Week of January 10, 2025

Dear Salus Students, Faculty, Residents and Staff,

 

Happy New Year!  Hope you are rested and ready for the new semester! As we enter 2025, it is a great time to celebrate the achievements of our students, faculty, alumni, and staff:

 

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: Throughout 2024, Salus at Drexel University’s students, faculty, alumni and staff attained numerous goals and experienced many accomplishments. Check out this month-to-month look at the year’s most interesting stories. Click here for details.

 

O&P AWARD: Benjamin Jolley ‘26O&P recently won first prize at the New Jersey American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (NJAAOP) conference in the student poster division for his study on “Enhancing Clinical Interprofessional Competence of Salus Healthcare Students through an Immersion-Level Interprofessional Education Experience,” which he co-authored with Virginia Muthard, CPO/L, FAAOP, assistant professor in the Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) department, Salus at Drexel University. Read more here.

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The career of Kurt Moody, OD ‘83, FAAO, spanning four decades, includes 12 U.S. and international patents in contact lens design. As he looks ahead, he’s preparing for the next chapter, which includes retirement and the launch of his own consulting company. Click here to read more.

 

The Power and Importance of Advocacy in Advancing Our Professions

 

Advocacy is critical in advancing the scope of practice across healthcare professions, ensuring practitioners can operate at the highest levels of their training. A recent development in optometry demonstrates the significant impact of such efforts: Congress passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation ensures optometrists within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are compensated at the same scale as their physician colleagues, recognizing their contributions to comprehensive eyecare for veterans.

 

This achievement highlights the importance of collective advocacy and collaboration in expanding the professional scope of practice and ensuring equity within healthcare systems. The American Optometric Association – of which our Salus optometry students are members (through AOSA), and the Association of Armed Forces and Federal Optometric Services (AFOS), have led the way on this effort. At Salus, professionals across all programs are trained to the highest levels and often serve in systems like the VA, where such advancements benefit both practitioners and patients. As many of you know, this is a cause for which I have personally advocated over many years at the national level. Advocacy continues to be a key driver in shaping the future of healthcare professions and enhancing their impact on the communities they serve.

 

In closing, it’s going to be a cold, wintery weekend, so if you plan on venturing out, please be mindful of road conditions and the weather.

Mike

Leveraging AI Thoughtfully: Week of May 3, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where we have welcomed a new family of goslings on campus (short video attached). Our students have been busy completing final exams and practicals, as faculty prepare grades. Only a couple of weeks until Spring Commencement! Here are some other items I hope you will find of interest:

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University has continued a long-standing collaboration with Head Start programs in the Philadelphia area for more than 35 years. Head Start is a primarily federally funded program that provides education, health and social services to families with children aged three, four and five. For PCO/Salus, this has meant contributing to a variety of services, including primary eye care exams at Head Start centers and schools in the Philadelphia area. Click here to read more.

MERITORIOUS HONORS FOR SLP: The University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students really raised the bar when it came to their capstone projects this year. Out of the seven meritorious posters chosen to be featured at the annual Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) convention April 10-13 in Pittsburgh, two of those were from research conducted by Salus SLP students. For details, click here.

O&P KENYA TRIP: During a humanitarian trip to Kenya, Victoria “Tori” Page ‘25O&P had a young patient who hadn’t walked since her leg amputation the previous year. Tori spent a long time working on a prosthesis trying to make her patient as comfortable as possible. At the end of her appointment, Tori asked the patient how her new leg felt. “She looked at me with a big smile and said, ‘I’m walking!’” Read more here about the O&P humanitarian trip to Kenya.

A SPECIAL PA OLYMPICS: This year’s PA Olympics took on a little more significance for students in the Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program at Salus because it honored one of the University’s former faculty members, Adam Moore, MHS, PA-C, ATC. Adam was an assistant professor for the Salus PA program from 2016 to 2022 and at Thomas Jefferson University until his passing in September 2023. During his time at Salus, Moore had served as a faculty advisor for the PA Olympics. Click here for additional details on the event.

DREXEL DEI RECOGNITION: Drexel Alumni is the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. In its inaugural year, this award recognizes Drexel Alumni for its programs, culture, and initiatives that encourage and support diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all alumni, across racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, religions, socio-economic statuses and more. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I have spent the last two days in DC this week attending the Special Medical Advisory Group for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs where I am the designated representative for optometry. Every time I attend these meetings, I am extremely impressed with all that the VA is doing to improve health care for our Veteran population. Administering the nation’s largest integrated health system, the VA is leading the way in digital health integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital solutions responsibly and effectively into VA care. It’s a daunting task when you consider there are over 9-million veterans enrolled in the system.

One process the VA has been using to select the right industry partner to help them integrate AI into their patient care processes is called “AI Sprint.” AI Sprints are three-month competitive engagements that foster collaboration among industry, academia and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Sprints are staged with specific challenges introduced into the process every 3 weeks to determine how teams might mitigate them. I see great value in academia adopting similar processes to devise solutions to some of the novel challenges we face in our higher ed/healthcare ecosystem. As we attempt to leverage AI and related technologies, we need to embrace best practices ensuring cybersecurity, patient, and student safety as well as accuracy and reliability. Our partnership with Drexel will help operationalize some of these processes

It looks like the weekend is going to be a bit cooler than it has been, so try and get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather while it still lasts. As you get to the last weeks of the semester, keep your eye on the ball concerning your studies and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Reflecting on Our Mission: Week of March 22, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this very cold day in Spring! It’s been another busy week on our campus with PCO students taking their Part I section of national boards, others preparing for practicals and exams, and our Salus-Drexel Integration Council members doing the important and necessary work in preparation for our 30 June Change in Ownership date. Thank you to all who are going above and beyond to provide a stellar educational experience for all of our students, in addition to the extra work required to get us to “the finish line.” Special thanks to Maura Keenan and Kathleen McMullen who continue to assist faculty and staff in reviewing Drexel’s benefit options in advance of the June Benefits Fair. Here are some other items I hope find of interest:

O&P ACCREDITATION: Congratulations to our Orthotics and Prosthetics program, under the direction of Dr. Chad Duncan, for being granted initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), effective March 15, 2024. Initial accreditation is only awarded to those programs that have successfully demonstrated compliance with rigorous standards, ensuring the best possible educational experience for students. Read more here.

SLP STUDENT INVOLVEMENT: Since summer 2023, the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students have been assisting with an early-childhood class — dubbed Toddler Read and Play Time — at We Rock the Spectrum (WRTS) in Northeast Philadelphia. This is part of an opportunity offered to first-year Master of Science SLP students to apply for off-campus clinical rotation experiences, including involvement with the Speech-Language Institute’s (SLI) specialized support groups. Click here to read more.  

TWO SEPCHE EVENTS: The University is sponsoring two upcoming events for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE). The first is the SEPCHE Honors Conference, which will be held tomorrow morning, 23 March at 9:00 AM at the Hafter Student Community Center on the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. The second event is titled “Civic Engagement in 2024: A Conversation with SEPCHE Presidents,” in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Political Science Association’s (PPSA) 85th Anniversary annual meeting Friday, April 5, at Chestnut Hill College in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Click here for details.

WOMEN’S HOOPS: The Drexel women’s basketball team has won the Coastal Athletic Association Championship and will now play in the NCAA Tournament against the University of Texas at 3 p.m. today, March 22. GO DRAGONS!

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach our Spring break, I find myself reflecting on our important mission at Salus: We advance integrated healthcare through innovative education, research and clinical services. In our forthcoming merger with Drexel, I am excited about how, together, with the convergence of our two very similar missions, we will do so much good for the students and communities we serve.

With all that is happening in the Middle East, Ukraine, other parts of the world and in our own country, it’s also important to revisit some of 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. These practices are worthy of regular reflection and recommitment. Not only do they strengthen our service as educators, researchers, and clinicians, they also add meaning and purpose to our relationships. They enrich our shared humanity.

I hope you find some time for rest and relaxation over break. Try to reflect on all the goodness that you provide others through your given professions. That’s a gift. Below is a photo I took last weekend of our fair city on my Sunday morning bike ride that I thought I would share to help get us in the mood for our upcoming break. Stay safe, get some rest and come back to us SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Addressing Our Spiritual Health: Week of February 16, 2024

 

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

Good morning on this bright, crisp, windy morning in Elkins Park. I just returned from attending the annual meeting of the Society of Federal Healthcare Professionals in Maryland where I had the opportunity to listen and participate in discussions with our nation’s federal healthcare leaders. I took the liberty of discussing one presentation, in particular, from Dr. Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General of the United States, in my Final Thoughts section that I thought we would all benefit from. While I was gone our campus has remained busy and vital between classes, labs and clinical activity. One distressing piece of news to note is the mass shooting in Kansas City, which has put a bit of a damper on things as we mourn the loss of a young lady and all those people, mostly adolescents, who were wounded during this senseless act of gun violence. It needs to stop!

Here are some other, certainly more uplifting things, I hope you will find of interest:

SALUS LOVE STORY: It started off with a toque and ended up with Akirta Sran, OD ‘20, and Brendan Connors, OD ‘20, getting married backwards and without a ring. And along the way, four attempted marriage proposals got delayed on account of rain, just to add another level of uniqueness to a love story that started at Salus University. Read more about this unique wedding tale by clicking here.

SLP CAREER OFF TO A GOOD START: In only seven months since graduating from Salus University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program, Sultana Abdur-Raheem, MS ‘23, has begun to form a budding career as a speech-language pathologist. Click here to read more about how her career is progressing.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT — O&P: An aspect unique to the Salus University Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program is the integrated 18-month clinical residency, where students are immersed in O&P clinical practice and research. Not all graduate O&P programs include an integrated residency, which sets the Salus program apart. Read more here.

PTE CHAPTER RECOGNIZED: This past January, the University’s Delta Mu chapter of Phi Theta Epsilon (PTE), the national honor society for occupational therapy (OT) education, was recognized in the national PTE “Scroll & Pen” newsletter for scholarly work. Click here for details.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week, while attending the annual meeting of the Society of Federal Health Professionals, I had the opportunity to hear US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy discuss the importance of spirituality. In addition to physical and mental health, he suggests it is equally -- or some would suggest, more important to pay attention to our spiritual health. Dr. Murthy breaks down spiritual health into four areas: belonging, purpose, awe and inspiration, and service.

We are in the middle of a loneliness epidemic. Across multiple college visits, Dr. Murthy has found a very high percentage of today’s college students who report being lonely most of the time. While people congregate together, very few feel a sense of belonging, which he attributes to excessive social media, smartphone and other technologies that can isolate people, even when they are physically around others. Belonging to groups, clubs, or other ways of doing things in groups helps to mitigate some of the situations that can cause loneliness.

Closely connected to this is feeling a sense of purpose in life. It can be as simple as routinely participating at a soup kitchen to working to solve civic issues in one’s community. The third aspect of spirituality is awe and inspiration. This can be elicited by walking in nature taking in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The fourth, and possibly one of the most important facets of spirituality, is that of service, doing something for others. Volunteering to help with setting up a party, assisting friends or siblings through hard times are examples of acts of service. Service can be closely related to purpose, which is defined by The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley as “an abiding intention to achieve a long-term goal that is both personally meaningful and makes a positive mark on the world.” Serving as a healthcare provider certainly would check both boxes, as would many other professional and social endeavors that enable us to actively participate in causes larger than ourselves.

Whether we realize it or not, feelings of tiredness, stress and even occasional hopelessness and despair are understandable due to classes, schedules, exams, family challenges, our merger and conflicts happening around the world. By paying attention to and nurturing spirituality, we can better manage our feelings and concentrate on what’s most important to each of us individually.

If you want to learn more about the importance of spirituality, I encourage you to check out Dr. Murthy’s recent “House Calls” where he discusses this in-depth with Dr. Lisa Miller, a psychologist who has worked on this for many years.

As you prepare for this weekend, I encourage you to think about Dr. Murthy’s advice and how you might begin to incorporate some of his ideas into your daily routines. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Continuing Our Advocacy for You: Week of January 26, 2024

 

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

Good morning from Drexel University where I continue to learn more about the College of Nursing and Health Professions as well as help to educate the folks here about all the great things we do at Salus. I had the opportunity to attend on Tuesday with Dr. Chad Duncan and Beth Moy the Hanger Foundation’s inaugural Night to Inspire event in Nashville. Hanger, the largest provider of orthotics and prosthetics in the country, hosts many of our O&P students at their sites. It was amazing to learn about the wonderful opportunities that the foundation is providing for children through their support of Camp No Limits, whose mission is to “empower young people with limb loss or difference to discover and develop a healthy, happy, and independent lifestyle.” Hats off to Dr. Duncan and our O&P staff for fostering such an important relationship. Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

TOP JOBS: Several of Salus University’s academic programs secured top spots in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best Jobs and Top Healthcare Jobs rankings. Read more about where our program professions ranked here.

DAY IN THE LIFE: Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like for a first-year Speech-Language Pathology student at Salus? Read more about Haley Tevnan’s ‘25SLP typical day here.

THIS WEEK’S TECH TUESDAY: Jacalyn Harris, MPO, CPO/L, and Virginia Muthard, CPO/L, FAAOP, tell us about one of their favorite pieces of O&P equipment: the cast saw. Click here to watch and here to see more in the series.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we begin this new year and our merger with Drexel comes closer to becoming a reality for all of us, I want our faculty and staff to know that I and members of the President’s Council are listening to your concerns, and to the best of our abilities, we are continuing to advocate for you with our colleagues at Drexel. We are also keeping our Board of Trustees informed.

I know that we have not been able to provide you with all the answers to your questions, especially as they pertain to certain aspects of compensation and benefits. But all of us, including our Drexel colleagues, share an unwavering commitment to fair and open collaboration on these issues. To that end, we will be inviting various Drexel leaders to campus to discuss, both generally and individually, how changes may affect you. I hope to provide specific dates during our upcoming Community Meeting next week in addition to some more answers as we progress.

I realize it’s difficult to plan and maintain a positive outlook without having this important information, and I empathize with you. You have my commitment to continue to answer your questions as quickly as possible in the weeks ahead.

To our students, our continuing commitment to your education remains a driving motivation underpinning this merger. I remain extremely excited about the opportunities Drexel will provide you, our faculty and staff moving forward. I look forward to spending time with our Student Council leaders early next week to share efforts to date and to answer your questions.

As you prepare for this weekend, know that the Salus leadership continues to be actively engaged on your behalf. Together we are SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Week of January 12, 2024

 

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

Greetings from Drexel University where, as co-chair of the Drexel-Salus Integration Council, I am spending a couple of days a week to facilitate a smooth integration ahead of final approval from the U.S. Department of Education. Everyone I have met has been excited about the possibilities for innovation, interprofessional education and the development of pipelines into our programs. In addition to this, here are some other things I hope you will find of interest:

FACULTY RECOGNITION: Two members of our esteemed faculty have recently been recognized with outstanding honors:

• Jennifer Bergstrom, EdD, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus, began her term as the vice president (VP) of finance for the United States Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) on January 1. USSAAC is an organization dedicated to supporting the needs and rights of people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Read more about her new position here.
• Chad Duncan, PhD, CRC, CPO, director of the Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at Salus, has been named to the Fulbright Specialist Roster for a tenure of three years. As a member of the roster, Dr. Duncan is now eligible to be matched with projects designed by host institutions in more than 150 countries globally during his tenure. Read more about the honor here.

I CHOSE SALUS: Early clinical exposure and interprofessional learning are integral program components at Salus University and are why Brittany Cullen ‘27AUD, chose to pursue Audiology here. Learn more about why Brittany chose Salus.

THIS WEEK’S TECH TUESDAY: Marisa Guardino '24MSOT tells us about her favorite pieces of occupational therapy equipment for pediatric fine motor skills. Click here to watch and see more in the series.

FINAL THOUGHTS: On Monday our nation will celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Righteousness, equality, justice, and nonviolence are key tenets of the American civil rights movement he led. How might we, as healthcare providers, educators and researchers emulate and apply these principles?

As I have in year’s past, I encourage you to take seventeen minutes to watch Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. While we have all heard parts of it, I suspect 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 several quotes that reflect what I believe we do at Salus and that our Drexel colleagues also embody: 

“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.”

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Our Salus community is a tapestry of different backgrounds and cultures. Together, we bring our diverse strengths, thoughts and actions to impact the future of healthcare, education, research and professional practice. Salus and Drexel’s shared commitment to community service not only ties our universities together, it is a distinguishing hallmark of which we can both be proud.

Monday’s holiday is the only national holiday designated as a Day of Service to encourage all to improve their communities as a tribute to Dr. King. Dr. King lived his life serving others through his actions and words. 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 look out for one another and come back on Tuesday SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Leveraging the Wisdom of the Stoics: Week of December 1, 2023

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

Good morning on this first day of December! Campus and clinics are humming with productive energy as students prepare for practicals and final exams. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to view several of the Healthcare, Professionalism and Diversity course presentations in the Hafter Center. The topics addressed the fullest range of social determinants impacting health across diverse and underserved populations in the United States and abroad. Congratulations to our student teams and faculty mentors on the impressive display of team problem solving!

Here are some other happenings:

TOLAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Congratulations to Megan Patterson ‘25OD, who has been named the 2023 Joseph C. Toland Memorial Scholarship winner. The scholarship is awarded to a worthy third-year Doctor of Optometry student (or students) in good academic standing who demonstrates a distinctive ability to provide competent and compassionate care to their patients. Read more here.

THAILAND FIELDWORK FOR OT: Four Salus University Occupational Therapy students were the first from the program to have an international Level 1 fieldwork experience recently in Thailand. Not only did the students experience traditional learning objectives, but importantly, their learning emphasized development of cultural humility and understanding client needs in a setting beyond the United States. Click here to read more about the trip.

O&P 5K ANY WAY: The first-ever 5K Any Way Fundraiser hosted by the Salus Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (SOPA) attracted 80 participants on the morning of Nov. 11, 2023, at Alverthorpe Park in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Read more here.

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: Re’naijah Purvis ‘24PBHS calls herself a “crystal nerd.” She doesn’t just make crystal bracelets as a side activity to her studies, she draws energy from them. They were so popular within her inner circle that friends encouraged her to make and sell them to others. Check out the latest story here in our Students at Leisure series.

CLINICAL TRAINING PODCAST: In our latest podcast, we hear from Master of Science in Clinical Optometry students from Oulu University in Finland about why they chose Salus for their clinical training. Click here to listen.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we navigate the coming weeks of final exams and the impending merger with Drexel, we find ourselves at a crossroads of challenge and transition. In these pivotal times, I am reminded of the enduring wisdom of Stoics – Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, whose words resonate deeply with our current experiences.

To our students, as you embark on a final push this semester, remember Marcus Aurelius’ guidance, “It’s okay to be discouraged. It’s not okay to quit.” Your journey in learning, filled with its unique challenges and opportunities, is a testament to your unwavering commitment to excellence. Each day and each exam bring you closer to your professional aspirations. The reward of knowledge is available to all who persistently and actively pursue it. No one ever said this would be easy.

To our faculty and staff, Seneca offers cogent advice: "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." The challenge in achieving our goals often lies not in the external obstacles we face, but in our own reluctance or fear to confront them.

Our merger with Drexel is a blending of our strengths and Drexel’s. It represents an opportunity for growth, collaboration and innovation. Our collective resilience will guide this transformation, paving a way for a future where our collaborative efforts will flourish to the benefit of our students and the greater university communities.

Together, we face paths that require endurance, whether in our academic pursuits or institutional changes. Marcus Aurelius reminds us that our ability to endure originates from the strength within us. Our challenges are temporary; our resolve is enduring.

As we move forward, let’s do so with a spirit of persistence, courage, professionalism, endurance and unwavering dedication towards a future that is not only bright but also full of potential and promise. Together, we will not just endure; we will thrive.

We are all here to support each other; to learn, grow and succeed together. Let’s embrace these challenges as opportunities to showcase our collective strengths!

As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect on the words of the Stoics as they apply to many of the challenges and opportunities we encounter every day. Try to get out and enjoy some of the warmer weather and come back next week SALUS STRONG, ready to tackle those exams and matters associated with our upcoming merger.

 -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

Respecting Each Other's Cultures and Backgrounds: Week of November 18, 2022

 

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

Greetings from Israel, where Dr. Melissa Vitek and I are wrapping up a trip where we have been providing lectures and workshops to optometry students at Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with its distinguished president, Professor Bertold Fridlender, and to compare notes on the impact of the pandemic on higher education in both Israel and the United States. We have much in common!

Last weekend, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our Looking Out For Kids fundraiser at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia honoring Lighthouse Award Leader Kovin Naidoo. Special thanks to NBC10 reporter Johnny Archer, Jacquie Patterson, Alexis Abate, Dr. Brandy Scombordi, Dr. Juliana Mosley Williams, our sponsors, faculty, staff, friends and family for creating together such an outstanding event. My personal thanks for your commitment and contributions – together we raised over $95,000 in vision and audiology support for children across the Philadelphia region! To read more about the evening, click here.

While we’ve been away, here are some other “goings on” at Salus: 

MSCO ADVENTURE: Salus Master of Science in Clinical Optometry (MSCO) 2023 international students spent a recent autumn morning hiking along the Wissahickon Park trails with other international students from Drexel University’s English Language Center (ELC). A group of more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff from both universities celebrated the changing colors of the leaves, traversed shallow creeks and learned a bit about the history of the Wissahickon Valley in Northwestern Philadelphia. Read more about their adventure here.

THE ART OF OBSERVATION: A common communication capability came in quite handy recently when a group of 12 Salus PA students visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to participate in a program called “The Art of Observation.” Click here to read more.

ANOTHER O&P ‘FIRST’: Hearing the words “first pour” for the first time might initially conjure up images of an after-work happy hour at a local watering hole. But for students in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) cohort at Salus University, “first pour” means something completely different in an academic context. Click here to learn more.

SALUS SOIREE: The Campus Activities Committee is hosting the 2022 Salus Soiree, "A Vivid Dream,” tonight at the Please Touch Museum from 8 to 11 p.m.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Over the course of my career, I have been deeply privileged to be able to travel and work in places all over the world. Across every culture and country, I am struck by the overwhelming decency, respect and dignity of the people I meet wherever I go.

At Hadassah Academic College Jerusalem, I was thrilled to be invited to lecture to a first-year optometry class of Arab, Israeli and Palestinian students. It was heartening to experience students’ genuine respect and appreciation of each other effectively bridging what could easily be fraught cultural, language and political differences. There’s a lesson here for all of us: it takes effort, time, skills and practice to treat each other with mutual respect, find common goals, exercise tolerance and open-mindedness, and it is achievable.

I am inspired by and grateful for the students, faculty and staff with whom I spent time with at Hadassah. It left me recommitted to the work we do at Salus to model for our patients, colleagues and students respect, collaboration, compassion and appreciation -- essential relational skills that build communities and strengthen societies.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to find time to relax and unwind. The weather is turning a bit chilly, so when you do go out and about, be prepared for that. If you have not yet received your flu or Covid vaccine, please put that on your “to do” list as no one wants to see an uptic on either as we approach the holidays. To make it easier, we will have another booster event at Elkins Park on December 7 from 10:30 am-2:30pm in the gym. Look for the forthcoming email reminder. As we approach the holidays, I want everyone to be able to enjoy them!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, if I don’t have a chance to see you this coming week. Be safe, remain healthy and stay SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Remembering Our Veterans: November 11, 2022

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park Campus where our students, faculty and staff are busy with classes, labs and clinics. Our Chestnut Hill satellite clinic has a new façade that looks professional and inviting. The private practice pilot that we’ve initiated there is off to a strong start thanks to the great work of our faculty and staff! In addition to what’s happening on campus, here are other items of interest:

LOFK IS HERE! Join us for our Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 12th at the National Constitution Center. If you haven’t purchased tickets, please consider going to our website here to help us provide healthcare for children in need.

AAO CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University was front and center at the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) “Academy 2022” centennial celebration recently in San Diego. Fifteen Salus faculty and six residents presented posters, four faculty gained AAO fellowship, 14 faculty gave presentations, two faculty gave symposium lectures and two faculty delivered Grand Rounds. Read more about the conference here.

O&P PERSPECTIVE: Check out this podcast with Amber Lewis ‘25OP, a first-year student in the inaugural Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at the University. She gives us insight on the program and why she chose Salus O&P. Click here for details.

SALUS SOIREE: This year’s Salus Soiree is scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Semi-formal attire is requested. All students and guests must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination or provide a negative test taken within 72 hours of the event. Contact the Student Council for details and tickets.

30 YEARS AND COUNTING!: Congratulations to our Orientation & Mobility and Blind and Visually Impaired (VRT) programs celebrating 30 years of approval from the Department of Education! We are so proud to be home to these nationally distinguished programs!

SELF-CARE BAG: Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) counselors Janeyshka Ortiz-Flores and Andrew Jaskot will see you outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14. Stop by their table to say hello and collect a self-care bag.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday marked the 247th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Here in Philadelphia, on November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the Continental Marines. Since that time, Marines have distinguished themselves defending our freedoms around the world. During my 33-year Navy career, I had the privilege of serving with the Marine Corps for almost a third of that time.

Today, we recognize all veterans as we celebrate Veterans Day. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Originally designated Armistice Day by President Wilson, November 11 commemorates the armistice that began that day. In 1954 Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to recognize all veterans. 

While on active duty, we observed Navy and Marine Corps birthdays and Veterans Day by participating in cake-cutting ceremonies and attending a few veteran’s events. As a retired Navy veteran, I think of these days a bit differently. I appreciate how lucky we all are to have men and women who place their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we have, such as election day last Tuesday. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment have been the moral and ethical compass that have guided the men and women in uniform for 247 years.

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with all who serve in our armed forces. We, too, commit our time and energies to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals, we are also guided by an ethical and moral compass – one that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – Honor, Courage and Commitment.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, think about how we can leverage our own commitment to conduct ourselves with honor, to exercise the courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and to do what’s right for our patients, clients, and those around us.

-Mike

Congratulations New Grads: Week of October 14, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful fall morning from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been a busy week at Salus. On Wednesday, we celebrated our newest class of physician assistants with our Long White Coat ceremony. Yesterday, our 125th commencement at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia launched our latest group of graduates with inspirational remarks given by Admiral Tom Cullison. We look forward to watching our graduates spread their wings as they leave our nest. Check out our website in the coming days for stories on both of those events.

In other campus news:

THE FIRST OF MANY ‘FIRSTS’: The inaugural class of the new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program at Salus University recently had its first patient experience in a didactic setting. And, its relevance wasn’t lost on the students. Read more about this unique experience for our O&P students here.

CLASS OF 2022-23 RESIDENT: As a child, Taral Patel, OD ‘22, ‘23 Resident, liked going to the eye doctor. As a youngster with eye issues, she needed to see an optometrist every year, and each time she went, it was a good experience. Read more here about Dr. Patel’s journey to becoming an optometrist and continuing her quest to learn as one of our current group of residents.

O&M GRANT: The University’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) program received a grant from the Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation to support its internship programs. Read more here about what that means for our O&M students.

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS: As the cost of higher education skyrockets, I know many students are worried about paying off their loans. The Bennett Career Services Center will be hosting an event on Student Loan Forgiveness & Non-Traditional Employment Options on Thursday, October 20th on the Elkins Park campus, room S300 from 6:00PM – 7:30PM. They be featuring several government, non-profit, military, etc. programs that offer student loan forgiveness. Don't miss your chance to learn about these life-changing programs!

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: I want to remind everyone about our upcoming Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser on 12 November at 6:30 PM. This year’s event will be head at the National Constitution Center where we will be honoring Professor Kovin Naidoo with our Lighthouse Award. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, please consider going to our website here to help us provide healthcare for children in need.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s been a great week! I want to once again wish all our graduating professionals the very best of everything as they leave Salus and begin their new and exciting professional careers.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. It’s going to be a pretty one, so try to get out and enjoy some of the early Fall colors. If you already haven’t, please schedule your Covid and Flu vaccines. CDC is predicting an upsurge of both as we approach winter, and I want to be certain that we have as much protection as possible.

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

-Mike

Celebrating Labor Day & The Importance of Casting Your Vote: Week of September 2, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful September morning from our Elkins Park campus where the Fall semester is well underway. Some of you have already had your first set of exams, which I’m sure were very successful!

As we end this week, here are some happenings around campus:

SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH: September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Please visit CPPD's Dr. Cristina Laracuente, along with new student trainees Andrew Jaskot and Janeyshka Ortiz, outside the cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8. They will have awareness ribbons, snacks, and educational material for you.

O&P LAUNCH: Salus University’s Orthotics and Prosthetics program has officially launched! Read more here about our wonderful ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighting our new labs.

TAIWAN STUDENTS VISIT: We were delighted to welcome students from Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) in Taichung, Taiwan, who spent most of July on our Elkins Park campus learning about our health science programs. Read more about their visit here.

ABOUT OUR AMBASSADORS: Our Salus University Ambassador Program is a select group of students across all programs who represent our University. In this podcast, we talk with Emaree Stone ‘25OD and Madison Gates ‘23SLP, who share their rewarding experience of being Salus Ambassadors.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL WINNERS: Melissa Padilla, MPH ‘13, (June 29, 1966 – May 29, 2022) who recently passed away, made a distinctive contribution to the growth of Salus University in so many ways. Her dedication and loyalty permeated everything she did – she was born to be a leader, a passionate learner, and an exquisite communicator. Read more about Padilla’s contributions to Salus and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) here.

After his graduation from PCO, Robert Bittel, OD ‘83 spent his entire career working in support of Pennsylvania optometrists. As chairman of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s Legislative Action Committee, Dr. Bittel played a key role in expanding scope of practice for Pennsylvania optometrists. Learn more about Bittel’s distinguished career here, as he is awarded a 2022 Presidential Medal of Honor. 

COVID BOOSTER SHOTS: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just approved the latest round of Covid-19 boosters that specifically target the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants of the virus, in addition to the original strains. The Pfizer booster will be available for everyone 12 and over, and the Moderna booster will be available for all aged 18 and over. The FDA recommends that people who recently received their initial vaccine or a booster should wait at least two months before getting the updated booster, as getting the new booster too soon could limit its effectiveness. I strongly encourage everyone to get the booster when you are eligible (at least 2 months after you received your last shot).

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

One more reminder: As election day approaches, it’s important that we all do our civic duty and vote. Preserving our democracy depends on this. If you are not registered to vote, please take the time do that in the coming weeks. Since all our professions are statutorily regulated, it’s important that we have a voice in selecting those who represent us. I will remind you again about this in the coming weeks, but please take this seriously. Thomas Jefferson said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.” Thus the importance of taking the time to register and vote.

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

Mike