, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program, College of Education and Rehabilitation, Darryl Horn, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Andrew Muckin, student, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Together they are documenting the litany of student services provided by the University to support their academic studies and provide extracurricular opportunities to enrich their experience. And please don't forget to join Dr. Kruemmling's virtual information session next Wednesday, June 23rd, at noon, to learn more about the self-study process and how you can review and provide feedback on the University's draft self-study report. 

PRIDE MONTH: June is Pride Month, a celebration that demonstrates how LGBTQA+ Americans have helped strengthen the country by using their talent and creativity to help create awareness and goodwill. Visit loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month to learn more about LGBTQA+ histories well as view artistic work, musical compositions and novels from the community.

FACULTY FOCUS: Daniel Pavlik, DMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, associate professor and director of didactic education for the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program at Salus University, is this week’s Faculty Focus feature. Dr. Pavlik is currently serving as interim director of the PA program. Read more about him at salus.edu/DanielPavlik.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’: When Salus University alumni, Rachel Plavnik, MS ‘19, Shannon LaSalle, MS ‘17, Amanda Kaufmann, MS ‘17, and Alexa Gutman, MS ‘17, embarked on their academic journeys, despite all the guidance and direction they would receive as students enrolled in the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program, none of them anticipated their degrees leading them to the West Coast. Read more about their respective journeys here.

NAVIGATING FINANCIAL AID: Check out “How to Navigate Financial Aid as a Grad Student” in part one of this podcast Q&A featuring Jaime Schulang, MA, director of Student Financial Affairs. Jaime talks about the different loans, scholarships and financial aid that are available for students when they come to Salus University. To listen and read more, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of this week we’ve passed on a great deal of information between the change in our vaccine policy to the recognition of Juneteenth National Independence Day. As a final thought, please take the time today to reflect on the reasons you’ve chosen to become healthcare providers or educators and how you’re going to leverage all you have learned or are learning to make other lives better. After all, isn’t that why we’ve all decided to enter into the professions we offer here at Salus?

For all you dads out there - I hope you have a Happy Father’s Day. Please be safe, take some time for relaxation and reflection and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Celebrating Our Graduates: Week of May 21st, 2021

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

Greetings from a very summery Elkins Park campus. I can’t believe it was almost 90 degrees here yesterday and will be that warm today through the weekend! While the campus has been relatively quiet, we’ve had students in labs and clinics busy practicing their professional skills. In addition to this, we’ve been preparing for what will be a week-long celebration of our graduating class of 2021 next week.

NEXT WEEK’S COMMENCEMENT: We’ve got a great deal planned between the two-day in-person event May 25-26 and the livestream ceremony May 27 for the Class of 2021. In the lead-up to commencement week, we’ve featured some of our grads and their unique stories on our website, including:

—The incredible challenge that Sigalit “Sigi” Davidov ‘21OD undertook to get her degree. She was the mother of three children under five years old when she started at PCO/Salus and now she’s made it to graduation day. Read more about her journey here.

— Although it took longer than he expected because the pandemic interrupted his academic path with a “real kick in the gut,” Doug Gilbert ‘21O&M stayed the course and will graduate. Read more about Doug’s challenges and persistence here.

— What an example of endurance and strength shown by Anastasia “Annie” Goerl ‘21OD, who has maintained her studies while battling adenocarcinoma of the lung. I talk a lot about “Salus Strong,” and Annie personifies that! Read more about her journey to graduation here.

— Earning a doctorate degree is a big accomplishment, but sharing that milestone with a family member makes it feel even sweeter. After spending years forging their own separate paths, sisters Sonia Panchal ‘21OD and Maya Panchal ‘21OD, came back together at PCO/Salus and will graduate next week. Read more here.

MOVING TOWARD NORMALCY: We recently released plans for upcoming semesters, signaling a more traditional fall semester with in-person learning, labs and clinical facilities for all programs more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic drove faculty and students to online teaching and learning. As with everything associated with the pandemic, these plans are subject to change depending upon local infection rates and federal and local guidance. To read more, click here.

MIDDLE STATES ACCREDITATION: This week, we highlight Standard II - Ethics & Integrity. Our working group is led by Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR/L, MEd, Assistant Professor and Chair, Occupational Therapy Department, College of Education and Rehabilitation, who is joined by Thomas Beeman, PhD, Board of Trustees Member, Lindsay Bondurant, PhD, CCC-A, Assistant Professor, Osborne College of Audiology; Director, Pennsylvania Ear Institute, Stanley Hatch, OD, MPH, FAAO, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry; Chief, Pediatric/Binocular Vision Services, Candida Mulligan, Officer, Office of Admissions, and Maria Parisi, OD, FAAO, Associate Dean of Optometric Clinical Affairs & Associate Professor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Together they are documenting our commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity and our core values of responsibility, collaboration, innovation and growth and sustainability.

WEEKEND FITNESS: The fitness staff at the Hafter Center wants everyone to know that the University will be returning to having weekend hours starting June 5 and June 6. The weekend fitness hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fitness blocks will be set up in the PT Fitworks app. Remember, you need to be fully vaccinated if you’re going to use the fitness center. 

VACCINATION UPDATE: For those who received their first vaccination dose at the Hafter Center on April 28, the second dose will be administered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, at the Hafter Center. Please remember to bring your vaccine card.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we prepare to launch another group of Salus graduates next week, I want to congratulate all of you and all those who supported you during your time with us. No one could have foreseen the events that unfolded in 2020 as you’ve worked to complete your degrees. Between the worldwide pandemic, social unrest and a polarizing national election, you are leaving Salus during unprecedented times. The one thing that you have that will help you to navigate all of these challenges is the fact that your education has prepared you well to enter into your given professions. Given the challenges you’ve successfully overcome this last year, no matter what you face, you are ready to take on the world!

As I noted earlier, we’ve got a great deal planned for next week, starting with the two-day drive-up ceremonies on May 25-26, culminating with the virtual commencement ceremony that will preview at 2:00 p.m. on May 27th. I’ll also be going on Instagram Live at 9:30 a.m. to chat with you one last time, “in person” on the 27th. All you need to do is go to the Salus Instagram site and you should be able to access it.

I am so proud of all of you and I know that your faculty all feel the same way. You’ve all embarked on extremely exciting and rewarding careers. Your ability to help people improve their lives is a real gift; one that needs to be cherished, honed and continually nurtured. It’s our hope and expectation that you take full advantage of all that you’ve learned during your time at Salus and apply those skills with the utmost care and sensitivity to those patients and clients you will care for.

As you prepare to leave us, please remember that Salus will always be your academic home. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any one of us throughout your professional journeys. We’ll all be there to help you continue to succeed.

Finally, if you haven’t already gotten your COVID-19 vaccine, please get that done as soon as possible. You will be the “local experts” once you leave here and you need to continue to set the example in practicing good public health measures.

 Congratulations on a job exceptionally well done – You are SALUS STRONG and we are SALUS PROUD of your accomplishments! Please stay hydrated if you’re out in the heat and continue to follow CDC and local guidelines as you enjoy the weekend.

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

Key to Ending This Pandemic: Week of February 5th, 2021

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

Good morning from a very picturesque Elkins Park campus. Even with the snow storm shutting us down for two days earlier this week, we maintained our virtual classroom work and are now our students, faculty and staff have been busy playing a little catch-up in labs and clinics.

Here’s what else has been happening around campus:

NEW ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS: We’ve recently signed articulation agreements that will benefit college students who want to pursue several in-demand healthcare professions. These partnerships give qualified undergraduate students special consideration for admission, including reserved seats (if they meet admission requirements), under new agreements with Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Read more at salus.edu/TwoArticulations.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features James Komorinik, OD ‘’17. Find out how Salus University prepared him to become a professional and the details surrounding his early career success by going to salus.edu/JamesKomornik.

NEWS FROM NORRISTOWN SITE: Check out the latest update on our Norristown Federally Qualified Health Center site, the Norristown Regional Health Center, where Luis Trujillo, OD ‘09, Pediatric Resident ‘12, trains PCO/Salus students to learn to help their patients without saying a word. To read more, just click here.

BUILDING RESILIENCE: Join Ryan Hollister, MS (BCSC), associate director, Bennett Career Services Center at Salus and Molly Marcus, PsyD (CPPD), a counselor from the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development, for a webinar discussing resilience, mindfulness and strategies for remaining positive and persevering through difficult times at noon Wednesday, Feb. 17. The virtual event will also focus on how resilience applies to the job search process. All students are invited and encouraged to attend this event. You can register here.

OPTOMETRIC GRAND ROUNDS: The next Grand Rounds at The Eye Institute (TEI) will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12. The topic will be an update on “Management of Diabetic Retinopathy” presented by Dr. Joshua Greene. For more information about Grand Rounds, click here.

WORKOUT BLOCK TIMES: Workout block times at the Hafter Center have been pushed back 15 minutes, now beginning at 6:45 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. They are still one-hour long with 15 minutes in between workout blocks in order to clean and disinfect the equipment. You must make a reservation before you arrive at the Fitness Center. You can do this by selecting the “Book Class” tab in either the PTFitWorks app or on the salus.ptminder website. You can reserve up to five days in advance.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I wanted share some thoughts concerning the importance of people getting one of the COVID-19 vaccines. Wednesday evening, a couple of us had the opportunity to hear Dr. Drew Weissman, one of two University of Pennsylvania researchers responsible for the development of the mRNA technology used to develop the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, speak about the attributes of the new vaccines. Dr. Weissman noted that while this mRNA vaccines sound new to most people, the technology has actually been around for over ten years. He also stressed how safe, inexpensive and effective these new vaccines are. He noted that mRNA is a non-infectious agent and it does not affect one’s DNA, so there is no potential risk of infection nor can it cause cancer. Another advantage of this technology is the ability to make adjustments to vaccines, such as combat new strains of the virus relatively quickly.

Even with the threat of serious illness or even death from COVID-19, there are large segments of our population that refuse to take the vaccine for numerous reasons. Many think the process went too quickly, others, understandably, don’t trust the government and some have always been against vaccines, the anti-vaxxers. From a public health perspective, vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways we have to combat infectious disease. They have had an incredible impact on reducing the overall burden of disease across the globe. Yet, there are those who just refuse to take them. These new vaccines have been shown to be 100% effective against serious disease and hospitalizations. They can save your life.

Experts tell us that if we’re ever going to get control of our lives again and reach a level of herd immunity, between 70 – 80% of the population needs to be vaccinated. As of yesterday, only 8.5% (28M people) of the U.S. population has received one dose and less than 2.1% (6.9M people) has received their second dose of one of the COVID 19 vaccines. I realize there is currently a limited supply of vaccine, but I’m also hopeful, especially as the Johnson and Johnson vaccine comes on line, that will change over the next several weeks. As availability permits, it will be imperative for as many as possible to get vaccinated as soon as practical. Once current supply and deployment challenges do get resolved, as healthcare professionals, we will need to set the example and get vaccinated as soon as we can. (We will continue to provide updated information regarding Montgomery and Philadelphia appointments as we receive it.) We also have a responsibility to ensure that whenever we have the opportunity to educate others about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, we do so. Unless enough people take these miraculous vaccines, the virus will continue to spread.

So, as you prepare for some time off this weekend, please think about who in your circles might be reticent to take the COVID vaccine and see what you can do to positively influence them to change their minds. Our public health depends on it. Once you are vaccinated, it will be important to continue to social distance, wear your double face mask and wash your hands frequently. Tomorrow, Tanis and I will receive our second dose of the Moderna vaccine. Even after that, we don’t plan to change our current practices of socially distancing and wearing our double facemasks when around others until more folks have been vaccinated and the experts tell us it’s safe to do so.

As we navigate these choppy waters, please continue to be safe, stay healthy and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Condemning Violence and Assaults on Our Democracy: Week of January 15th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where our students have been actively engaged in their lab work, virtual classroom learning and clinical interactions, both on this campus as well as in East Oak Lane and Chestnut Hill. We are now nine months into the pandemic and even having a limited number of students, faculty and staff on campus and in our clinics is a far cry from normal, yet, thanks to our dedicated and highly motivated faculty, students and staff, our consequential educational mission is effectively being executed.

A BRIGHT FUTURE: U.S. News and World Report recently reported on the 100 best jobs to pursue right now. Four of our professions are listed, including Physician Assistant at No. 1. Speech-Language Pathologist is No. 7, Occupational Therapist is No. 19 and Optometrist is No. 48. Look for a more detailed story about this in the future on our website.

COGNITIVE CLASSROOM: The Speech Language Institute (SLI) has partnered with ReMed, a care center for clients who experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI), to provide a weekly virtual group titled "Cognitive Classroom.” To read more, click here.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Ground Rounds at The Eye Institute will be at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22. Dr. Elizabeth Marunde will talk about “Getting Down with the Lateral Rectus: Differentiating Between Heavy and Saggy Eye Syndrome,” and Dr. Korey Patrizi will speak on “A Prescribing Paradox: Steroid Response in a Chronic Case of Irvine-Gass Syndrome.” For more information, click here.

FOCUS ON DR. PELINO: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Dr. Carlo Pelino, assistant professor at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus and chief of The Eye Institute at Chestnut Hill. Learn more about Dr. Pelino, a Salus Presidential Medal of Honor Award winner in 2019, here.

HAFTER SURVEY: Please take a moment to respond to our Group Needs Assessment to help us continue to provide the classes and content you want to see at the Hafter Center. Click here for the survey.

FINAL THOUGHTS: On Monday, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His life epitomized one of advocacy for equality (racial, economic, educational, and employment), service, non-violence and respect for others. Under more normal circumstances our Salus Community would actively participate in the day of service. Because of the pandemic, I hope you were able to register for one of the virtual opportunities sponsored by globalcitizen365.org. Beyond the day of service, through our Looking Out For Kids and other outreach programs, we have consistently been serving the communities we are a part of by providing vision and hearing screenings to children in underserved communities throughout Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties.

As we reflect on the horrific events at the U.S. Capitol last week and now look forward to the upcoming Inauguration of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris next week, it will be incumbent upon all of us to actively embrace the attributes of hope, respect, unity, equality and justice that Dr. King so eloquently and effectively espoused and personified. In doing so, especially, as healthcare professionals, we will be holding ourselves to those same high standards, where we help to set the example at Salus for how that should look. At Salus, we continue to vehemently condemn violence and any assault on our democracy.

Please take some time this weekend to think about and reflect upon how we can all do better in treating each other with civility and respect; with honesty the hallmark in everything we do and say. Be safe, and even as many of you begin to get vaccinated, it’s important to continue to wear your face mask, socially distance, wash your hands frequently and stay SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Happy New Year: Week of January 8th, 2021

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

Happy New Year. It’s been quite a week, to say the least, with 2021 starting out leaving much for us to think about. You all should have received my comments yesterday concerning the events that unfolded in Washington on Wednesday. While the stress of the event is still with many of us, I would like to highlight all the positive things that have been happening on campus since returning from a prolonged holiday break.

FOCUS ON FACULTY: We are fortunate to have an enviable team of world-class faculty at Salus. Take a look at two recent Faculty Focus features, one on Chad Killen, OD ‘19, Resident ‘20, a clinical instructor in primary care services and the other on Eileen Hunsaker, director of Clinical Education in our Department of Speech-Language Pathology. You can read more about Dr. Killen here and more about Ms. Hunsaker here.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT DAY: We held our semi-annual University Faculty Development Day before the holiday break, a virtual event that featured and in-depth presentation by Dr. Ragan DuBose-Morris, associate professor and director of the Office for Telehealth Education at the Medical University of South Carolina. She discussed topics surrounding the growth of telehealth, such as the pandemic’s impact on the industry and educational goals from both academic and clinical perspectives. Read more about UD Day at salus.edu/UDDay2020.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s “Where Are They Now” feature is on Cora Franze, MS ‘20, who recently graduated from our Orientation & Mobility (O&M) program. Find out more about how Cora’s career has gotten off to a good start by going to salus.edu/CoraFranze.

BACK TO THE GYM: With the restrictions on gyms being lifted recently by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, the Hafter Center will reopen on Monday, Jan. 11. The center’s staff continued to provide virtual services this week, including Lifestream classes. Check your emails next week for monthly class schedules.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST: Check out our Facebook page to see pictures of the winners of our virtual Gingerbread House Contest. Congratulations to Rachel Jhala ‘21OD, Brynn Parkin ‘22OT and Anna Demko ‘21AUD. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: The recent, unfortunate events in Washington, along with events leading up to Inauguration Day will fill the news for the next two weeks. As we navigate through these eventful and often stressful times, I want everyone to know that you will not be alone. It’s times like these that bring communities, such as ours at Salus together. It’s okay to share your thoughts with others in a meaningful and respectful way, and I would encourage you to do that, as differing perspectives help us to learn and grow. I’m happy to host a virtual meeting with anyone interested in discussing recent events.

As I said in yesterday’s note to everyone, I have no doubt that our democracy and Constitution will fully withstand yesterday’s assault on the democratic process.

Right now, the most important thing you can do is to maintain your focus on learning your chosen professions and caring for those patients and clients under our care. Your contributions to our healthcare system and ultimately, the country, will be considerable, once you leave Salus. We do all this while still in the middle of a global pandemic. Vaccinations are beginning to become available to some, but they are still not wide-spread. It is essential to continue to wear your face mask when around others, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. This too will end, but not until many more are vaccinated. In the meantime, help control the spread.

As I’ve said before, I don’t think anyone would argue the fact that we are currently living the old Chinese proverb - “living in interesting times”!

Stay safe, remain optimistic and stay Salus Strong! Have a great weekend!

Mike

Addressing Stress: Week of October 16th, 2020

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

It’s been another busy week on campus and in our clinics. Students continue to do their work in face to face classes, labs, clinics and also virtually. The fall weather has begun to transform our campus foliage with vibrant colors, which always looks beautiful. Fall is my favorite season, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

DR. GILDA CROZIER – REMEMBERED: As I shared with you earlier this week, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University lost one of its icons with the passing of Dr. Gilda Crozier. Our communications team has written a very informative article about Dr. Crozier that includes information about her funeral arrangements next week. Read the details at salus.edu/GildaCrozier.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FALL GRADUATES: Once again, congratulations to our fall graduates who are now ready to take on the world. It’s now time to take advantage of all that you’ve learned during your time at Salus and apply those skills to the patients and clients. To read more about our virtual ceremony that was aired Oct. 13, 2020, please go to salus.edu/FallCommencement2020.

NATIONAL PA WEEK: We continue to recognize National Physician Assistant Week. Like every healthcare professional, physician assistants (PA) have been put to the test as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out “A Day in the Life” of some of our PA students at salus.edu/PAweek. Students can also submit their own stories to be spotlighted on the University’s website and social media here.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS: Congratulations to two of our 2020 Presidential Medal of Honor Award winners, including Dr. Victor Hugo Bray, who you can read more about at salus.edu/VictorBray and Dr. Andrew Gurwood, who you can read more about at salus.edu/GurwoodAward. I’m proud of the work that Drs. Bray and Gurwood have done for this well-earned honor. The other 2020 award winners will also be featured with stories on our website in the coming weeks.

BLINDNESS AWARENESS MONTH: October is Blindness Awareness Month and according to the World Health Organization, there are 285 million people who are visually impaired worldwide, 39 million of whom are completely blind. You can read more about this here.

HAFTER STUDENT CENTER: The Hafter Student Community Center reopened last month with new capacity limits in place — a maximum of 15 people per one-hour workouts are now allowed, which also includes the use of the gymnasium. We all should continue to stick to our exercise routines the best we can during the pandemic, and with the fall weather quickly approaching, the Hafter Center is a great place for your indoor workouts. Read more about the protocols that are in place at salus.edu/HafterWorkout.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON STRESS: I want to address this last section specifically to our students. We all realize how much stress you are all under, especially those of you who are just starting your professional programs. There’s a great deal going on around us and there’s also much to get accustomed to in school – between new schedules, new living environments, new subject matter to learn and working with new friends and colleagues in a virtual environment. I want you to know that you’re not alone – not at all. If you’re having difficulty with a specific subject I can pretty much guarantee that many of your classmates are experiencing the same challenges. The difference is that you just don’t have the opportunity to “compare notes” as you would have if we were not living in a mostly virtual world.

For our first-year students, I can remember my first year at PCO, yes, way back when, sitting in Dr. Lorraine Lombardi’s anatomy lectures trying to figure out how I was going to remember all that stuff. Throw in ophthalmic and physiological optics and my head was spinning – and I was a pretty good student. It took a little over a semester both to realize I had this and also that I wasn’t alone. Most of my classmates were feeling the same way. The biggest difference between then and now is that we could easily share our concerns during lunch or in other social settings. That’s clearly more difficult now. Your deans, program directors and faculty all realize the stress you’re currently under. While there is no simple answer and everyone copes with stress a bit differently, I have some suggestions to help you through this that have served me well over the years:

Stay focused on your studies - Keep up with your learning and try not to fall behind. Not only is focusing on school a great break from focusing on what’s going on in the world, it’s also a way to progress in your life while everything else seems like it’s on pause.

Develop a routine you can stick to - Sounds basic, but it will make a world of difference. Get up, make your bed (now you’ve accomplished at least one thing!), do some exercise, have breakfast, etc.

Get enough sleep – This also sounds pretty basic and to some, maybe it seems like “mission impossible” but the better rested you are, the more capable your body and mind will be at handling things that come your way, to include stress. Prioritize sleep over other things and you’ll be more productive, resilient and attentive.

Get outside and enjoy the fresh air – There are so many places around us that you can go and safely walk around in nature that will help to calm your mind and present opportunities for some exercise at many levels.

Make sure you have what you need for the next day - Check the schedule, lay out your clothes, make your lunch, etc.

Use social media purposefully and not nonchalantly – Limit your screen time and refrain from posting for “likes” or for the sake of making the “best content”. Use social media to connect with some new classmates or the people you miss seeing every day.

We all understand what you’re going through as many of us are feeling some of the same stressors. As I’ve said many times, and still believe, the pandemic will eventually end. While it won’t be tomorrow or even by the end of next semester, but it will end. In the meantime, we all need to remain focused, healthy and optimistic, which is the most difficult task. We have skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are there for you. I would strongly encourage you to contact them, if you feel like you need to. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

Finally, all the weather apps are saying after Friday’s rain, it should be a nice fall weekend. I strongly encourage you all to get out and enjoy the good weather while we still have it. As the numbers of COVID-19 cases increase in Pennsylvania and in surrounding states, it’s even more important that you continue to practice the good prevention measures that have proven to be effective. Continue to wear your face mask when around others, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. Remember what you do off campus affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Labor Day Weekend: Week of September 4th, 2020

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

Greetings from a very busy Elkins Park campus. Our students continue to participate in limited face to face (actually mask to mask) classes, labs and clinics. It’s energizing to see all the activity on campus!

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Grand Rounds at The Eye Institute (TEI) is from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11. Dr. Patrick McManamon will present a program titled “IOL: Insight on Lenses.”
 
CONTINUING EDUCATION EVENT: On Sunday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. a synchronous online CE event titled “Current Advancements in Comprehensive Optometric Care” will be presented. I’m looking forward to presenting “Public Health Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic — A Look Back and the Road Ahead” As the final lecture of that day. I’ll be preceded by an all-star group of faculty and guests. Click here to see the full panel.
 
WELCOME NEW FACULTY & STAFF:  We have two new members of our Salus community I’d like to welcome: Nicholas Jones has joined us as Research compliance coordinator; and Gabriel Fickett, OD, is an assistant professor at PCO.
 
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AGREEMENT: Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) recently partnered with Hampton University, one of the nation’s leading historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), to offer a new articulation agreement to address the underrepresentation of Black students in optometric education and healthcare professions. Paula Harmon Boone, OD, director of the National Optometric Association (NOA) “Visioning the Future” HBCU Mentorship Program and NOA trustee, helped initiate and lead the effort. Mirroring the goal of the NOA’s mentorship program to address the lack of diversity among optometry students, the partnership was established to give students who successfully complete a Bachelor of Science degree at Hampton a pathway to earn a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree at Salus PCO. Under the agreement, students enrolled in the program will receive both financial and academic assistance from the NOA, advisement from the Pre-Health program at Hampton and mentorship from a Salus PCO faculty advisor. We are so proud to have entered into this agreement.  
 
HAFTER CENTER OPENING: We’re scheduled to reopen the Hafter Center on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Some things to keep in mind: the basketball/volleyball court will not be available; the track will be open and you will need a reservation to use it, with physical distancing regulations in place. For additional details about scheduling your workouts, please refer to your latest Hafter Happenings newsletter. 
 
FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Kimberly Edmonds, MS, CCC-SLP, a clinical educator who supervises first-year students in SLI. Read about how she tries to incorporate music in her teaching at salus.edu/KimberlyEdmonds.

VOTING: Voting is an integral part of our American democracy. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and as we read about potential postal delays it’s imperative that you plan ahead if you’re planning to vote by mail. Here are the steps to vote by mail in Pennsylvania:

1. Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application.
2. Fill out the application completely.
3. Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
4. When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.

If you do decide to vote in person, please ensure you know where your polling place is. For those of you who might be interested in becoming a poll worker for the November election, you can get more information by going to the VotePA website here. No matter what your political affiliation or how you decide to cast it, please vote - it’s a privilege many have made the ultimate sacrificed for us to exercise.

FINAL THOUGHTS - LABOR DAY WEEKEND: As we approach Labor Day weekend, I always like to remind people why we celebrate this holiday, which celebrates the greatest workers in the world – American workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. So, there you have it. This is why we have this coming Monday off. I hope everyone enjoys their 3-day weekend and especially, Labor Day.

Have a great weekend. The weather is supposed to be fantastic, so get out and enjoy it! Please remember to socially distance, wear a face mask when around others, wash your hands frequently and that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be responsible, remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Sacrifice, Discipline, Miracles and Traditions: Week of April 6th, 2020

All,

Today marks the beginning of our 4^th week of online training, social distancing, hand washing reminders and sheltering in place. Again, thank you to our faculty, students and staff for adjusting to this new model. Yesterday, Holy Week began in preparation for the Easter holiday next Sunday and on Wednesday evening Passover begins. Ramadan starts a few weeks later. Without getting into a religious discussion, these holidays teach us about sacrifice, discipline, miracles and traditions. It doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are, if you are familiar with either holiday, you’ll find people were faced with what seemed like insurmountable challenges and no clear solutions. That’s pretty pertinent when you compare them to today’s pandemic.    

If you’ve been watching the news, you know that this coming week the country is expecting to see very high death rates, especially in New York, which has become the global epicenter for the pandemic. The importance of staying at home and social distancing may be a huge sacrifice for many of you, but it is a sacrifice that can save lives – perhaps the lives of members of your own family. Please - continue to take this seriously. Don’t go out unless you absolutely have to, even to the grocery store or pharmacy. 

The sacrifices we’ve made up to now and continue to make in the next few weeks will pay off in fewer cases and hopefully, fewer deaths. We likely won’t begin to emerge from this for 4 – 6, or more weeks - but, there will be an end to this. We’ll look back and the entire experience will be a blip in time that hopefully, we will have learned a great deal from and can apply that knowledge to better prepare for when something like this happens again.  

While you may not feel like you’re doing much by sitting and watching movies and playing games, you are really saving lives. Nothing happening while you’re sitting at home is a good thing! Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Chicago reminds all of us that, “Without taking drastic measures, the healthy and optimistic among us will doom the vulnerable.”    

As I’ve mentioned in my previous messages to you, it’s important to understand that things will get worse before they get better, but they will get better. This is tough stuff because we’ve never been through anything like this before in our lifetimes. It’s okay to be scared or feel vulnerable; those are normal and natural feelings, given the current circumstances. Just don’t let those feelings overwhelm you and cloud your thinking. As I keep reminding you, our counselors are there to listen to your concerns and act as a sounding board for your feelings – take advantage of them if you need to. You can make an appointment here.  

I strongly encourage all of you to keep your fitness schedules going to the best of your ability, get outside often (if around other people, wear a mask) and keep yourself busy by working on your academic goals and also trying learning something new. Think about learning more about American History or even trying to start learning a new language. Our fitness experts at Hafter Center have been providing great YouTube indoor video workouts and just the other day sent out a workout schedule for the month that looks like lots of fun.

Finally, the staff of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute have stepped up to provide emergency services, in line with the state and CDC guidelines, to their patients with hearing aids who might need some assistance during this crisis. While they will only be providing services a couple of days a week, they’re fulfilling their responsibility to those they care for. That’s central to what we are all about at Salus and I applaud their actions.

As you begin this week, I want to thank you for the sacrifices you’re making to keep yourself, your families and many others safe. Please keep the correspondence coming.  

Be safe, be smart, wash your hands frequently, practice social distancing and wear a face mask if you go out, but stay home unless it’s absolutely necessary to go out! 

WE ARE SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Greetings from the West: Week of January 24th, 2020

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

Greetings from someplace over the western U.S. Drs. Eckert, Kruemmling and I are headed back from some whirlwind travel that has taken us to Loma Linda University in California and Baylor University in Texas over the past few days. That was in addition to a trip we made to Chicago a few weeks ago to visit Northwestern University. These three institutions have what most experts in the field consider to be the leading programs in Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) in the country. 

We’ve been checking out these programs to determine if an O&P program would be a good fit for Salus as we begin planning for the next step in our institutional evolution. All indications are that O&P would not only be a great fit at Salus but also help to fill a much needed workforce and training gap in that profession, given the relative scarcity of programs (there are only 13 in the country, with only 2 on the East Coast) and an increasing demand for that skillset nationally.  That’s compounded by the fact that about 25% of the current O&P workforce is projected to retire within the next several years. I’ll keep you all posted as we continue with our due diligence moving forward. 

In the middle of all that travel, on Wednesday, Dr. Eckert and I had the opportunity to visit with Jack Lynch, the CEO of Main Line Health and several members of his team to see if we could obtain additional clinical rotations for some of our programs in their health system. Main Line includes Bryn Mawr Rehab and Hospital, Paoli and Riddle Hospitals, Lankenau Medical Center as well as several smaller centers.  As a result of the meeting, their administrators are going to be working with some of our program and external rotation directors to see if we can identify rotations that are not only required and educationally relevant, but also sustainable. As competition for these rotations continues to increase regionally, establishing these types of relationships are key to keeping our students local and at the same time, meeting their clinical education needs. We’re hopeful that something fruitful will come out of these meetings! 

Closer to home, thirty-five prospective students attended the annual Optometry Learning Experience (OLE) the week of Jan. 6, 2020, at the University's Elkins Park, Pa., campus. The OLE program, which has been part of the University's Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) for approximately four decades, is designed to offer participants an opportunity to step into the shoes of students in the Doctor of Optometry program, as well as offer a general outlook on the profession of optometry as a whole.

Submissions are now being sought for Community Expressions 2020, featuring the work of Salus University faculty, students, alumni, staff, spouses and significant others, that will be exhibited from Feb. 4 through March 13 at the Hafter Student Community Center. Participants can write to Elynne Rosenfeld at erosenfeld@salus.edu and should include:

• Name of artist
• Title of work
• Dimensions of work
• Media used
• Price (or indicate not for sale)
• Affiliation with Salus University or the relationship of someone who is affiliated
• Three- to five-sentence statement that can be used for publicity purposes

The deadline for submitting this information is Wednesday, Jan. 29. Drop-off of the artwork is from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Hafter Center. Pick-up is Friday, March 13, or by arrangement over the weekend.

Robert M. DiSogra, AuD '03, has been selected to receive the Clinical Excellence in Audiology award for 2020 from the American Academy of Audiology. The award is based on Dr. DiSogra's contributions to the fields of audiology and pharmacology focusing on ototoxicity and diabetic ear. The award will be presented in April at the annual meeting of the Academy in New Orleans. Dr. DiSorgra is the former chairman of the Osborne College of Audiology Advisory Board.

Eight students from the National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) from Salus participated in the annual Greater Philadelphia Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service - one of the largest King Day events in the nation - on Monday, Jan. 20, at Girard College. The students conducted vision screenings, which included testing visual acuity, checking eye muscle issues in the eye with the direct ophthalmoscope and letting patients know if they needed further evaluation.  

On Wednesday January 22, Dr. Elise Ciner and Kerry Lueders presented to the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee for the Education of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired (PACES-BVI). Entitled "VT and TVI: The Difference is More Than Just the I", this interprofessional presentation clarified the roles of optometry and education for students who are visually impaired and how to meet the functional and educational needs of those children referred for vision therapy. 

I’ll bet most people on campus don’t know that we started a post-baccalaureate last fall and have 13 really great students enrolled in the program. As we get to the part of the year where they are beginning to apply for their professional programs such as optometry, PA, dentistry, occupational therapy and others, I want to wish them luck (although, I know they won’t need it) as they prepare to move to the next step in their educational journeys.

On Monday, our Board of Trustees will be on campus for their quarterly meeting in our newly renovated Board/Multipurpose room (W400). We will also be hosting a social for board members on Sunday in Hafter Center. Having our extremely talented volunteer board members on campus gives us the opportunity to show them all the great things that are going on around campus and also provides us with extremely helpful insights and guidance as we move Salus forward. We greatly appreciate all of their time, talents and financial support.

Finally, it looks like at least half of the weekend is going to be rainy and cool so that’s a good day to hunker down and get some studying done! For those of you who are getting out and about, please be careful and look out for one another. Have a great weekend – I look forward to seeing many of you on Monday for our quarterly Board meeting. 

Mike