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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike

The Year of the Optometrist: Week of January 3rd, 2020

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

Welcome to 2020 - “The Year of the Optometrist”! It’s still pretty quiet around the Elkins Park campus, as classes won’t resume until Monday morning. Our clinics have been open, happily staffed by our 4th year students, residents and clinical staff. So, not much to report this week other than we’re all very excited about entering the new year and moving forward with many of the initiatives we’ve been discussing through 2019.

Submissions are now being sought for Community Expressions 2020, featuring the art work of Salus University faculty, students, alumni, staff, spouses and significant others, that will be exhibited from February 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, January 29. Eligibility includes 2D work (up to two pieces per artist) drawing, painting, mixed media, photography.

• All work under glass must be framed and all paintings must be wired securely behind the piece
• Work must not extend more than 6 inches from the wall
• Work must not exceed 36 inches in height or width
• No shipping work will be accepted
• No fragile or wet work will be accepted
• No special hanging needs will be considered

Drop-off of the artwork will be from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, February 4, at the Hafter Center. Pickup will be Friday, March 13, or by arrangement over the weekend. This is always a fun event where we see all the wonderful artistic talent our staff has to contribute to the event.


For those who have been on campus and have walking around, you might have noticed that there has been a lot of construction-related activities on the 4th floor of the West Wing. We’ve updated restrooms, replaced HVAC systems throughout the building and have totally renovated the Board Room, which is now designed to host our quarterly board meetings as well as serve as a modular classroom that can be fully utilized throughout the academic year.

On Sunday, Dr. Vitek and I will be heading to Israel where we will be meeting with the leadership team at Hadassah Academic College to discuss collaboration with our optometry program. I’ll be meeting with my counterpart to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that helps to move these collaborations forward. We have also been asked to give a few lectures; I’ll be lecturing on public and global health and how optometry fits into these broad areas and the other on leadership lessons learned while I was in the Navy and Dr. Vitek will be lecturing and conducting a workshop on Evidence Based Practice. I’m happy to present any of my lectures to groups at Salus when we get back. As a side note, given today’s current events, we’ll be paying very close attention to the security picture over there, as I’m sure our hosts will be as well.

So, as we enter into the last weekend of vacation for most of our students, we also have sent many students in our Occupational Therapy program off for their clinical rotation year. I wish everyone the very best as they begin their new semesters and rotations. It’s going to be a great year! Have some fun, get some rest and come back Monday ready to hit those books and care for our patients and clients.

Mike