Addressing Stress: Week of June 3rd, 2022

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

Good morning on this summery morning in Elkins Park. We are transitioning to summer on cue with Memorial Day weekend already in the rearview mirror! Even as summer approaches, our campus has been busy with students attending classes, labs and clinics. As our Chestnut Hill clinic undergoes a cosmetic face lift, operations have temporarily shifted to The Eye Institute. Kudos to Dr. Maria Parisi, Mr. John Gaal, Mr. Chris Esposito and Mr. Rick Echevarria and their staffs for making this happen quickly and seamlessly! 

Here are some other items of interest for you:

COMMENCEMENT WRAP-UP: Our 124th commencement ceremony was held last week at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. It was wonderful to be back at the Kimmel face-to-face. Graduates and attendees were inspired by Admiral Michelle J. Howard, the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy, former Vice Chief of Naval Operations and a shipmate and personal friend of mine. We also heard encouraging words from Courtney Bernhardt, MS ‘22, who delivered our graduate commencement address. For details on the festivities, click here.

HOUSE DEMOCRATIC SOUTHEAST DELEGATION VISIT: Earlier this week we had the honor of hosting members of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Southeast Delegation at the University. This gave us the opportunity to help educate regional legislators about our programs and how we are training the next generation of healthcare providers for the Commonwealth.

CHALLENGING ROAD TO PhD: Speaking of commencement, be sure to read the story on Brianna Brim, PhD ‘22, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPP, our director of the Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI), who overcame several personal challenges to graduate with a PhD from the University’s Biomedicine program. Congratulations, Dr. Brim! For details, click here.

RAM EXPERIENCE: PCO/Salus Doctor of Optometry students recently volunteered to serve in the Remote Area Medical (RAM) group’s mobile medical clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia for two consecutive days. The event allowed several of our students to use their expertise to assist families and individuals who have been without eye care for years. Read more about it here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we transition into summer, take the opportunity to get out and enjoy some of the great recreational sites in our region. The Schuylkill River Trail, Fairmount Park and the trail systems right here in Montgomery County provide verdant greenspaces to jog, bike and enjoy nature. Coming off a stressful semester of classes, labs and clinical assignments, one of the best destressors is getting exercise and spending time in the great outdoors.

From all that we’re hearing in the world about the war in Ukraine, inflation, mass shootings, social unrest, in addition to all the “stuff” we have do in normal daily routines, it’s no wonder our stress levels are high. Only you know how stress affects you. To that end, I strongly encourage you to address head on what might be your stress triggers. Talking through some of these things with friends, family members or other confidants about what’s on your mind is extremely helpful. If you would like to speak with a professional, our CPPD counselors are always available to students and our health insurance providers can arrange for counseling sessions for faculty and staff. We are living in what the Chinese proverb labels “interesting times.” We will get through all of this with a little help and support from those around us.

Have a great weekend – make some time to relax, regenerate and destress. Go see the new Top Gun movie – my contacts tell me it’s fantastic and very realistic. It certainly will take your mind of things for a couple of hours!

In the meantime, also remember that COVID numbers are high in our region, so please remember to mask up when on campus and around others off campus, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. We want you to remain SALUS STRONG as you continue to look out for one another.

Mike

Potential Health Implications of Roe v. Wade Reversal: Week of May 6th, 2022

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

Good morning on a rather gray Friday from Elkins Park. As I walked around the campus yesterday, I noted many of our students completing or preparing to take their final exams and our guests from Oulu University in Finland enjoying their patient care experiences in our Clinical Procedures lab. This time of the year is always busy for both students and faculty and an extremely exciting time for those preparing for commencement in just a few short weeks. It’s one of my favorite times of the year.

Here are some things which I hope will interest you:

PROJECT MYVISION: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and its clinical facility, The Eye Institute (TEI), recently partnered with STAAR Surgical, a leading developer and manufacturer of implantable lenses and companion delivery systems for the eye, to launch Project MyVision, a charitable lens-based refractive surgery program. Read more here.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING: A warm welcome to our students from the University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland, who are spending two weeks on campus in a specialized training course in primary eye care. The cohort is participating in controlled patient sessions that include a variety of patients with eye conditions that are not typically seen in their native country. Robert Andersson, MSc ‘10, PhD ‘18, is serving as their lead instructor. Dr. Alissa Coyne, Dr. Lynn Greenspan and Dr. Nick Gidosh will also provide specialized lectures and workshops in the topic areas of lasers, traumatic brain injury and myopia control respectively.

QUIZ BOWL WINNERS: Congratulations to the winners of the PCO/Salus 2022 Quiz Bowl, April Mishley ‘23OD and Fayaz Vizam ‘24OD. I’ve heard they were thrilled to participate in their first Quiz Bowl and even more excited about their winning performances. Click here to read more about their experiences.

PET THERAPY: Although the pandemic has put a hold on the event for a few years, five dogs from Comfort Caring Canines (CCC) Therapy Dogs Inc., visited the Learning Resource Center (LRC), ostensibly to allow students, faculty and staff a chance to get up close and personal with the animals in an effort to relieve some stress and anxiety before finals week. For details, click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week we learned from a leaked document that the Supreme Court will likely move to reverse Roe v Wade, a landmark decision of almost 50 years ago (January 22, 1973) in which the court ruled that the Constitution of the United States protected a pregnant woman’s right to choose to have an abortion without excessive government restriction. As healthcare professionals, we need be cognizant of the impact on our patients and their families. If it occurs, the reversal will again transform the landscape of women’s reproductive health in our country. Reducing access to reproductive healthcare would exacerbate existing disparities in maternal health outcomes. For women who lack access or the means to travel to another state providing access, this can potentially result in unsanctioned or self-administered medical procedures which often lead to poor health outcomes including death. It is extremely important for us to understand the psychological and physiological ramifications to ensure we can do what’s necessary to support our patients in the most professional and efficacious way possible.

As you prepare for the weekend, get the rain gear ready as tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be rainy and cool. Also, don’t forget that Sunday is Mother’s Day! Please continue to mask up when out and about, much like we’re doing on campus. Socially distance when you can and continue to wash your hands frequently. This most recent Covid wave is projected to peak sometime around mid-May so we need to stay on top of all of our preventive measures.

Stay safe, remain healthy and continue to be SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays: Week of April 14th, 2022

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

Good morning on a beautiful Thursday! This week’s update is both a day early and abridged due to the upcoming holiday weekend.

Here are some items of interest:

COVID MONITORING: We have been closely monitoring the increase in cases nationally secondary to the the BA.2 variant of Omicron. Even though our positivity rates remain extremely low at the University, later today, out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Eckert will be sending out a message concerning a temporary modification to our masking policy beginning Tuesday, April 19. Please be on the lookout for that. 

INAUGURAL DEI EDUCATES! EVENT: In an effort to provide faculty and staff with a better understanding and to offer advice on how to be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community, our Diversion, Equity and Inclusion committee along with the Human Resources Department, recently hosted the inaugural DEI Educates! virtual event featuring Stan Kimer, president of Total Engagement Consulting, which specializes in diversity management and organizational effectiveness. Read more about the training session here. 

COMMENCEMENT KEYNOTE: Michelle J. Howard, Admiral, U.S. Navy, Retired, will be the keynote speaker for Salus University’s 124th commencement at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. I’ve known Michelle for years as we were both in the same Flag Officer indoctrination class. Read more about Admiral Howard here.

SLP CAPSTONES: Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology program Class of 2022 students were able to demonstrate how well they worked together in small groups and communicated with each other during the annual Capstone presentations. Click here for details.

DEEP DIVE INTO POST-BACC: In this podcast, we talk with Candida Mulligan, an admissions officer in Salus University's Office of Admissions. She talks to us about the Post-baccalaureate program and how it is unique to Salus. Click here for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we continue Ramadan and approach Passover and Easter, I find myself reflecting on our important mission at Salus: We advance integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services.

Together, we do so much good for our students and the communities we serve. With everything happening in the world -- in Ukraine and in our own neighborhoods, Iet’s revisit the core values that have led most of us to the healing professions: gratitude, compassion, justice, honesty, humility, integrity, dignity and respect for human life, to name a few. No matter what holidays we celebrate, whether it be the continuation of Ramadan, Passover or Easter these practices are worthy of regular reflection and recommitment. Not only do they strengthen our service as educators and clinicians, they add meaning and purpose to our relationships. They enrich our shared humanity.

I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation over the holiday weekend.. Continue to be safe, continue to take all the appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and look out for one another. Together we are SALUS STRONG.

Mike

Time to Recognize Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency: Week of April 8th, 2022

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where the rain has finally let up and where we hope to see some sunshine! It’s been another busy week on campus with our students and faculty in classes, clinics, and labs. Our Covid numbers have remained low, which is consistent with what we’re seeing throughout the county. As the BA.2 variant continues to be the dominant strain, we are still strongly encouraging everyone to wear a face mask when out in public spaces where it’s difficult to socially distance.

A WIN FOR DIVERSITY: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden’s nominee for the Supreme Court, was confirmed by a 53-47 vote in the Senate. The confirmation of Judge Brown Jackson, as the first Black woman Justice, is a win for diversity and inclusion, with another step toward representation for ALL being our norm.

Exciting news around campus:

MATCH DAY BUZZ: There’s always some buzz and anxiety surrounding Match Day when all residency programs and candidates who applied receive their results on where they ultimately matched after a season of residency interviews. Meet this year’s PCO/Salus residents, who start their residencies July 1, 2022, here.

BEST PRACTICES SCHOLARSHIP: Benjamin Gustin ‘23OD — a Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University Doctor of Optometry (OD) student enrolled in the Accelerated Scholars Program – is the recipient of CooperVision’s 2022 Best Practices Student Scholarship, offered to outstanding third-year optometry students. Read more here.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: Kelly Salmon, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLT-LANA, NDC, an assistant professor in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) department at Salus University, was part of a team that presented one of the top three posters to win the Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) People’s Choice Award at the group’s virtual conference in mid-March. To read more, click here.

BAY SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Congratulations to Nia Phillips ‘23OD, who is the 2022 Rick Bay Foundation Scholarship award winner. Find out Nia’s reaction to the award by clicking here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last Wednesday I attended the monthly meeting of the Sunday Breakfast Club (which actually meets on Wednesday evenings — don’t ask). The organization is comprised of a diverse group of leaders from the Greater Philadelphia Region’s business, non-profit and government sectors, who engage in shared learning and conversation about the issues of our time.

The topic for the evening was healthcare, with an emphasis on the pandemic and health issues facing the region. Participants included Patricia Wellenbach, chair of the Thomas Jefferson University board of trustees, which oversees Jefferson Health; Dr. David Rubin, director of CHOP's Policy Lab; and Betty Long, president and CEO of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates. They opened with observations of how people and organizations continue to cope with the pandemic, and quickly zeroed in on what they perceive is the top healthcare issue facing Philadelphia. Every panelist agreed: the gun violence epidemic is the number one public health issue in Philadelphia. They urged all to take this as a call to action. As healthcare providers, we cannot ignore this.

Last year in Philadelphia, there were more than 550 gun-related homicides. Nationwide, there were 107 mass shootings (defined as 4 or more victims), 122 people killed and 325 injured, for a total of 447 total victims, including the shooters in some instances. According to the New York Times, guns account for over 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. This includes homicides, suicides and accidents. While mass shootings and other gun-related homicides tend to get all the press attention, over 50% of gun deaths are suicides.

Deaths attributed to guns represent a public health emergency. Not surprisingly, the number of civilian owned guns directly relates to the number of gun deaths. What stands out is just how many more guns are owned in the U.S. compared to other developed countries.

We need a multi-faceted approach that includes: funding for mental health initiatives; enhanced suicide prevention initiatives; community-based violence prevention measures; enacting effective gun control laws, such as universal background checks; barring people with a history of mental illness and domestic violence from purchasing guns; and banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. I raise this not to make a political statement, but as a measured response commensurate to this dire public health emergency. As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to do what we can to turn this around.

As you begin your weekend, I ask that you give some thought to how we might play a positive role in addressing this urgent public health issue. Please stay safe, continue to wear your facemask when around others, socially distance and wash your hands frequently.

You are SALUS STRONG because of your commitment to helping others improve their lives. Take care of one another, stay safe and take time to rest.

Mike

Keeping Ukrainians in Our Thoughts: Week of March 11th, 2022

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

Good morning from New Orleans where I have been attending both the Armed Forces Optometric Society and Southern Educational Council of Optometry’s annual meeting. It’s been a busy week of fantastic continuing education and meeting other optometric colleagues. For those PCO faculty, students and alumni who might also be here, PCO will be hosting a reception later today from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at The Bower, 1320 Magazine St, New Orleans.

Here are some other topics that you might find interesting: 

SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK: The Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD)is highlighting the importance of sleep during Sleep Awareness Week March 13-19. Catch up with Dr. Cristina Laracuente-Trzaska, PsyD, CPPD’s newest counselor, outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 16. Grab a sleep mask and enter CPPD's gift basket raffle. You can pick up some additional tips on healthy sleep habits by following the Instagram (@cppd_salus) and Facebook accounts here. Feel free to reach out to our CPPD counselors, who have expanded their hours and services, for an individual counseling appointment. You can meet the counselors and see their open hours here. 

OTs AND REFUGEES: To help ensure refugee children have a healthy start to their lives in the United States, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently shared information with the University’s Occupational Therapy (OT) students on how to assist with their efforts. Read more about that here. 

ACCELERATED SCHOLARS, PART SIX: Are you interested in fulfilling a residency after completing optometry school? In the sixth part of this series focused on the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University's Accelerated Scholars Doctor of Optometry Program, three on-campus residents – Kiera Jeschke, OD ‘21, Chandni Patel, OD '21, and Natalee Rackus, OD '21, discuss how and why they chose PCO/Salus for their specific interests. Learn more here. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features Kaylin Magosin, MSOT ’20, who was in the final two weeks of her first clinical rotation when the pandemic hit. Find out how Kaylin handled that challenge and what she’s been doing since graduation. Read more here.

MASKING ON CAMPUS: A reminder that while we are “mask optional” in non-instructional spaces on the Elkins Park campus, please remember that in all instructional spaces (classrooms and labs) and clinics face masks are required. Please be respectful of those who are not yet comfortable or are unable to take their masks off due to health-related reasons.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As you prepare for this weekend, I ask that you continue to keep the Ukrainian people, both here and in Europe, in your thoughts and prayers as the Russian invasion continues to take innocent lives and displace millions of people. We are still collecting non-perishable food, first aid supplies, OTC medicines, and various hygiene products to help the people of Ukraine. A box has been placed in the cafeteria lobby on the Elkins Park campus for those who would like to contribute.

Please try to get outside, even in the cold blustery weather predicted for the weekend, just to unwind and destress. As you do go about your travels, please remember that while COVID numbers are extremely low, you still need to take the appropriate precautions such as masking when around large groups, social distancing and washing your hands frequently to help prevent any spread of the virus.

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

Mike

Starting Our Strategic Planning Refresh: Week of February 18th, 2022

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

Good morning on a cool, windy morning in Elkins Park. It’s been another busy week on campus with many of our students preparing for practicals and other tests and changing clinical rotations. All of the moves from last week are now complete with renovations beginning in earnest in the West building, paving the way for the construction of our new Orthotics and Prosthetics and Activities of Daily Living labs. It will be great to have all of our academic programs situated centrally. Our COVID positivity numbers remain extremely low with zero cases reported over the past couple of weeks. Thank you for all you’ve done to help keep us healthy and safe!

Here are some other items of interest:

TOP JOBS: We are extremely proud that several of the professions in which Salus University trains are once again among the top 100 jobs in the nation for 2022 as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Check out the rankings here. 

DEI SPEAKS!: Our next DEI Speaks! event will be from noon to 1 p.m. today featuring David X. Marquez, PhD, Professor of Kinesiology and Nutrition and Director of the Exercise Psychology Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Marquez's talk, “Importance of Culture in Addressing the Health of Latino/a/XS,” will provide perspective and relevance, given the current national conversation on how social determinants of health impact Brown and Black communities. The Office of DEI and White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL), student organization, are co-sponsoring the event.

EATING DISORDER AWARENESS: Did you know that eating disorders affect at least 9 percent of the population? Within this general population, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), gay men, people with larger bodies, and transgender individuals are less likely to be identified as and treated for eating disorders. Please tune in to CPPD's social media accounts (IG: CPPD Salus; FB: Center for Personal and Professional Development at Salus University) for more information pertaining to disordered eating during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Feb. 21-27. CPPD's Dr. Tami April-Davis will be handing out psychoeducational information (and treats) outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23. CPPD is also using Black History Month as an opportunity to highlight black mental health accounts on IG. Check out CPPD's weekday IG stories for these highlights. 

STUDENT NETWORKING SERIES: Registration began this week for the second session of the Student Networking Series scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, where we will explore the Pennsylvania Occupation Therapy Association (POTA) scholarship application process. The session will be led by Dr. Lauren Sponseller, PhD, OTD, MSOTR/L, MEd, chair of the Occupational Therapy department at Salus University, and facilitated by our student liaison, Ashley Boyd. Dr. Sponseller has served as a member of the POTA Student Scholarship Committee and as a reviewer of Student Scholarship Applications in 2021. The session is free for POTA members and $10 for non-members. Use this link to register. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features Kristin Kaplewicz, MSOT ‘20. Check out how Kristin incorporates her therapy dog, Syrah, into her work as an occupational therapist. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Thanks to all of those who attended our Salus Community Update meeting yesterday to discuss the next steps in updating our Strategic Plan. I’m looking forward to getting our focus groups together to hear your thoughts and help move our university forward. I also wanted to take the opportunity to once again thank all those who completed the Town Hall survey in advance of yesterday’s session. As I noted yesterday, I read every response you send, and I take each one to heart. Here are some of the themes that emerged from the survey that I wanted to share with those who may not have been able to attend yesterday’s meeting:

Staff turnover and employee retention. We have experienced very real staff turnover in TLS and at TEI, and we are taking this seriously. We are conducting a series of meetings across TLS staff and we'll be scheduling focus groups at TEI to learn more from you about what you're seeing, what's working and what's not. We’ve already made changes to our weekly hours for TEI staff and will be monitoring that closely. Please be in touch with me or my Chief of Staff or Human Resources if you'd like to share any concerns or suggestions. We know we can always do more to improve and welcome your constructive suggestions.

The recent move of administrative and academic offices to 8380. This move was required to make space for our new Orthotic and Prosthetics program as well as expand our Activities of Daily Living lab. In doing so, we thought it best to consolidate our teaching and learning spaces together to make it easier for students and faculty. Thanks, in part to a generous grant from the Commonwealth, we were able to accomplish this. Anyone with a Salus ID can easily access the administrative offices in the North building.

DEI. Establishing the office of DEI is an active recognition of the impact we and our emerging educators and healthcare practitioners have on the health and well-being of the thousands we serve. I encourage you to reach out to my special assistant, Dr J., if you have questions, suggestions or concerns.

Data on how students are doing. This is something we're all extremely interested in learning and tracking. Our Academic Assessment Committee is preparing a student survey to gather data on student performance, engagement and impacts of the pandemic. They'll share the results as soon as available.

For those issues we did not address, I encourage you to please reach out to me directly or to my Chief of Staff or Human Resources. We sincerely welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions.

As you prepare for the weekend, while the COVID numbers are decreasing in our region, please continue to remain vigilant in your preventive measures by wearing a face mask when around others, socially distance when you can and wash your hands frequently. Also, please remember what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus.

Have a great weekend. Please be safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Get Your Booster Now: Week of January 28th, 2022

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

Good morning on yet another frigid morning in our region! This is our second full week back on campus for many, and things have been going very well. Our COVID positivity rate has been 0.8%, with some face-to-face classes and labs and clinics going full speed. This past weekend our Board of Trustees, along with representatives from faculty, students, staff and administration spent several hours in our second round of Scenario Planning to update our current strategic plan. I look forward to sharing with you during our February town hall some of the exciting ideas we discussed.

Other happenings that may be of interest to you:

UD DAY: Our faculty explored teaching and learning trends in higher education and shared anecdotes and best practices in meeting the current educational needs of our students at our recent University Faculty Development Day. To read more, click here.

DEI STRONG: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) remains very active and Salus Strong with the addition of Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams, special assistant to the president. Read a Q&A with Dr. J. here. Our updated DEI website contains a great deal of interesting and informative information about Salus that you will want to check out here.

DEI SPEAKS!: Dr. J will be hosting a “DEI Speaks!” event on February 18th at 12 PM featuring Dr. David Marquez, who will be discussing, “Importance of Culture in the Health of Latino/a/xs. You can read more about the DEI Speaks! Series here.

CLIMBING TO NEW HEIGHTS: Our latest Students At Leisure (SAL) story features Shayna Sawyer ‘24 AUD, who has taken up rock climbing for both her physical and mental health. Read more about Shayna here.

CAPSTONE FINDINGS: Physician Assistant Studies alum Eric Nguyen, MMS ‘21, used his capstone project to weigh the risks of electronic vs. traditional cigarettes. Read more here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: A debt of thanks to our Deans and Directors and our COVID Advisory Group for helping to ensure our safe return to campus. Developed with their advisement, our pandemic safety strategy along with proven mitigation measures — boosters, upgraded facemasks, social distancing and handwashing, are working effectively to keep us safe. As conditions change, we will continue to tap the CDC, our resident experts and local health department guidance to help us meet whatever comes next. We are excited to host a booster event on our Elkins Park campus later today! I hope all in need of the jab have made appointments. Only 40% of the fully vaccinated U.S. population has gotten a booster to date [1], even though data strongly validates the importance of getting one to be protected from severe disease. [2]

This weekend the weather guessers are talking about some snow in our area with the potential for significant accumulations along the coast and possibly around here. Please monitor the weather if you plan to head out to ensure you’re not caught by surprise.

Be safe and look out for one another. Together we remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

References:

[1] Anderson, M. (2022). COVID-19 vaccine booster drive is faltering in the U.S. Associated Press News: 2.26.22, https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-492fb86ff65c0f9a2d87b129e5da90a4

[2] Thompson MG, Natarajan K, Irving SA, et al. Effectiveness of a Third Dose of mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Adults During Periods of Delta and Omicron Variant Predominance — VISION Network, 10 States, August 2021–January 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:139–145. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7104e3external icon.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7104e3.htm?s_cid=mm7104e3_x

Keeping COVID Victims in Our Thoughts: Week of April 2nd, 2021

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

It’s been a relatively short week. I know that students, faculty and staff have been busy preparing for board exams and clinical practicals, in addition to attending virtual and in-person classes and providing patient care in our clinics. Here’s some of what’s going on around our Salus Community:

HOLY DAYS: This time of year includes several cultural and holy days that are significant to many in our community: 

• Passover (March 28 - April 4) — The Jewish holiday observed for eight days (sundown to sundown) celebrates the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt.
• Holi (March 29) — An annual Hindu festival held in the spring to signify the triumph of good over evil, the end of winter, and the arrival of spring and the harvest.
• Holy Week (March 28 - April 4) — Holy Week is a Christian observance from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus, who died on Good Friday and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all who believe.

SAVE THE DATE: Mark your calendars for this year’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) Externship Celebration. The virtual event will be held on April 27, 2021, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2022 as they journey into externship. This year's event will be interactive with trivia and a few other surprises. Please click here to RSVP to the event.

BEHIND THE SCENES: In the latest episode of “Behind the Scenes at TEI,” we get some insights from Jeffrey Nyman, OD, FAAO, director of emergency services at The Eye Institute (TEI), and its most senior staff member. The nature of emergency care can be unpredictable, but Dr. Nyman gives us an inside look at how his day unfolds. To read more, click here. 

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program. Dr. Lustig plays guitar, piano, percussion and sings. For years she has had a particular interest in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian folkloric music. Find out more about Dr. Lustig here.

NEW CLASS OF RESIDENTS: Congratulations to the class of newly matched PCO optometry residents. They will be honing their skills in Primary Care/Ocular Disease, Pediatrics/Vision Therapy, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Cornea/Contact Lens and Neuro Ophthalmic Disease. We look forward to seeing you at The Eye Institute this summer!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Check in on Alexandra Kistner, MS ‘17, and how her career has progressed since graduation in this week’s “Where Are They Now.” A member of the inaugural Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) class in 2015, she is now a speech therapist in the Central Bucks School District in Pennsylvania. To read more about Alexandra, go here.

VACCINE AVAILABILITY: Vaccine availability is becoming more ubiquitous in our region. It’s taken a while to get there but by the middle of this month, any person over the age of sixteen will be eligible. What has been incredible about these new vaccines is how effective (100%) they have been proven to be against severe COVID disease and hospitalizations. If you have not yet had the opportunity to receive either the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, here’s a link to the Commonwealth’s website that will explain the vaccine rollout timeline and help guide you to one of many pharmacies in the area where vaccines will be available. I strongly encourage all of you to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Once you are vaccinated, here is the CDC guidance that outlines what you should and should not do.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we look forward to having 4-days off from class, clinic and work, I ask that you take a few moments to remember all those who have lost their lives to COVID. To date, over 552,000 Americans have died, with the global toll over 2.8 million people. While we are not yet out of the woods, your perseverance, resiliency, creativity and stamina have allowed all of us to weather this storm better than most. That said, now is NOT the time to let our guard down. We must continue to be vigilant in all we do, even if we’re vaccinated, to help stem the spread of the virus. To that end, please continue to wear your double face mask when around others who are not in your immediate circles and are unvaccinated, continue to socially distance and wash your hands frequently.

Over the course of these next four days, try to take some time for yourselves and get out and enjoy the nice weather. Fresh air and exercise are great for rejuvenating yourself both physically and mentally!

We wish everyone celebrating Passover, Easter or Holi peaceful and restful holidays.

Finally, we are SALUS STRONG because of your unyielding commitment to excellence in everything you do. I look forward to seeing you around campus and clinics next week. Stay safe, stay active and continue to look out for one another.

Mike

Academic and Clinical Activities: Week of January 29th, 2021

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

Good morning from a rather frigid Elkins Park campus! I hope everyone is staying warm and safe. Even with the cold weather upon us, our campus has been a hotbed of activity between clinical labs, some face-to-face lectures, virtual teaching and learning and busy clinics. In addition to the academic and clinical activities occurring on campus, we’ve also been busy with other events.

ADVOCACY FOR COVID RELIEF & FINANCIAL AID EQUITY: As most of you know, Salus has been the beneficiary of the two prior COVID relief bills passed by Congress. Those additional funds have helped to offset student expenses as well as purchase PPE, Return to Learn and other COVID testing and help to offset our clinical income losses. New COVID relief legislation proposed by the current administration, CARES ACT III – The American Recovery Plan, currently does not include independent colleges and universities, such as ours. Along with other university & college presidents in our region, I have written to our Congressional delegation asking them to ensure our educational sector is included in the bill. Additionally, we have asked Congress to change the rules addressing Federal Student Aid to allow graduate students to compete for Pell Grants and low-interest student loans. Currently, both of these programs are open only to undergraduate students.

I have attached a sample letter you can feel free to personalize, in addition to links to contact information for your Congressional delegations. This is really important, so please take a few minutes this weekend to let Congress know how they can continue to help our students and institution get through this pandemic.

• U.S. Senator look up 
• U.S. Representative look up 

A CHAT WITH DR. J: I hope you had a chance to participate in the recent virtual chat with Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams, our Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The session provided the opportunity for people to hear from and engage with Dr. J. in a conversation about the University’s DEI initiatives since she has come on board. Please feel free to reach out to her at any time with input and suggestions.

PARTNERING WITH OTHERS: After receiving an invitation to join the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE), Salus is now a member of the group of nine independent higher education institutions in the Greater Philadelphia region. We are the only graduate-level school in the consortium. The goal of the group is to facilitate collaboration and help improve the quality and efficiency of academic programming, student access, faculty development, institutional operations and community outreach through a wide range of shared activities, services, technology and information. You can learn more about SEPCHE here.

NEW PODCAST SERIES: We have a new podcast series that takes a look at what goes on behind the scenes during a typical day for a doctor at The Eye Institute. Check out the episode with Erin Kenny, OD ‘15, FAAO, Resident ‘16, chief of the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center, here.

DYNAMIC DUOS: Don’t forget to register for “Dynamic Duos,” a unique and comprehensive lecture discussion scheduled for Feb. 7. Topics and speakers include “Get to Know Your MIGS” with Dr. G. Richard Bennett and Dr. Andrew Meagher; “Stepwise Strategy to Optimize Ocular Surface Disease Outcomes" with Dr. Clark Chang and Dr. Brandon Ayres; “Medical Artificial Iris Implantation: Why, When and How” with Dr. Chang and Dr. Ayres; and “Expanding Scope of Practice: OCT to OCT-A” with Dr. Byung Josh Kim and Dr. Carlo Pelino. To register, click here.

WELCOME TO NEW BOARD MEMBERS: Please join me in welcoming three new members of the Salus Board of Trustees: Kate Kinslow is the Executive Vice President/Chief Integration Officer of Jefferson Health System. Emily Turner is Vice President of the Investment Management Division at Goldman Sachs in Philadelphia. Shannon Tornoe is founder/principal of Coast to Coast Insurance Brokers in Radnor, Pennsylvania. The time, energy and expertise our Board members brings to Salus makes us a stronger, more effective institution. Welcome aboard to all of our new members!

VIRTUAL ALE: Last month we held our Audiology Learning Experience (ALE) and for the first time, it was a virtual event. It is designed to expand awareness with undergraduate students about the audiology profession and the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program at the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA). Read more about it at salus.edu/ALE2020.

TYPES OF HEARING LOSS: Not all hearing loss is the same. The type of hearing loss you have depends on what part of your hearing is damaged. Read more about the four types of hearing loss here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Who would have thought that back in March we’d still be in the throes of this global pandemic? Well, here we are, almost eleven months in with an end in sight. As the vaccine rollout begins, albeit, slowly, that light at the end of the tunnel we’ve talked about for months now, is getting a little brighter. Now is not the time to relax, but rather become even more vigilant with preventive measures. There are multiple new strains circulating around the globe, to include here in PA. The good news is that experts tell us the current vaccines will be effective against them. The bad news is that some of these strains might be up to 70% more transmissible.

Moving forward, it’s going to be extremely important to double down on social distancing, wearing your face mask and hand washing. Some experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, are recommending double masking when out in public, as it will be more effective than a single mask. At the very least, any cloth mask you wear should be two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. And, of course, they’re only effective if worn properly, over your nose and mouth.

I know several of you have either received your first vaccine dose or are on the schedule to receive it. Once you are fully vaccinated, nothing you do now should change. While that may sound counterintuitive, until more people are vaccinated we must maintain the current course. I suspect (now don’t hold me to this) by late summer, we can begin to relax our precautions and slowly move toward some degree of normalcy. Until then, it is essential that everyone continues to social distance, wear a face mask (or two), and wash hands frequently. As an institution, we have weathered this storm extremely well, thanks to all of you following these guidelines. Let’s not let things slip now!

As we begin this very cold weekend, I encourage you to bundle up, soak up some vitamin D from the sun and get some fresh air. Continue to follow all of the COVID precautions and stay SALUS STRONG! 

Have a great weekend!

Mike

Passover, Easter and Ramadan: Week of April 10th, 2020

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

Good morning from home where I, like most of you, have been working over the past several weeks. I hope that this week’s update finds everyone healthy and safe during these very uncertain and unsettling times.

April is Occupational Therapy month and we would like to take this opportunity to thank and celebrate all those OTs who are currently on the front lines, several who are working with COVID patients, fighting this pandemic, along with many of our other colleagues. 

We recently signed an articulation agreement with Immaculata creating a pathway for undergraduate students to enroll in several advanced degree programs to include audiology, optometry, occupational therapy, and physician assistant. To learn more about this, please click here.

We’ve continued our advocacy for additional assistance from the Federal government by writing to our local Congressional delegation to ensure they understood the very unique requirements our students. We are strongly advocating that graduate students be treated the same as undergraduates, making low interest federal student loans available to them and asking for low interest Perkins loans be re-instituted for graduate students.

Last week I announced that the Pennsylvania Ear Institute would begin to see emergency patients only. This week we saw our first couple of patients; one adult whose issue was handled "curbside" so that they didn't need to physically come into the clinic and the other, a two-year-old who needed earmold impressions so that he could get new earmolds ordered for his hearing aids. Needless to say, both were very grateful we could provide these services. The staff is strictly following CDC guidelines for any of these interactions. 

As I mentioned on Monday, Passover, Easter and Ramadan remind us that our life here on earth and our work at Salus takes on a special meaning during this health crisis. Being able to care for and give unto others while sheltering in place and wondering when all this will end is in our blood at Salus.   Your positive attitudes and professional demeanor will help get you through this. As I’ve said many times, this will all end eventually and we will all have learned a great deal about ourselves and others. We will be more resilient and wiser.  We are SALUS STRONG, which give us an edge no one else has. 

Finally, many of you may have seen the announcement from Governor Wolf closing all K- 12 schools until the end of the academic year. That specific mandate does not directly apply to us. We are not permitted to resume in-person instruction or reopen our campus until the closure of non-life sustaining businesses is lifted by the Governor. I wish I could tell you when that will happen, but as I’m certain you realize, it will be dependent upon the trajectory of the pandemic. I’m hopeful it will be sooner rather than later. I can assure you, as soon as we get the green light from the state, we will start moving forward with our plans to incrementally open the campus. We will continue to monitor this with the hope that we’ll be able to return to face to face training soon. Right now, I know faculty is planning on programs continuing with online training through the summer semester. 

Tanis and I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and hopeful holiday weekend. Try to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine, of course, wearing your masks and practicing social distancing at all times! Be safe and stay healthy!

Mike