The Importance of Our Constitution: Week of January 5, 2024

 

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

Happy New Year! We’re excited to welcome everyone back to campus for our Spring Semester. It’s going to be an exciting year as we continue preparations for our merger with Drexel. Here are some things that I hope you will find of interest:

FIRST FLOOR SOUTH RIBBON CUTTING: We are excited to officially unveil our renovated first floor south student lounge and cafe spaces with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Join us in the first floor south area on January 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to celebrate. Lunch and giveaways will be provided. RSVP for the ribbon cutting here.

REMEMBERING DR. ALGERNON PHILLIPS: Algernon Phillips, OD ‘69, MD, a trailblazer for the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University’s commitment to global service, passed away on December 29, 2023. Dr. Phillips founded PCO’s Student Optometric Service to Humanity (SOSH) chapter and paved the way for the global healthcare impact PCO/Salus maintains today. Dr Phillips and his family have been a part of our PCO/Salus family for many years. The entire Salus community sends our condolences to Dr. Phillips’ family and friends and thanks him for his tremendous impact on the University.

DISCOVERING CAREERS IN BLVS: Hear from Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) alumni Katelyn (Kate) Maffei, MEd ‘21, TVI, VRT, and Kinshasa Coghill, MS ‘02, CLVT, CVRT, OMS, and current student Carolyn Pijanowski '24VRT, '24O&M, on how they discovered the BLVS profession, and why people from all backgrounds should consider the BLVS field. Read more about their journeys here.

OPTOMETRY CAREER FAIR: The Bennett Career Services Center is hosting a Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) Career Fair on Saturday, January 21, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hafter Student Community Center. All PCO students are invited to attend. Click here to register. 

NORTHEAST REGIONAL ADVISORS FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS: Today, we are thrilled to welcome representatives from the Northeast Regional Advisors for Health Professions where we have the opportunity to showcase all of our programs to over 80 participants as well as local regional colleagues. 

YOUNG ALUMNI: Hear from one of our young alumni, Abigail Possinger, AuD ‘22, about her journey into the audiology profession, and her experience at Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology. Read about her experience here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Earlier this week, newly elected Montgomery County Commissioners and Row Officers affirmed their oaths of office. The public ceremony marked a number of historic firsts: 

• Jamila Winder is the first African American woman to Chair the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners;
• Neil Makija, the first Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) to be elected County Commissioner, has also been named Chair of Montgomery County’s Board of Elections;
• Dr. Janine Darby is the first African American woman to be elected County Coroner;
• Tina Lawson is the first African American woman to be elected County Register of Wills.

It was exciting to attend this historic event! What struck me most was that in taking their oaths of office, each official vowed to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth. Our elected leaders don’t pledge loyalty to a person or governmental agency, but rather to the Constitution, one of our nation’s founding documents that delineates our rights as individuals and defines the separation and balance of power among our three governing branches.

As we begin this new year, it’s important for all of us to remember that the basis for our democracy originates from the Constitution. I encourage you to learn more about the Constitution as we enter what will be a consequential election year.

Our students return to campus next week and faculty and staff are preparing for their arrival. Take this last weekend to recharge and come back SALUS STRONG! This is going to be an exciting and eventful year for all of us!

Finally, it’s been almost two years since we’ve had any significant snow around here. It appears this we might experience at least a minor snowfall over the weekend. Please pay attention to weather reports and be careful when out and about. Have a great weekend!

-Mike

President's New Year's Message: Week of December 29, 2023

 

To Our Salus University Community:

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, one filled with hope and possibilities, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey together and the exciting path that lies ahead.

The past year has been a testament to our resilience and commitment. Each one of you, through your dedication and spirit, has contributed to the vibrant tapestry that makes Salus a beacon of excellence and innovation. From our founding as the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry in 1919 through the evolution into the premier health science university we are today, we have always pushed the envelope to expand and improve those professions we serve. As we prepare to merge with Drexel in 2024, we are embarking on a journey of continued growth and expanded opportunities. This merger symbolizes the coming together of two storied institutions and the blending of our shared values and aspirations.

I understand that change, even positive, can be accompanied by a mix of emotions. While many are excited about the new prospects and collaborations this merger will bring, it's natural for some to feel uncertain about what the future holds. I want to assure you that every step we take is with the intention of strengthening our community, enhancing our educational environment, and expanding our impact.

As we look forward to this new chapter, we also need to be mindful of the broader challenges our world is facing. Many around the world are grappling with hardships and uncertainties. Therefore, we must carry forward our commitment to compassion and support, not just within our university walls but also in the wider community we are a part of.

The new year is a time for new beginnings, renewed commitments, and fresh perspectives. I encourage you to embrace it with an open heart and a united spirit. Together, we will continue to foster an environment of learning, discovery, innovation, and service. We will write a new chapter in the storied history of Salus University, one that is marked by innovation, collaboration, and a deep sense of community.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Your passion, your ideas, and your spirit are what make Salus a remarkable place. As we move forward, we do so with the resolve and resilience that makes us SALUS STRONG. In the same spirit, we eagerly anticipate the synergies and strengths that our partnership with Drexel University will bring, embarking on this new era with a shared vision of excellence and innovation.

Here's to a new year filled with health, happiness, and transformative achievements. Together, we will write a new chapter in our history that reflects our legacy, collective spirit, and commitment to making a difference.

With regards and best wishes for the New Year,

Mike

Happy Holidays! Week of December 22, 2023

 

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

There is a tradition in the U.S. Navy that the first entry into a ship’s log on New Year’s Day is entered as a poem. I adopted a version of this tradition when I arrived at Salus. Although, not the first day of the of the new year, I share this with you today as we exit 2023 and prepare to enter into a most exciting 2024:

‘Twas days before Christmas, when all through our campus,

Not a student was stirring in clinics or classes;

The finals were finished, the grades were prepared,

In hopes that an “A” soon would be there;

The students were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of healthcare danced in their heads;

At work or at play, our teams aim to be “best;”

Not surprisingly, they are always up to the test;

Preparing to join with Drexel next year

Gaining friends and new colleagues is something to cheer;

From Salus’ expertise in health, ear and eye care,

To Drexel’s vast tech and research flair;

Together we’ll create a future so bright,

A beacon of learning in education’s night;

In lecture and labs, where ideas ignite,

We’ll embrace our journey with new heights in sight;

With shared goals and dreams, our paths intertwine,

Uniting two legacies in a vision divine;

As you spend time with family and friends,

Joy and peace as the year ends;

Happy Holidays to all, with hearts light and clear,

Embracing the merger, we step into the New Year.

Wishing everyone a very safe, restful and happy holiday. Enjoy the time off. Remember that, especially this time of year, small acts of kindness are gifts we can all give. Looking forward to seeing you all back on campus SALUS STRONG in 2024!

-Mike