Vote Next Week: Week of November 4, 2022

 

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

Good morning on this beautiful Fall morning where our Elkins Park and East Oak Lane campuses have been buzzing with activity. We are nearing completion of minor renovations to The Eye Institute that will improve the patient check-in process and flow. And, of course, we are watching the Phillies, Eagles and Union!

Here are some other items of interest:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS: We are excited about our upcoming Looking Out For Kids charity fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12. This year’s event will be held at the National Constitution Center where we will honor 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.

VACCINATION EVENT: On Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Hafter Center gym Salus will host a vaccination event, in collaboration with Walmart Pharmacy, that will provide the new bivalent COVID booster as well as the Flu vaccination.

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION: This Sunday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. there will be the "Excellence in Education” annual conference in tribute to the late Dr. Joseph C. Toland, a PCO graduate and professor with more than 40 years of service. His avid support of optometric education and residency training have shaped how we practice optometry. Salus University extends our deepest respect and gratitude to Dr. Toland. In his honor, all proceeds from this annual event will directly benefit our residency program. Click here for more information, and here to register.

OT FACULTY FOCUS: Being in on the ground floor of establishing Salus University’s Occupational Therapy (OT) department was a memorable time for Caitlyn Foy, DOT, MOTR/L. Read more about Dr. Foy’s role in that here in this week’s Faculty Focus.

RESIDENCY CLASS OF 2023: Ryan Keenan, OD ‘22,’23 Resident, knew he wanted to get into healthcare when he entered college and explored several professions through volunteer opportunities. Now he’s one of our residents and he says his residency is everything he expected. Read more about Dr. Keenan here.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME TO END: Remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night as Daylight Savings Time ends at 2AM Sunday morning. We all get an extra hour of sleep!

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last week I wrote about the imperative of exercising your right and responsibility to vote for your candidate of choice on election day. Our democracy, and the right to vote, are more fragile than most realize. Your vote helps ensure that your voice is heard.

The day is now upon us: Tuesday, Nov. 8th. If you have not filed your mail-in ballot, please make time to vote!

As you consider for whom you will vote, check candidate voting records that can help predict how candidates will vote in the future. Remember that social media posts tend to represent opinions rather than facts. Verify facts using multiple sources before taking a position.

The weather is going to be amazing this weekend! Try to get out and enjoy it while we still have it! As you go about your activities over the weekend, please remember CDC masking guidelines and be cognizant of your surroundings at all times. If you haven’t already been vaccinated with the new COVID bivariant vaccine and flu vaccine, please try to register for our campus event or get them at your local pharmacies. It’s the safe and responsible thing to do.

Be safe, remain vigilant and stay SALUS STRONG!

Managing Stress: Week of September 16, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a bright, crisp morning in Elkins Park! I hope you all saw that beautiful, red sunrise! It’s been another busy week on campus with lectures, labs and clinics. This week I attend the bi-annual meeting of the Department of Veteran Affairs Special Medical Advisory Group, of which I am a member. I had the unique opportunity to brief members and the Undersecretary of VA Health on the critical ways that optometry serves our veterans and why it’s important for optometrists to practice at their highest levels of training. It was extremely well received.

Here are some items that I believe would be of interest to you:

QUARTERLY BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING: On Monday, 19 September, we will look forward to hosting our fabulous volunteer Board of Trustees on campus. If you have the opportunity to meet any of them, please take the time to thank them for their extraordinary service to Salus.

ANNUAL RECOGNITION RECEPTION: Our annual Recognition Reception highlighting both Alumni Association Awards and Presidential Medal of Honor recipients will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, September 19, at Morris Arboretum. To register for the event, click here.

LOFK CHARITY FUNDRAISER: Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 12, 2022, for the 15th annual “Looking Out for Kids” (LOFK) charity fundraiser at the National Constitution Center. This year’s Lighthouse Award recipient is Kovin Naidoo, Global Head of Advocacy and Partnerships for OneSight EssilorLuxxotica Foundation, and former CEO of Brien Holden Vision Institute. For information and to purchase tickets and sponsorships, click here.

NEW RESIDENT: Andrew Kageyama OD, ‘23 Resident, is following in his parents’ footsteps. Although Dr. Kageyama was practically born into the profession, it wasn’t until the start of his undergraduate career that he confirmed the career path he wanted to pursue. And now he’s one of our 2022-2023 residents. Read more about Dr. Kageyama here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As everyone gets into their normal “battle rhythm” for the Fall semester I want to remind you to take care of yourselves physically and mentally. With the nicer weather, it’s going to be much easier for all of us to get outside and enjoy all the great parks and trails that we’re lucky to have nearby. These are great opportunities to relieve stress and get exercise. Here are some additional suggestions to help you manage stress as you get into this semester’s work:

Stay focused on your studies - Keep up with your learning and try not to fall behind. Not only is focusing on school a great break from focusing on what’s going on in the world, it’s also a way to progress in your life while everything else seems like it’s on pause.

Develop a routine you can stick to - Sounds basic, but it will make a world of difference. Get up, make your bed (now you’ve accomplished at least one thing!), exercise, have breakfast, etc.

Get enough sleep – This also sounds pretty basic, and to some, it may seem like “mission impossible,” but the better rested you are, the more capable your body and mind will be at handling things that come your way including stress. Prioritize sleep over other things, and you’ll be more productive, resilient and attentive.

Get outside and enjoy the fresh air – There are so many places around us that you can safely walk in nature that will calm your mind and recharge your energy while exercising.

Make sure you have what you need for the next day - Check the schedule, lay out your clothes, make your lunch, etc.

Use social media purposefully – Limit your screen time and refrain from posting for “likes” or for the sake of making the “best content.” Use social media to connect with some new classmates or the people you miss seeing every day.

I understand what you’re going through, as I feel many of the same stressors. In addition to the steps mentioned, I find it helpful to remain focused, stay healthy and keep an optimistic outlook on things. I strongly encourage you to contact the skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are there for you. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

As you prepare for the weekend, try to get out and enjoy the great weather. Before we know it, we’ll be shoveling snow! It’s also time to think about scheduling your COVID-19 booster as well remaining vigilant in your prevention activities such as following CDC masking guidelines.

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

-Mike

Remembering Queen Elizabeth: Week of September 9, 2022

 

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

Greetings on a beautiful Friday morning from our Elkins Park campus. While it was a short week due to the Labor Day weekend, it’s been a busy one! Both in-person and hybrid classes have been ongoing as have been our labs and clinics. Additionally, teams have been meeting to finalize our plans for the renovation of the 1st floor of the South building which will be an exciting improvement to our campus. 

Here are some other items that may be of interest to you:

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL WINNER: The Salus University Presidential Award is an accomplishment that Neil Draisin, OD ‘71, FCOVD, is excited and honored to add to his long list of achievements throughout his career in optometry. Read more about Dr. Draisin here. 

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT DAY: Faculty members met recently in the Hafter Student Community Center for an in-person reception recognizing new members of the University faculty, those who were promoted and those who officially received tenure while mingling and enjoying much needed refreshments. Read more here about our University Faculty Development Day.

WORKING ON A DREAM: How many faculty members across the country can boast that they have opened for Bruce Springsteen? Well, the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) department at Salus University can. Nora Whittaker Jones, MA, CCC-SLP, an SLP adjunct professor since 2017, was a professional singer before transitioning into academia. Read more about her here.

NEW RESIDENT: While attending Ursinus College as a biology major, Samuel Kim, OD ‘22, Resident ‘23, interned with a small optometric practice. He enjoyed working there and it sparked his interest in the profession. Read more here about Dr. Kim, one of our 2022-2023 residents.

APPROVED COVID BOOSTER AND MONKEYPOX AWARENESS: As I mentioned last week, the FDA and CDC have approved the lasted COVID booster, specifically targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants in addition to the original COVID strains. I want to strongly encourage all of us to receive this vaccine to get it as soon as you are eligible (at least 2 months after your last booster or 90 days after testing positive for COVID). The CDC defines being “fully vaccinated” as having the initial 2 doses of the COVID vaccine and “up-to-date” as having the most recent booster shot. As healthcare providers who interact with the general public, we have a professional responsibility to remain up-to-date on these vaccines both to protect our patients and clients but also to protect ourselves and our families. I am relying on your commitment to maintaining a high standard of professionalism to keep up to date. Additionally, Monkey Pox still presents a threat to many in our general population. Please continue to be vigilant when seeing patients and clients as well as in your personal interactions and follow CDC guidelines if you suspect you’ve been exposed or you have a patient or client who might have the virus.

FINAL THOUGHTS: History gained another marker yesterday with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And while the United States has not been under British rule since 1783, many Americans still claim the Royal Family as our own, with Queen Elizabeth as their symbolic matriarch. In reality, she was the monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 commonwealth realms. Her Majesty took the throne in 1952, at the young age of 26 years old, during a period in global history when much of the world had difficulty seeing a woman at the pinnacle of leadership. While the world may have been confounded by her gender, she quickly earned the respect of many through her embodiment of grace, courage, integrity, steadfastness and decency. Queen Elizabeth displayed immense courage throughout significant political and personal changes in the monarchy and the family.

Integrity was her posture during the personal scandals of the Royal Family over the last few decades. And Her Majesty was the epitome of steadfastness, often lauded as an unwillingness to change, as she held closely for much of her reign, many longstanding traditions of the monarchy. The world has lost a leader who epitomized decency and respect. As you begin this beautiful weekend, please take some time to reflect on Queen Elizabeth’s legacy and how we can emulate some of her leadership qualities in our professional lives. Be safe, look out for one another, continue to follow CDC masking guidelines when out and about and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

The Importance of Practicing Mutual Respect: Week of October 8th, 2021

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus on a very nice Fall morning. The campus has been extremely busy between welcoming guests, conducting interviews and holding in-person classes and labs. On Wednesday, we had the honor to host Dr. Kim McCurdy, the Bureau Director of Post-Secondary and Adult Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education where we had the opportunity to show her around our Elkins Park campus and tell her all about Salus. Here are some other things that are happening that you might be interested in:

BACK AT THE KIMMEL!: We’re looking forward to being back at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia for commencement next week at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12. (A reminder that the Kimmel Center requires proof of vaccination to enter the building.) Read more about our keynote speaker Alison Beam, Acting Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, here. The day before commencement on Monday, Oct. 11, we will have the Fall Graduate Luncheon starting at noon at Presidential Caterers. The evening before commencement, we will also have the PA Long White Coat ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in the Hafter Center. 

SAFE ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING: Let me add my voice to the reminder we got from our Department of Technology and Learning Resources about October being Cybersecurity Month. The United States Cyber Security & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has posted a helpful list of tips and tricks to keep us all safe with our online holiday shopping. Please take a moment and read these tips and tricks here. 

MEDAL WRAP-UP: Coming off our Presidential Medal and Alumni Association awards ceremony last week, I’d like to draw your attention to three stories on our website. First, the story on the ceremony itself, which you can read about here. Then, a story on the recognition we gave to longtime Board of Trustees chair Jo Surpin, which you can read here. And finally, a feature on one of the 2021 medal winners, Dr. Sarah Appel, which you can read here. Once again, congratulations to all of our winners.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s staff spotlight features Jackie Todaro, who works in the Osborne College of Audiology. To read more about Jackie, click here.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: This week’s new resident feature is on Anthony Boyd, OD, ‘22Resident, who discovered his love for optometry when he started working as an optometric technician at a private practice. What he didn’t immediately realize was that accepting the technician job was “the moment” that would solidify his future. Read more about Dr. Boyd here.

RETURN TO GUATEMALA: Nine students from the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program and one from the Occupational Therapy (OT) program, along with two PA faculty members, were in Guatemala from Aug. 21 through Aug. 29, our first mission trip since the pandemic started. To read more about this great experience for our students, click here. 

AUDIOLOGY GRAND ROUNDS: The next virtual Audiology Grand Rounds will be today (Oct. 8) at 12:15 p.m. Jenna Putnam and Courtney Luikert, both from the Class of 2023, will present on “Hidden Hearing Loss.”

FINAL THOUGHTS: It is an understatement to say that the past 19 months have been extremely challenging and stressful for all of us. I also recognize that the normal demands of learning new professions, teaching, providing clinical care and even challenges in our personal lives can occasionally lead to additional stress. These stressors can cause people to behave in ways they normally would not, sometimes manifesting in disrespectful interactions between people.

We have always been committed to equity, inclusion and providing a respectful environment to teach, learn and work at Salus and I want that to continue to be the norm, as it’s been a hallmark of what we believe.

Most recently, however, I have seen or experienced several examples of where stress may have gotten the better of people, with respect for one another or differences of perspective not being regarded. We often talk about being an institution that teaches how to cure, and in so doing, we also teach how to care. I would hope that we can transfer those values of cure and care in all that we do — with our patients and clients, of course, but also in our encounters with one another. We can all benefit from being more mindful in our communication and interactions, considering how it will impact our community members. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Every human being, of whatever origin, of whatever station, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves”. We all should take these words to heart in our daily interactions.

If you are feeling stressed and would like to talk with one of our counselors, students can make appointments on the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) page on our website. Faculty and staff, can contact Human Resources. For those benefit eligible employees, Unum has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides unlimited access to consultants by telephone, in addition to other resources.

As you prepare for this weekend and the busy next week with Fall commencement and other associated activities, please try to reflect on the importance of mutual respect, care and concern for one another.

Enjoy the good weather. When you go out and about, please remember that what you do off campus affects all of us on campus. So, please wear your face mask when going inside and if you’re around large numbers of people outside. Be safe, be smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Building Resilience: Week of October 1st, 2021

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

Greetings on a rather crisp Friday morning! It’s been another busy week, both on and off campus, for many of us. I just returned from two days in Harrisburg and one day in Washington, DC, where I had the honor of presenting Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her extraordinary work in helping to keep all Pennsylvanians safe during the pandemic, followed by a meeting with Senator Jake Corman where I had the opportunity to discuss the importance of all of our professions practicing to the highest limits of their training. The last leg of my trip in DC I participated in a meeting addressing Veteran’s health issues, which was extremely interesting. In addition to my travels, below are some important things I’d like you all to be aware of:

GIVING WEEK: Join us for our third annual Salus Giving Week, Oct. 4-8, 2021, by supporting funding for student scholarships, capital improvements, and community outreach. With your donation of any size, we can make sure that we continue providing high quality education to all of our students and serve our neediest communities. In addition, for our employees, your gift can be a one-time donation or you can choose to contribute via payroll deduction and spread it out over time. The employee campaign dovetails with Salus Giving Week. If you submit a donation form by Thursday, Oct, 7, you will be entered for a chance to win one of three prizes: Apple TV; Facebook Portal; or Frameo Digital Photo Frame. For more information, click here.

FREE DEPRESSION SCREENINGS: CPPD is offering free, brief depression screenings on Thursday, October 7 (National Depression Screening Day) from 10-3 in W-300C with Dr. Tami April-Davis.

CLOSING IN ON COMMENCEMENT: A reminder that fall commencement is right around the corner — at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12 — and we’ll be back at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for the ceremony. Our guest speaker and honorary degree recipient will be Alison Beam, Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health. Check our website for details.

O&P DIRECTOR ON BOARD: J. Chad Duncan, director of our new Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program, has arrived on campus and is hard at work on the details of building the program from the ground up. He comes to us from Northwestern University in Chicago where he was the director of the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) program at the university. The Northwestern P&O program is the oldest and one of the most distinguished programs in the country. Read more about Dr. Duncan here.

WELL-DESERVED HONORS: It was a pleasure to see everyone and honor Presidential Medal and Alumni Association award winners from the past two years earlier this week at Morris Arboretum. Aside from commencement, this is my favorite ceremony, and we were able to do it face-to-face this year. Our staff is so special, they work hard on behalf of the students and patients and they all deserve the recognition that they’ve gotten. We also honored longtime Board of Trustees chair Jo Surpin. Look for stories about the ceremony and Jo on our website next week.

MEDAL WINNER FEATURE: Speaking of which, we’ll be featuring all the 2021 Presidential Medal winners in separate stories on our website over the next few weeks. Leading off is Giri Sundar, MPHil, PhD, CCC-A, FAAA, who drew the biggest laughs of the evening when she described being told that she was a medal winner. Read more about Dr. Sundar here.

RESIDENT CLASS OF 2022: Get to know one of our newest residents, Wayne Tan, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident, who was born in the city of Guangdong, Kaiping China, and immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, when he was 10 years old. Coming to America at that age was challenging for Dr. Tan as he had to assimilate to a whole new culture. Find out more about his journey to PCO/Salus here.

SLP PODCAST, PART TWO: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus University, in part two of a podcast Q&A as he speaks with an externship supervisor and a student, now an alum, that she's worked with. Read more or listen here.

GRAND ROUNDS: The next Grand Rounds at The Eye Institute (TEI) will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8. The topic will be "Myopia Control Update" with Dr. Nicholas Gidosh. Click here for more information.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I’d like to spend just a few minutes talking about resilience. Resilience is the ability to effectively cope with adversity and bounce back from challenges we’re presented with. We are now 18+ months into a global pandemic, with the end many months away, many of you have just begun your professional training and the vast majority of you reading this have been working through multiple scenarios to assure we can both teach and learn under very stressful conditions. While you all have been rock stars as we’ve navigated through all this, there has been a toll. Hence, the importance of building and maintaining our resilience to remain healthy, both physically and mentally. I have a few suggestions for you that I’ve learned through experience, articles written about it and talking to experts who have found ways of dealing with long-term stress.

Many experts suggest practicing mindfulness. There is evidence that suggests that practicing mindfulness mediation can increase your resilience by training your mind not to continuously reflect on those things causing stress but rather on the good things that surround you such as concentrating on positive relationships, thinking about plans for the future and finding ways to deal with difficult challenges in your life.

Another way to build resilience is to establish a core group of friends you can feel comfortable discussing what’s on your mind in a “safe space”. Having a group like that has really helped me as I’ve maneuvered through the pandemic. Along with this, try to develop a routine that allows you to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and exercise regularly. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll find a group supports each other to develop these resilience building habits. Finally, try to remain optimistic. It’s amazing how a positive attitude can change the way you react to things. Sometimes, it’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort!

As you prepare for the weekend, try to reflect on some of the things you can do to build and maintain your resilience. It’s going to be beautiful outside, so I encourage you to take advantage of this great weather. As you’re doing this, please remember to wear your face mask when around others, vaccinated or not and try to socially distance when you can. Be safe, be resilient and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Remembering 9/11: Week of September 10th, 2021

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

Good morning on a beautiful day from our Elkins Park campus. It’s been another busy week on campus with our classes, labs and clinics all going strong. 20 years ago tomorrow, it was also a beautiful day when terrorists attacked our country. Tomorrow we remember this heinous event. Following is information that I thought you’d want to know: 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF HONOR: Congratulations to the 2021 Presidential Medal of Honor Awardees! As you know, the Presidential Medal of Honor is bestowed upon those who have made contributions to their professions and for their service to Salus University. Check out the biographies on this year’s winners and look for extended feature stories on each of them in the future on our website. Click here for more information. 

RESIDENT CLASS FEATURE: This week’s Resident Class of 2022 features Natalie Rackus, OD ‘21, ‘22Resident. She only applied to PCO/Salus for her residency because she knew that the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center was a world-class place to learn. Read more about Dr. Rackus here. 

DEEP DIVE INTO OT: Check out our latest podcast, which features Melissa Cinciruk, associate director of Admissions at Salus University, as she talks about the Occupational Therapy (OT) program as well as tips and tricks for application. Click here for details.

RANDOM COVID TESTING: As most of you have already been notified, we will begin our random COVID testing program next week. This initial phase will extend until the end of the fall 2021 semester. Please be on the lookout for emails that will be sent out each week to determine if you’ve been selected to be tested.

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR: A very Happy and Healthy New Year to all of our Jewish community and friends who celebrated Rosh Hashanah earlier this week and will observe Yom Kippur late next week.

STARS OF ‘THE COLLEGE TOUR’: We’re featuring a closer look at some of the “stars” of our recent episode of “The College Tour.” In this edition, get to know Zachary LaBarth ‘23AUD and Sierra Niesen ‘24AUD, how they got to Salus and how their careers have been advancing. Click here for more. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Flags will be at half-staff and there will be a country-wide moment of silence at 8:46 am, which is when the first plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers.

September 11th is designated as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On this day Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities as a tribute to the individuals who were lost or injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have been called to service to defend our freedom. It is my hope that 9/11 can also present an opportunity for all Americans to come together in unity. Even with all of our differences, we were united in our pain and humanity regarding loss of life, injury, and way of being. And just like we rebuilt the World Trade Center and Pentagon, it’s time to ‘rebuild’ what it should mean to be an American; united in cause, intolerant of racial injustice, sexual and gender inequality and dedicated to the betterment of society. It’s what we should strive to do as healthcare providers. Most of us can remember exactly where we were when the first jet hit the World Trade Center, with that moment engrained in our memories for the rest of our lives, which changed from that point forward. I ask each of you to reflect upon what this day means to you and how you are going to embrace what’s best about our democracy to help make other’s lives better.

Please, also keep those who have been affected by the recent storms, fires out west, political and social unrest around the world in your thoughts and prayers. Do, however, enjoy the weekend. The weather is supposed to be perfect. Please remember to socially distance, wear your face mask when around others and wash your hands frequently, as what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be responsible, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Resident's Graduation: Week of June 7th

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

It’s been another busy week at Salus as we get ready to launch a new group of optometric residents later today!  As the summer semester moves into high gear, our students are out and about, learning and practicing in our state-of-the art labs and classrooms and taking care of patients in our clinics around the city. 

I want to offer a heartfelt congratulations to our 38 PCO residents who are graduating later today. Over the past couple of days, we held the annual PCO/Salus Resident's Days where each resident had the opportunity to present lectures on topics including glaucoma, neuro-optometry, anterior segment disease, low vision, contact lenses, pediatrics, vision therapy and traumatic brain injury.  All in all, our residents offered faculty, staff and alumni over 9 hours of COPE approved CE.  Resident's Days will culminate with graduation and a dessert reception in the Hafter Student and Community Center at 1:00 p.m. today. Everyone is invited to attend.

Today we welcome some prospective audiology students who are visiting Salus as a part of our Audiology Learning Experience (ALE).  The students have the opportunity to see a clinical skills demonstration, tour our campus and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute,  receive admissions advising, participate in a faculty panel, and more. If you see them around please say hello!

We recently rolled out SIPQ, the Salus Interprofessional Questionnaire at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute and The Eye Institute’s Chestnut Hill and Falls Center satellites. SIPQ asks patients about vision, hearing, balance, speech and language, voice, and swallowing symptoms they may be experiencing. When fully launched, SIPQ will foster greater collaboration between the clinical facilities of Salus University Health and a more patient-centered approach to care. Kudos to our early adopters! Your experience with SIPQ and your feedback are vital to its success. Special thanks to Drs. Karen Hansen, Lindsay Bondurant, Maria Parisi and Bob Serianni for spearheading this important initiative.

Next Tuesday,  take some time to visit the Learning Resource Center from 12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m.  to learn about “Strength Against Stress”. Led by a nutrition expert, you can learn how to strengthen yourself against stress with nutrients that help us stay balanced and focused - and sample some delicious piña colada chia pudding!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the 75th anniversary of D-Day that was yesterday. On June 6th, 1944 allied forces, under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, executed the largest ever amphibious and airborne invasion the world has ever seen on to the beaches of Normandy, France to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi forces.   Code named, “Operation Overlord” D-Day is often considered one of the most important days in the 20th century as more than 11,000 aircraft, 5,000 ships and over 160,000 allied soldiers from the U.S. Great Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Czechoslovakia, Norway and Poland were assembled to thwart the Nazi war machine.  Confronted with fierce Nazi resistance, resulting in an estimated 10,000 casualties and over 4,000 killed, these members of what has been labeled, “The Greatest Generation”, persevered and established a beachhead that would facilitate the beginning of the end of Hitler’s Nazi regime.  It’s important to remember what these heroes accomplished on this day and those days following the invasion to ensure that liberty and freedom would be restored in Nazi held territories.  These sacrifices have allowed us to live in relative peace, economic prosperity and freedom that has lasted for seventy five years.  Let’s not forget the lessons of the past and the fact that because brave men and women gave their lives back then, we have the opportunities we currently enjoy here and elsewhere in the world. (see attached photos)

Finally, I will be taking a 2 week break from our Salus Weekly Update as Tanis and I will be getting some R&R in the Baltic Region. Enjoy the weekend and make sure you take some time to reflect on those sacrifices made by our fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers during World War II and other conflicts, and if you can, thank them for all they did to give us the freedoms and liberties we now enjoy.



Mike