Remembering Our Veterans: Week of November 10, 2023

 

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

Good morning on this cool, fall morning! It’s been an exceptionally productive week on campus. Yesterday we had the opportunity to host Professor Dáire Keogh, President of Dublin City University (DCU) and his wife Katie on campus. Professor Keogh spent the day sharing his experiences and lessons learned with deans, directors and President’s Council members about the merger between St. Patrick’s University and DCU 6 years ago. While all this was going on, folks have been putting the finishing touches on the new cafeteria which will have a “soft” opening next week (photos attached). Here are some other items I hope you will find interesting:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Walt Fleming, vice president of Field Maintenance and Quality Assurance for National Vision, Inc., has made significant contributions to optometry and vision care. Our congratulations and collective thanks to Walt, our Salus University Presidential Medal of Honor recipient. Click here to read more.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DEAN: So, just what does a day in the life of the dean of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University look like? Well, it’s pretty exciting, according to Dr. Melissa Trego. She likens it to a Netflix show that always has a different plot line. Click here to find out more about Dr. Trego and her responsibilities at PCO/Salus.

CHER CAREER FAIR: The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER) held its first-ever career fair earlier this week for students in our Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs. The event featured 24 businesses from across the region. Click here to see what our students thought of this important networking opportunity.

CAPSTONE PROJECT: For her capstone project, Shannon McCabe, PA ‘23, explored whether social media has a positive or negative effect on females with eating disorders. Her research looked specifically into women with anorexia. Read more about her findings here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Today is the 248th 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 in 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.

Tomorrow, 11 November, 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. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, a 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.

As a retired Navy veteran, I regularly reflect on how lucky we all are to have women and men who make sacrifices and place their lives on the line every day to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms we have, such as Tuesday’s election day. They do this while being held to the highest of standards, professionally, ethically, and morally. Core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment for the Navy and Loyalty, Honor, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage for the Army have been the moral and ethical compasses that have guided women and men in uniform for 248 years.

Here at Salus we are particularly lucky to have some of our nation’s finest learning with us. Ozoaru Chukwu, or Lyna -- as most of us know her, recently shared with classmates her journey to Salus having served overseas in significant tours. I am inspired by Lyna’s selfless service to our country, her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of others, exceptional leadership and remarkable courage. (see photo)

As healthcare professionals, we have much in common with our military service members. We, too, have commited our time and talent to serve others. Most importantly, as healthcare professionals we also must be guided by an ethical and moral compass that emulates that of our Navy and Marine Corps – that of Honor, Courage, and Commitment; or U.S. Army - Loyalty, Duty, Honor, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, take time to thank the many veterans and service members around us and to recommit ourselves to acting with honor, exercising courage to denounce actions that are counter to our democratic values, and doing what’s right for our patients, clients and students. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to lead by example.

Have a great weekend! Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Honoring an Exceptional Individual: Week of October 6, 2023

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful fall day from Atlanta where I had the opportunity to honor a really talented individual yesterday - more on that later. It’s been a busy week on campus with our construction project in the South building really looking great and our students and faculty busy with classes, labs and clinics. Here are some other items that I hope interest you:

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Rear Admiral Colin Chinn will be the keynote speaker for Salus University’s 127th commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at the Kimmel Cultural Center in Philadelphia. I am honored and thrilled that Dr. Chinn has agreed to deliver the keynote and I’m certain that the message he has for our graduates and those in attendance will be exceptionally relevant. Click here to read more about Dr. Chinn.

MENTORING AWARD: For her efforts in helping young optometrists advance their careers, Minal Patel, OD ’10, has been named a 2023 Theia Award of Excellence winner for mentoring by Women in Optometry, a group that provides women a platform to share their experiences and gain exposure to a national audience that includes other ODs. Read more about Dr. Patel here.

STUDENTS AT LEISURE: There were times when Gianna Maria Bates ’25 OT wanted to apply to graduate school for clay and ceramics. She had graduated from Arcadia University in 2023 with a double major in psychology and ceramics, and was looking for a profession where she could combine her love of art with something in the medical field. So, how did she settle on pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy at Salus University? Read more about Gianna’s journey here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: When talking about Salus with leaders in and beyond the region, I frequently share how we change people’s lives through our Looking Out For Kids charity, the work we do at the Eye, Ear and Speech and Language Institutes and in the direct services our students and faculty through community outreach efforts. What I often overlook is the hard work and selfless sacrifices behind the scenes by our Salus support staff and others across our industries.

Just a few short weeks ago we honored Drs. Glenn Corbin and Henry Green, both PCO alumni, for their tremendous professional accomplishments which changed the lives of thousands through their clinical interventions, excellence in teaching and ingenious inventions in the area of low vision.

Yesterday, I had the honor of presenting the Salus Presidential Medal of Honor to a man who has dedicated his life to supporting optometry and the optical industry.

Mr. Walt Fleming played a pivotal role in the exponential growth and expansion of 1,400 optometric locations across the country, improving access to much needed optometric care where otherwise, it may have been lacking.

With a remarkable level of commitment, Walt has diligently supported over 2,300 optometrists, assisting in their professional development and ensuring their success. His exceptional leadership has been instrumental in the establishment of an advisory panel that evaluates and qualifies novel technologies and innovations that is helping to not only move our profession forward as we embrace high quality tele-optometry, but also ensure access to high-quality optometric care to patients living in remote locations.

Just as notable: Walt has achieved all this as a leading optometric professional without being a doctor of optometry. Integrated patient care is a team sport, comprised of doctors, technicians and people like Walt Fleming, who work collaboratively to ensure patients receive the highest quality care possible, no matter where they live or work.

As you prepare for this fall weekend, keep in mind that the weather is changing and it’s going to be about 35 degrees cooler than it has been all week. Perfect football weather. Stay safe, use a facemask if you’re around large crowds and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Mike

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Mike

Finding Things to Enjoy: Week of August 4, 2023

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where we’ve had another busy week of lectures, labs and clinic. I even had the opportunity to lecture to our PCO Scholars students, which is always fun. Our construction project in the South building is steadily progressing with floor and ceiling tiles installed in some sections early next week. Other items you may find of interest:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: For his many distinguished achievements in the profession of optometry, Henry Greene, OD ‘74, FAAO, has been named a 2023 Presidential Medal of Honor recipient by Salus University. Congratulations, Dr. Greene! Dr. Greene is not only an expert in his profession, but he is also an accomplished photographer who has taken photos of people in more than 50 countries around the world and has published two books highlighting his fantastic work. To read more about Dr. Greene and his impressive career, click here.

AUDIOLOGY SUMMER WORKSHOP: The goal of the Doctor of Audiology Online Bridge Program workshop is to provide an update on current science as well as advances in a specific topic of study, review clinical implications, and provide hands-on training using tools and techniques discussed, to improve clinical practice. Click here to read what students learned this summer.

FUN FACULTY FACTS: Did you know that in their spare time, Salus faculty members engage in extracurricular activities and have a diversified skill set ranging from artists, athletes, conservationists and more? Click here to check out this new series on our website.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In high school, I became very interested in photography, capturing scenery, people and experiences with my camera. At one point, I had a full darkroom, where I would develop and print my own work, something that has been driven to extinction by the advent of digital photography. If anyone can get a hold of the IRIS yearbook from 1980, you will find much of my work from the good old days. I still enjoy photographing landscapes. Most recently, I’ve been experimenting with capturing the moon.

This month, we will experience two supermoons (they are called that because the moon appears larger than normal due to its close proximity to earth). The first is the “Sturgeon Moon”, so named by Native Americans because sturgeons were most abundantly caught in the Great Lakes in August hundreds of years ago. The second super moon, which will occur at the end of this month, is called the Blue Supermoon because it is the second full moon of the month, which occurs only once every two to three years.

Photography gives me a chance to relax, disengage and connect with the subject matter. This type of distraction is a great way to control stress and unwind.

I hope there are things you do that you enjoy on a regular basis. If not, I strongly encourage you to find something, hopefully outdoors, that enables you to recharge, reflect and disengage from your hectic schedules. While the work we do at Salus is extremely important and rewarding, it’s also important to maintain a healthy work-study-life balance so we can continue to perform at high levels.

I’ve attached a few photos of this month’s Sturgeon Moon for your viewing pleasure. I’d love to hear from you what you do for fun!

As you prepare for the weekend, try to get out and catch a glimpse of the moon as it wanes. Put 30 August on your calendars to catch this month’s Blue Supermoon. Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Finding Happiness and Freedom: Week of July 7, 2023

 

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

Good morning from Bethesda, Maryland where I am with RADM (ret) Tom Beeman (and Salus Board member) to honor Rear Admiral Anne Swap, a former shipmate of ours who is retiring after serving our country for over 30 years. One of the nicest traditions our services has is to honor those who have given so much of their lives for our country. I was honored to serve as a mentor and colleague to RADM Swap over her career which included time in Okinawa, Japan; Afghanistan, Washington, DC; Portsmouth, Virginia; Diego Garcia, and Millington, Tennessee. On campus, the construction project in the South building is starting to take shape nicely. We’re hoping for a September completion date.

In addition, here are some other things I hope you’ll read about:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: In his more than 40 years as an optometrist, the passion and dedication of Glenn Corbin, OD ‘82, hasn’t gone unnoticed. Salus University is pleased to present Dr. Corbin with its highest honor, the 2023 Presidential Medal of Honor. Read more here.

OPTOMETRY LEARNING EXPERIENCE: We are delighted to welcome 33 students over two sessions to our Optometry Learning Experience (OLE). The program is designed to offer participants the opportunity to explore the Doctor of Optometry degree program, as well as the profession of optometry and the many career opportunities available. Look for an upcoming story about the week on our website.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: After graduating from St. Joseph’s University in 2013 with a degree in biology, Ashley (Senss) Joyce, MMS ‘20, took a job as a professional stage manager for a theater company. But after a year, Ashley realized that although she loved her job, the lifestyle just wasn’t for her. Then she discovered the Physician Assistant Studies program at Salus University. Click here to read more about her journey.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In The Art of Living, the famous Stoic Epictetus teaches: “Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle. Some things are within your control. And some things are not.”

The end to affirmative action, the fractious political discourse in an already divided nation, the war in Ukraine, inflation, climate change, the wildfires in Canada, the unrelenting gun violence -- each of these issues is life changing in its individual impact; combined, they can feel overwhelming.

Taking action through advocacy is important, necessary and effective. Continuing to push for positive change on all of these issues -- gun control, increasing diversity in education, decreasing our carbon footprints, can reclaim a sense of agency in the swirl of current developments.

Even as we give voice to these vital issues, if you’re a student, I encourage you to keep focused on your studies. It is the primary reason you’re at Salus and something over which you have direct control. Our faculty remain focused on your professional growth providing leading edge training to prepare you for success as emerging educators and clinicians. We are here to support you every step of the way in reaching your career aspirations.

If happiness and freedom begin with exercising autonomy, Daniel Pink’s research on motivation, adds mastery and purpose to sustain it. As you work toward professional mastery, recommit every day to doing your very best work. There is no greater sense of motivation or higher service to our society than the purpose you’ve found and will continue to nurture in selfless service to others through your chosen profession.

As you prepare for the weekend, please take some time to reflect on the words of Epictetus – what brings you happiness and freedom? To sustain that way of being, how will you focus and animate that which gives you purpose? In my experience, when you’ve answered these questions for yourself, everything else becomes easier.

Stay safe, drink plenty of fluids and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

-Mike