Week of June 3, 2024

 

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

Good morning on a beautiful Friday from our Elkins Park Campus. While the week was short, it certainly has been busy. The Drexel Human Resources team hosted the first of at least two Benefit Fairs on Wednesday where they filled the Hafter Center with experts to help answer questions and sign people up. The next one is scheduled for 6 June at TEI. And yesterday, Dr. Elisabeth Van Bockstaele and the Drexel team provided an informative Drexel Speaker Series that discussed Library, Educational Support & IT. While all this was happening, students and faculty have been engaged in normal classroom, clinic and lab activities. This campus never rests!

Here are other items I hope you will find of interest:

JOYOUS COMMENCEMENT: Drexel president John Fry delivered an inspirational and motivational keynote address at our 128th commencement ceremony May 23, 2024, at the Kimmel Cultural Center in Philadelphia. We were also honored to present President Fry with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. To read more about the day, click here. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Dr. Rita Chaiken has been involved with the University’s Osborne College of Audiology virtually since its establishment in 2000. She was asked by the College’s founder, George S. Osborne, to teach the second-ever cohort of the program in 2001. Now, she and four other winners will be awarded with the Salus Presidential Medal of Honor at the annual recognition reception at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 2, at PineCrest Country Club in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Click here to read more about Dr. Chaiken and her contributions to the profession of Audiology. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE II: In his house, Jim Saviola, OD, FAAO ‘85, has what he calls a “fancy” piano his wife and three daughters all play. About a year-and-a-half ago, Dr. Saviola wanted to do something outside work to “keep his brain working.” So, he took up piano lessons. He was sitting at the piano recently for one of those lessons when his phone rang informing him that he had been named a Presidential Medal of Honor winner by Salus University. Click here to read more. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE III: It’s turning out to be a banner year for Paul B. Freeman, OD '74, FAAO. Not only is he celebrating his 50th anniversary of graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, but he is also adding to his long list of accolades the 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor from his alma mater. Click here for more details. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: She’s always had a passion for Occupational Therapy (OT), so when her husband was transferred to Washington by the Air Force, Amber Fessler, OTD ‘20, started looking into doctoral programs in that area. When she didn’t find any program in the state that suited her, she started looking elsewhere. That’s when she found Salus University’s post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program, particularly the Remedial Vision Rehabilitation aspect. Read more here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating the achievements of our graduates. This coming weekend, we will extend our celebrations to honor several of our outstanding alumni. On Sunday, we will present the Presidential Medal of Honor to individuals from various professions who have distinguished themselves on international, national, and local stages. Their remarkable work has improved the lives of thousands and impacted countless more. 

Salus University, along with our founding college, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, has long been renowned for developing leaders in the fields we educate. As we prepare to merge with Drexel University, our legacy of leadership, innovation, and community service will be further enriched by the numerous opportunities Drexel will bring to our students, faculty, and staff. It’s an exhilarating time—both to celebrate those who have achieved so much and to anticipate the exciting possibilities ahead. Our only limitations are those we place on ourselves, so let’s dream big and prepare to accomplish even greater things! 

As you head into the weekend, please keep in your thoughts and prayers all those who are suffering around the world. Continue to respect one another and remain SALUS STRONG as we look forward to our bright future!

-Mike

Recognizing the Brilliant Accomplishments and Research of Our Drexel Colleagues: Week of September 29, 2023

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

Good Friday morning from our Elkins Park Campus, where it’s been a busy week with clinics, classes and labs in full swing. Here are a few happenings across campus:

RECOGNITION RECEPTION REACTIONS: As mentioned in last week’s update, our annual recognition reception for Presidential Medal of Honor and Alumni Association awardees celebrated the outstanding achievements and extraordinary philanthropic support of our alumni. Click here for a story on the reaction of the award winners.

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 2023 Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) event at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. We are honoring Susan Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, FAAO with the Lighthouse Award. Click here to order your tickets.

O&P STUDENTS DEAL WITH PAIN: September is Pain Awareness Month and amputees can benefit from Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR), a surgical procedure used to improve the control of upper limb prostheses, but also can reduce phantom pain for both upper and lower limb amputees if they are appropriate candidates. To find out how students in our Orthotics and Prosthetics program are learning about TRM, click here.

PEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGY EVENT: Our Audiology program is looking for children seven months to six years old to take part in pediatric audiology laboratories as part of the learning experience for our Audiology students. The students will conduct hearing tests under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute, 8380 Old York Road #1200, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Appointments will take no more than one hour although you can sign up for more time slots. Participants will receive $20 per hour, for your child's participation. Before your child can participate, we will need a completed parental/guardian consent form, which will be provided to you on the day of the lab. Contact Osborne College of Audiology assistant professor Jenny Ragan, AuD ‘09, PASC, CCC-A, at jrajan@salus.edu to sign up.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday, several deans, trustees and senior staff joined me in representing our Salus community at Drexel University’s Academic Convocation. In welcoming new and continuing students to campus, the convocation highlighted brilliant examples of the research and accomplishments of Drexel’s faculty, clinicians and students whose work embodies the mission “integrating education, scholarship, diverse partnerships and our global community to address society’s most pressing challenges.”

The groundbreaking efforts of Associate Professor Rachel Lopez, Assistant Clinical Professor Monica Harmon and PhD student Alex Ashley, are marked by an intentional grounding of their work in community and collaboration. Each is producing exceptional impact transforming the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities while pushing the field forward in education, research and practice.

The ceremony also underscored the connection between collaboration and innovation. Their achievements speak volumes: solving deep, systemic, complex problems is a team sport.

That same focused commitment to collaboration and innovation is evident throughout our Salus-Drexel integration discussions. President Fry and I are committed to pursuing not just the “Salus way” or the “Drexel way,” but new and combined approaches that members of our Integration Council will create together to position our “OneDrexel” family for growth and success.

At a time when the social fabric of our communities can feel tenuous and uncertain, as evidenced by the events in Philadelphia this past week, we can recommit ourselves to the leading role that Salus and Drexel play in strengthening and improving community outcomes while advancing scholarship, research and education.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of this ambitious, shared purpose and personal point of pride to recognize and applaud the work you do every day at Salus to advance this mission alongside our Drexel partners. My thanks to you and to our Drexel colleagues for inspiring me to recommit to this vital work.

Stay safe, look out for one another, remember that Covid cases are still with us, so please mask when around large groups and come back to campus SALUS STRONG next week!

-Mike

The Importance of Political Advocacy and Interprofessional Education: Week of September 22, 2023

 

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

Good morning on the first Friday of Fall! It’s been a busy and exciting week at Salus hosting our quarterly Board meeting and launching the Salus-Drexel Integration Council. Salus President’s Council members met their counterparts to develop plans for integrating academic, human resources, fiscal, student life, enrollment management, facilities and clinical processes between our two institutions. It was great to see everyone so interactive and involved. As I’ve said in the past, we will keep everyone up-to-date on the groups progress throughout the year. In addition to these things, here are some other items of interest:

RECOGNITION RECEPTION: Our annual recognition reception — always one of my favorite events — celebrated the outstanding achievements and extraordinary philanthropic support of our alumni. The event included our 2023 Presidential Medal of Honor recipients and 2023 Alumni Association Award winners. Each of our honorees has brought wisdom and expertise to the patients and people within their care and have transformed the lives of many. Look for details next week on our website.

CURATOR RETIRES: Our collective thanks and congratulations to Elynne Rosenfeld, curator of the D’Arrigo Family Gallery at the Hafter Student Community Center on our Elkins Park campus, who is retiring after six years. Her extraordinary contributions as curator and director transformed our community. Read more about Elynne’s dedication to the gallery here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend a hearing of the Congressional Subcommittee on Veterans Health. As the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reaffirms its right to allow VA health care professionals to deliver health care services in a state other than the health care professional's state of licensure, registration, certification, or other state requirement, they are establishing National Standards of Practice to ensure quality of care for all veterans.

This has become a contentious issue for several professions that intersect with other medical specialties. This week’s hearing focused on optometry and certified nurse anesthetists. Ophthalmology has challenged optometry’s role in providing laser eye surgery among other medical procedures, and anesthesiology has challenged the role of certified nurse anesthetists to serve as solo, independent providers in VA facilities.

As a proud member of both the American Optometric Association and the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS), I was privileged to help craft AOA’s statement, which was skillfully delivered by Dr. Paul Barney, an AOA trustee who practices full-scope optometry in Alaska, including laser treatments.

It was heartening to observe committee members, all veterans themselves, recognize the value that optometrists and CRNAs provide to the VA as medical professionals. They all recognized the importance of providing health care to veterans with an integrated team of professionals. One of the members even stated that healthcare was a "team sport". Which is why interprofessional education is such an important focus of what we do at Salus.

Legislative advocacy is a vitally important tool to support the efforts of those who literally write the rules under which we all practice. In accurately and professionally providing factual accounts of our education, training and patient outcomes, we help our legislators enact laws that better reflect and support what we do.

All of our professions are statutorily regulated. Recognizing Salus’ historic commitment to “impact the future of healthcare, education and professional practice,” I take time for legislative advocacy and I encourage you to do the same. This work is done at every level—local, state and federal levels of government. Stay on top of the issues, and participate in your state and national associations. Your livelihoods and ability to care for your patients at the highest level of your training are impacted by state and federal regulations.

As you prepare for this first weekend of Fall, take some time to look over your state and national association’s websites to see what issues they are currently confronting and get up to speed with them. Now is not too early to become involved as you prepare to become leaders in your chosen professions.

Stay safe, continue to practice prudent prevention measures, such as masking when around large crowds, when out and about. We want you all back here next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

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

 

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

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

In other news:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Mike

When Will We Address Gun Violence With Urgency? Week of April 14, 2023

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful Spring morning from our Elkins Park campus. Our students and faculty have been busy preparing for the last stretch of the semester with finals and practicals on many people’s minds. In other news:

MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN: This week Salus University faculty, staff and students attended the Equity in Medical Education Summit at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, hosted by the DelVal DEI Consortium, of which Salus is a member. The event was sponsored by Independence Blue Cross Foundation. Juliana Mosley Williams, PhD, special assistant to the president for DEI, was a panel moderator and Monica Scirrotto, director of Admissions, and Melissa Trego, OD '04, Resident '09, PhD, dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) were panelists at conference breakout sessions.

CONGRATULATIONS DR. A!: Congratulations to Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan who successfully defended her EdD degree at the University of Pennsylvania earlier this week.

FITCH AWARD WINNER: Congratulations to Mark Boas, OD ‘86, our 2023 Albert Fitch Memorial Alumnus of the Year. From 1998 to 2020, Dr. Boas was a consultant at The Eye Institute (TEI) of Salus University, eventually joining the TEI clinical faculty from 2001 to 2015 and then advancing to assistant professor at the College from 2015 to 2020. He retired from the faculty and as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees in 2020. To read more about Dr. Boas and his accomplishments, click here.

INTERNATIONAL SLP EXCURSION: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at Salus University, as he speaks with a group of second-year SLP students about their international excursion in the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide clinical care. Click here for more.

SPRING FLING: The first Salus University Spring Fling will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 11, on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus. The afternoon will include carnival games, a DJ with dancing, group games and prizes and plenty of food. Come out to enjoy with colleagues and friends this fun event!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Just three days ago, yet another mass shooting occurred in Louisville, Kentucky, where over the course of one minute, five people were killed, including a 26-year old rookie police officer on the job for 10 days, and eight others were injured. As of mid-April, the Gun Violence Archive has counted at least 145 mass shootings in the United States this year. This is yet another mass shooting involving an assault-style rifle.

When will we, as a civil society, address this public health emergency with urgency? We know what works to intervene; we have evidence-based models and tools to blunt this epidemic. As healthcare providers, we can partner with all stakeholders – policymakers, business, civic and community leaders, law enforcement, faith communities, and health and social service providers, to advocate for sensible laws; invest in evidence-based interventions and prevention strategies; strengthen community based networks; and expand mental health and social supports. There is a role for each of us to play in saving lives, and we can achieve so much more together than individually.

As you prepare for the weekend, please keep all affected by gun violence in your thoughts and intentions. Think about what you can do to partner with others as you take action to reduce gun violence.

Try to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. It’s that time of the year when you should be using sunscreen, hydrating frequently and checking for ticks if you’re out in the woods. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Honoring the Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: Week of January 13, 2022

 

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

Happy Friday from Elkins Park, where we are excited to welcome our students back to campus!

WINNING ACADEMIC POSTER: Salus University faculty members recently authored an award-winning academic poster at a recent Interprofessional Education Collaboration (IPEC) virtual poster fair showcase. Titled “Evolution of an IPE Case: An Interprofessional Approach for Large Student Cohorts,” the event highlighted research scholarship on interprofessional education for collaborative (IPECP) projects. The lead author is Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan, dean of the Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). Read more here.

ALUMNI AWARDS NOMINATIONS: The Salus University Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. You are invited and encouraged to nominate members of the Salus community for one of our annual Alumni Awards. Nominations are open here until Jan. 19, 2023.

DEAN’S WINTERFEST: Dean’s Winterfest is back to being held in the winter. This year, the event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at The Hafter Center bringing our Salus community together after the holidays for some fun and face-to-face interaction.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we prepare to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, I am reflecting much on the principles he modeled through the life he lived and how we might apply these to address societal challenges, including our ongoing pandemic recovery, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and many others. Righteousness, equality, justice, and nonviolence were key tenets in the American civil rights movement that he led. How might we, as healthcare providers, emulate and apply these principles to meet the challenges we face?

I encourage you to carve out seventeen minutes today to watch Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. I suspect that while we’ve all heard parts of it, many have never listened to the entire speech. My hope is that you experience something far greater than the momentary satisfaction of social media.

To honor Dr. King, let me share two quotes that reflect what we do at Salus:

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” 

 

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

So many of us at Salus come from very different backgrounds and cultures. Together on our wonderful campus, we bring all our diverse strengths to impact the future of healthcare, education and professional practice.

Monday’s holiday is the only national holiday designated as a Day of Service to encourage all Americans to do something to improve their communities as a tribute to Dr. King. Dr. King lived his life serving others through his actions and words. On Monday, try to do something that honors Dr. King’s life. As Dr. King said, “Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.” Let’s try to live that adage in these turbulent times.

As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect of some of Dr. King’s lessons and work to employ those lessons in your daily interactions with your patients, clients, family members and friends. Be safe, continue to wear a mask when around crowds, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG! 

 - Mike

Keeping a Positive Attitude: Week of September 23, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful Fall morning from our Elkins Park campus. The storms have all moved on, leaving us some fantastic weather for the weekend! It’s been another busy week on campus with students and faculty very engaged in classes, labs and clinics. We also learned that Salus has been named a “2022 Great College to Work For,” which puts the University in elite company. The results, released in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 212 colleges and universities. In all, 68 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. To read more about our achievement, click here. 

 In addition to this great news and happenings on campus, here are a few items of interest:

RECOGNITION RECEPTION: Earlier this week, we were excited to honor our 2022 Alumni Association Award and Presidential Medal of Honor winners. This special event recognizes talented and dedicated people who are changing the world in their respective professions. To read more about the honorees and the festivities, click here.

NEW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT: Robert Owens, OD ‘80, FAAO, Diplomate American Board of Optometry, has been named the new Salus University Alumni Association president, effective this past July 2022. I've known Bob for a long time, since our days together at PCO, and we’re fortunate and thankful to have him leading our alumni initiatives. Click here to read more about Dr. Owens and his goals for the Association.

JEWISH NEW YEAR: Wishing our Jewish friends and colleagues a happy and healthy New Year. The Jewish New Year holiday, Rosh Hashanah. begins Sunday evening.

D’ARRIGO GALLERY EXHIBIT: A new exhibit, titled “Shine On,” will be on display through Oct. 19, 2022, at the D’Arrigo Family Art Gallery outside the Bennet Lounge at the Hafter Student Community Center. The exhibit, by artists Anne Leith and Kathleen Spicer, is the third leg of a traveling exhibit making the stop at Salus in Montgomery County. Click here for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The floods in Pakistan, fires out west, war in Ukraine, global warming, earthquakes in Taiwan and the Middle East and political upheaval everywhere, could be viewed as terribly depressing. Yet there are also many reasons to feel optimistic, as was the case on Monday evening, when we celebrated the accomplishments of many of our distinguished alumni. They each have positively touched the lives of thousands. Their many accomplishments are awe-inspiring.

The professions our students are embracing all have positive effects on people’s lives. With everything happening around the world, keep focused on your potential for positive impact: every encounter is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. If you are a faculty member, you're already impacting our students through your teaching and mentoring. If you’re a student, the care and presence you give to each of your patients and clients directly impacts the quality of their health outcomes.

While it can feel difficult to maintain a positive attitude, your optimism and energy are contagious. Both greatly benefit your mental health. Everyone here has good reason to remain optimistic and positive – because you are changing the world through the professions you’ve chosen to practice. Keep thought!

Have a great weekend – get out and enjoy the refreshing Fall weather! If you haven’t gotten your COVID booster yet, try to get that on your calendars within the next few weeks, certainly before traveling or going home for large family events.

Stay safe, continue to follow CDC masking guidelines and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Managing Stress: Week of September 16, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a bright, crisp morning in Elkins Park! I hope you all saw that beautiful, red sunrise! It’s been another busy week on campus with lectures, labs and clinics. This week I attend the bi-annual meeting of the Department of Veteran Affairs Special Medical Advisory Group, of which I am a member. I had the unique opportunity to brief members and the Undersecretary of VA Health on the critical ways that optometry serves our veterans and why it’s important for optometrists to practice at their highest levels of training. It was extremely well received.

Here are some items that I believe would be of interest to you:

QUARTERLY BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING: On Monday, 19 September, we will look forward to hosting our fabulous volunteer Board of Trustees on campus. If you have the opportunity to meet any of them, please take the time to thank them for their extraordinary service to Salus.

ANNUAL RECOGNITION RECEPTION: Our annual Recognition Reception highlighting both Alumni Association Awards and Presidential Medal of Honor recipients will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, September 19, at Morris Arboretum. To register for the event, click here.

LOFK CHARITY FUNDRAISER: Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 12, 2022, for the 15th annual “Looking Out for Kids” (LOFK) charity fundraiser at the National Constitution Center. This year’s Lighthouse Award recipient is Kovin Naidoo, Global Head of Advocacy and Partnerships for OneSight EssilorLuxxotica Foundation, and former CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute. For information and to purchase tickets and sponsorships, click here.

NEW RESIDENT: Andrew Kageyama OD, ‘23 Resident, is following in his parents’ footsteps. Although Dr. Kageyama was practically born into the profession, it wasn’t until the start of his undergraduate career that he confirmed the career path he wanted to pursue. And now he’s one of our 2022-2023 residents. Read more about Dr. Kageyama here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As everyone gets into their normal “battle rhythm” for the Fall semester I want to remind you to take care of yourselves physically and mentally. With the nicer weather, it’s going to be much easier for all of us to get outside and enjoy all the great parks and trails that we’re lucky to have nearby. These are great opportunities to relieve stress and get exercise. Here are some additional suggestions to help you manage stress as you get into this semester’s work:

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!), exercise, have breakfast, etc.

Get enough sleep – This also sounds pretty basic, and to some, it may seem 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 including 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 safely walk in nature that will calm your mind and recharge your energy while exercising.

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 – 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.

I understand what you’re going through, as I feel many of the same stressors. In addition to the steps mentioned, I find it helpful to remain focused, stay healthy and keep an optimistic outlook on things. I strongly encourage you to contact the skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are there for you. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

As you prepare for the weekend, try to get out and enjoy the great weather. Before we know it, we’ll be shoveling snow! It’s also time to think about scheduling your COVID-19 booster as well remaining vigilant in your prevention activities such as following CDC masking guidelines.

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

-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

Addressing Climate Change Now: Week of September 24th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where it’s really starting to feel a little like Fall! It’s been another busy week on campus. Please check out some of the other important activities and things going on around campus:

AWARDS CEREMONY: A ceremony honoring our Presidential Medal of Honor and our Alumni Association awardees will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Morris Arboretum, 100 E. Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19118. The Alumni Association annually recognizes the professional contributions and achievements of graduates and friends of the institution. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon those who have made contributions to their profession and for their service to the University. Additionally, we will be acknowledging the outstanding service of our former Board Chair, Jo Surpin.

RACP GRANT: Sen. Arthur L. Haywood, III, along with Pennsylvania state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, were on campus recently to announce a awarding of a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant that will be used primarily for University’s new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program. Read more about that here.

O&P DIRECTOR: Please join me in welcoming Dr. Chad Duncan to the Salus family. Chad comes to us by way of Northwestern University, where he was the director of the nation’s oldest O&P program. We’re excited to have Chad take the helm of our newest program!

CONTACT LENS SCHOLARSHIP: I. William Collins, OD ‘47, recently established the I. William Collins OD, FAAO, Contact Lens Science Award, a scholarship that will be awarded to two PCO/Salus students. The award is designed for students who rotated through the Contact Lens track and showed exceptional case management skills, which includes the clinical examination, design, fitting and troubleshooting of specialty contact lenses. Read more about Dr. Collins’ generous gift here.

CLASS OF 2022 RESIDENT: Welcome to Alethia Love Harris, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, one of the current class of residents. It just so happened that The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was the first place on the grad school interview list for Dr. Love. She enjoyed that interview and was so impressed with what she saw and experienced that she canceled all the other interviews and decided on PCO/Salus from the get-go. Read more about Dr. Love here. 

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: This week’s Students at Leisure (SAL) features Olivia Burger ‘22 OD, whose interest in becoming an optometrist was first piqued in the seventh grade. But by the time she got to PCO/Salus, she found that her love of concert photography was continuing to grow. Read more about Olivia’s passion for both optometry and photography here.

HISPANTIC HERTITAGE MONTH: Throughout the month we will be highlighting faculty and alumni on social media for Hispanic Heritage Month. This week, Dr. Fabiana Perla is featured, so check it out on our social media feeds!

SALUS SCOOP RETURNS: The Salus Scoop, held to give first-year students an opportunity to learn more about the University’s clubs and organizations and how they can become more involved, was curtailed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it returned this year and drew a big crowd to the Hafter Center. Read more about the event here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I read and listened to the news this week I couldn’t help but think it’s time we started to talk about climate change and how that might affect all those we care for, no matter what profession we are in. I think the storms that we recently experienced are a sign that things have changed and will continue to challenge all of us. From a public health perspective, climate change will directly affect disease vectors globally - many diseases that may have historically been endemic in tropical or sub-tropical regions will begin to migrate to our part of the world - this is already happening. As the climate gets warmer, mosquitos and other insects that carry diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and others will begin to follow the warmer weather further north, in our case and further south below the equator. That will present a whole host of often debilitating and devastating diseases to our region that we only saw when on humanitarian missions or in text books. It will be essential that as a teaching and learning institution we begin to include these diseases in our differential diagnosis when evaluating patients who present with symptoms we normally would not link with those diseases.

We also need to be advocating for reducing carbon signatures to help slow man-made climate change. While we don’t think we can make a difference, I would argue that every little thing we can do helps. Not driving to do an errand or even replacing your incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can help. Obviously, it’s going to take greater muscle movements such as moving toward more renewable energy sources and perfecting electric vehicles, but every little bit helps. As Congress and local municipalities begin to grapple with these issues, I ask that you advocate for clean, low-carbon energy alternatives with your local legislators. Our fragile planet is at a tipping point and if we don’t actively and aggressively address climate change now, the migration of mosquitos and other insects are the least of the problems we will have to face. If you want to learn more about disease and climate change, here’s a link to a good article published by Stanford University’s Institute for the Environment.

As you prepare for the weekend, please think about what you can do individually to reduce your carbon footprint. While you’re doing that, try to get out and enjoy the nice weather that’s predicted. As you go about your activities, please remember to wear a face mask when around others, socially distance when you can and continue to wash your hands frequently! Please continue to look out for one another, be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Update Addendum: Week of May 8th, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike

Presidential Medals and Alumni Awards: Week of November 13th, 2020

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

Good morning! It’s a bit soggy and cool around campus but that hasn’t dulled the spirits of our students, faculty and staff as they’ve continued their didactic, lab and clinical studies. Much is happening on and around campus that I’d like to share this morning: 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS AND ALUMNI AWARDS: Tonight we are celebrating the 2020 Presidential Medal of Honor recipients during a virtual event that will premiere at 6 p.m., featuring acceptance remarks from our award winners. Please join in with the link salus.edu/presidentsmedals. In addition, we are recognizing the 2020 Alumni Association Award recipients with an online event at salus.edu/alumni-awards. Our alumni awardees reflected on their memories at Salus and expressed their gratitude for the special recognition. I hope you watch both events and enjoy the shows!

IMPACT OF ELECTION RESULTS: Thanks to Dr. Juliana “Dr. J.” Mosley for setting up our latest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee Lunch and Learn, this week featuring one of her colleagues, Dr. Jeffrey Carroll, assistant professor of Political Science and the chair of the Center for Data & Society at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. The timely topic was “2020 Election Results, National Impact and Marginalized Populations,” and provided a spirited discussion about several important topics related to the election. Thanks to Dr. Carroll for his insights. Keep an eye on our website for a story detailing the event.

PA LONG WHITE COATS: Congratulations to the Physician Assistant Class of 2020, which held its Long White Coat virtual ceremony last night, honoring 48 graduates. It was great to see everyone and participate in the ceremony.

SEP COMEBACK: The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), initially started in 1977 by Robert E. Horne, was offered every summer for 39 years continuously until its hiatus in 2015. Now, thanks to a generous grant from National Vision, America’s Best, the program will be returning under the direction of Ruth Shoge, OD ‘06, Resident ‘07. Read more about the program at salus.edu/SummerEnrichment.

BATTLING THE PANDEMIC: While we’re still taking the proper precautions to battle COVID-19, check out a behind-the-scenes story about how our University team has managed the pandemic to this point, particularly the process that enabled a successful pivot to virtual instruction over the course of a weekend and what steps were taken to get our students, faculty and staff safely back to campus on a limited basis. Read more at salus.edu/PandemicBattle. 

BLVS AND EMPLOYMENT: The Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) at Salus University recently hosted a panel discussion, in partnership with Penn State Abington Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS) Program, called “Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Visually Impaired” to educate current students and practitioners who are employed or seeking employment. For the first of a three-part Q&A series on our website, go to salus.edu/BLVSemployPart1.

FINAL THOUGHTS: COVID-19 cases have been dramatically increasing across the country to the point where we have surpassed the number of cases seen back in March and April (see graph). Our own region has not been immune from these increases. It’s imperative that we all continue to be remain vigilant when it comes to wearing our masks, socially distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. The CDC announced that there is growing evidence that face masks also protect those who are wearing one, so there’s another good reason to put that face mask on.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in a couple of weeks, there will be temptations to see friends and family members you haven’t seen in a while. I would caution you not to take chances and to resist the temptation to gather, even in small groups, given the rise in infections across the region. Most of the current spread has been linked to small family gatherings and sporting events. The last thing you want to do is get infected, infect family members or return to campus after the holidays and spread the virus here. I realize how difficult this is, but we all need to practice good judgement going into the holidays.

Most of you have heard the good news concerning the Pfizer vaccine, which has been shown to be 90% effective against the virus. While this is great news, the vaccine is still awaiting FDA approval and it will be several months after that before the vaccine is distributed to the public. While there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s imperative that we remain vigilant until we get there - which we will. In the meantime, if you haven’t already downloaded the COVID Alert PA app to aid in contact tracing efforts, I strongly encourage you to do that. Here’s the link: COVID Alert PA app.

Related to all this, there have been almost 400 flu cases confirmed in the state so far. If you haven’t already gotten your flu vaccine, please try to get that done this weekend. The weekend looks to be a typical Fall weekend, so please get outside to get some fresh air and enjoy what’s left of the Fall leaves. Remember to wear your face mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. What you do off campus affects all of us on campus! 

Be safe, be smart, remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike