Keeping Pace With COVID: Week of January 14th, 2022

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

Greetings from a cold, cloudy Elkins Park campus. I would like to thank all of you for contributing to our enhanced mitigation strategies across our clinics and campus to improve everyone’s safety. Together we are successfully implementing: our vaccination booster requirement, upgraded mask requirement, MERV13 filtration systems, surveillance testing, de-densified spaces, and alternative teaching modalities. Check out the full list of updates on our COVID Protocol Summary Update page. You may wonder: “is all this working?” As of this week, our positivity rate is 2.3%. We can expect our rate to follow the region’s case trends. We will stay the course – listening to your feedback, monitoring changes in CDC guidance, and adjusting our Salus Safety Strategy accordingly. Additional efforts are underway:

• Booster Events. Sun Ray Drugs Chelten Avenue is holding booster events on Friday, January 21, 2022 at The Eye Institute from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Friday, January 28, 2022 at The Hafter Center, Elkins Park Campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family members are welcome. Bring your vaccine card with both dates/doses; photo ID and insurance information, if applicable. Special thanks to Dr. Tracy Offerdahl for helping us to organize these.
• Register your booster. Our booster requirement is effective February 13th. Students can expect an email to upload their booster data. Faculty and staff can register their booster data here.
• 
  Outdoor Dining. Just off the Café at our Elkins Park campus, we have created an additional space to eat and relax. Check out the great heaters!
• Questions. Our Pandemic Safety Officer Brian Zuckerman is your single point of contact if you have questions regarding what to do if: you are exposed, develop symptoms, test positive or wonder when it is safe to return to campus and clinics. Email him at bzuckerman@salus.edu. We will also be issuing additional guidance early next week.

In other news:

DEI GETS A FACELIFT: Check out our new mission statement, logo and revised web page for the Office of DEI here.

NEW SLI DIRECTOR: The Speech Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University welcomes Kara Maharay, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, as director of Clinical Education. Read more about Kara here.

TOLAND SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: Taylor Frank is the 2021 Toland Memorial Scholarship winner. Read more about Taylor here.

FACULTY FOCUS: Click here to read about Anne Marie Ruckdeschel, MA, CCC-SLP, a clinical educator in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: This week’s Staff Spotlight is on Cheryl Keslar, who works in our Finance department. Read more about Cheryl here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I am in awe of your abilities to roll with the many changes we’ve experienced throughout the pandemic. I am also aware this takes a great deal of mental and physical energy, and like me, you may also feel tired, frustrated and disheartened. We should be done with this pandemic!!! The pandemic will end, but in the meantime, we will continue to be vigilant and adaptable. The Marines have a term for this – Semper Gumby – Always flexible!

Guidance from official entities such as the CDC may appear confusing and difficult to follow. They are following the science, which also is constantly changing. With every adaptation, we are becoming smarter and more resilient. My best advice (which I try to follow myself) is to stay busy, try to eat healthy foods, get enough sleep and regular exercise. While this won’t curtail the pandemic, these habits help us all better cope with the stresses that come along with it.

Please continue to wear your masks when out and about, socially distance, wash your hands frequently and look out for one other. We are SALUS STRONG because of what you do every day to help keep us all healthy and safe! Thank you for that!

Mike

New CDC Guidelines on Masks and Social Distancing: Week of May 14th, 2021

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

Good morning from a very sunny and nice Elkins Park campus. It’s been an extremely quiet week around campus as we are between semesters. While student and faculty have been getting some much needed rest, other activities have been taking place. Late yesterday, the CDC changed their guidelines regarding the wearing of face masks for fully vaccinated people. I address this in my “Final Thoughts” below.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH: It's Mental Health Month and I can't think of a better time to discuss the hardships our students have faced throughout the course of the pandemic. For more than a year, we've all been handling an added dose of stress from the unrelenting nature of the situation. Click here to read about how Robert O’Brien, MS, ATR, LCP, a counselor in the University’s Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), and his fellow counselors have continued to help students weather tumultuous times combined with the challenges of graduate school.

MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION: One of our newest student organizations is the Salam Salus Muslim Student Association and I had the personal opportunity to address students face-to-face again, something I sincerely miss and enjoy. I hope the group's first meeting that was held in-person April 30 was the curtain opener to more on-campus student events as COVID-19 health guidelines begin to loosen and capacity limits increase throughout the state. Read more about our gathering, where we were masked and socially-distanced, here.

SPRING COMMENCEMENT: Speaking of student events, the Class of 2021 will also experience a memorable Commencement. The University's 122nd Commencement will be a hybrid celebration, including both in-person Graduate Recognition Events on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26 as well as a University-wide virtual Commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 27 at 2 p.m. The in-person recognition events are college-based and times vary. You can access the full schedule of events, FAQs and the livestreams at salus.edu/virtualcommencement. Read about our keynote speaker Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and our honorary degree recipient Robert E. Horne, who retired as vice president and dean of Student Affairs at Salus in 2012. Dean Horne will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during virtual Commencement.

ONGOING PODCAST SERIES: Join Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, the chair and program director of the department of Speech-Language Pathology at Salus, as he speaks with the clinical education director and four current students about their collaboration with the ReMed Brain Injury Group at the University's Speech-Language Institute. Click here to listen.

RESIDENTS DAYS: Looking ahead, Dr. Shital Mani, director of the Off-Campus Residency Program and Dr. Bhawan Minhas, director of the On-Campus Residency Program, will host the sixth annual Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus Residents Days next week on Thursday, May 20. Lectures will cover a wide range of topics including glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmic conditions, anterior segment, posterior segment, low vision, contact lens, peri-operative care, pediatrics, vision therapy and traumatic brain injury. The event will be livestreamed and you can sign up here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Many of you have likely seen the new CDC guidelines published yesterday that were quickly adopted by Pennsylvania. Based on real-world, scientific studies, the new guidance states that fully vaccinated individuals (14 days after receiving their last dose) can “resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” This is great news and yet another reason to get your vaccination, if you already haven’t. It also suggests that we have turned a corner on the pandemic.

Accordingly, we are amending the Salus Safety Strategy to follow CDC’s updated guidance and provide that all people on the Elkins Park campus WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED will no longer be required to wear a facemask or physically distance. Vaccination status will be measured according to the self reporting system. We will rely largely on your personal ethics, but will also conduct spot checks to ensure everyone complies. If anyone not wearing a mask has not self-reported being vaccinated, we will consider this a 1st violation and that person will receive a warning. A 2nd violation will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal/termination. Face masks and physical distancing will still be required in all of our clinical areas. To view the new CDC guidelines, click here.

It’s also important to note that it is perfectly acceptable for people to wear their facemask, even if they are fully vaccinated. Please do what is within your comfort zone, understanding that for some it will take time to adapt to yet another new normal, which is perfectly okay.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you will still be required to wear a face mask and physically distance on the Elkins Park campus. I encourage you to talk to friends and other trusted information sources that can address any concerns you may have about getting vaccinated so you will feel more comfortable getting that extremely important jab.

This change is what everyone has been hoping for - so please, if you’re not yet vaccinated, take the initiative to get it done.

As you prepare for what looks like a very nice weekend, please continue to wear your face mask indoors if you are not vaccinated, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Also, as you go out and about, it appears several businesses will still require masks to be worn inside, whether you're fully vaccinated or not. So, please be sure to adhere to local rules. 

Be safe, stay smart and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Addressing Stress: Week of February 26th, 2021

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

Greetings from a sunny and cold Elkins Park campus. The snow is starting to melt and we’re looking forward to some warmer days ahead! It’s been another busy week on campus. We’ve said farewell to a long-standing PCO faculty member, Dr. Francine Pearlman-Storch after 40 years teaching PCO students clinical skills and participated in an alumni beer tasting event, which was lots of fun. In addition to this, here are some of the other things happening around campus:

BLACK STUDENT UNION: One of our newest student organizations is the Black Student Union (BSU) group. Forming a new group is difficult under normal circumstances, but for a group that has a mission that includes being out in the community and advocating for the various professions in which Salus students are trained, the challenges have become even more complicated. Read more about the BSU and its goals at salus.edu/BSUgroup.

NEW BOT MEMBERS: Salus University’s Board of Trustees kicked off the new year by adding three new members. Dr. Kate Kinslow, Shannon Tornoe and Emily Turner were named to the board at its January 2021 meeting. Learn more about our new members at salus.edu/NewBOTmembers.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT TEI: Our next “Behind the Scenes at TEI” podcast features Alissa Coyne, OD ‘10, Resident ‘11, FAAO, staff optometrist for primary care and emergency service at The Eye Institute. Read more about Dr. Coyne at salus.edu/ACoyneTEI.

PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIP: We are grateful that the University’s philanthropic partnerships have continued to thrive despite the pandemic. Our most recent donation of $7,500 came from a new donor named Keplr Vision. The Illinois-based company has recognized an opportunity to help students through the Optometry Learning Experience (OLE), a program established 40 years ago by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus. To read more about this contribution, click here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s Where Are They Now features Caitlin Panella, MS ‘18, CCC-SLP, who now works in early intervention after school with children three to five years of age and also serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade for ASPIRA Bilingual Cyber Charter School in the Olney section of Philadelphia. Read more about Caitlin at salus.edu/CaitlinPanella.

FINAL THOUGHTS: In just a couple of weeks, we will have been working within this public health emergency for a year. That has taken a toll on all of us, but I know, especially faculty and students. To that end, I’d like to address this last section specifically to them. We all realize how much stress you have been under over the last year. I want you to know that you’re not alone – not at all, and we recognize this. For our students, I can almost guarantee if you’re having difficulty with a specific subject, many of your classmates are experiencing the same challenges. Because you are not spending time together as groups, you just don’t have the opportunity to “compare notes” as you would have if we were not living in a mostly virtual world. Your deans, program directors and faculty all realize the stress you’re currently under. For our faculty, while we don’t say it enough, we realize the extraordinary efforts you have made to ensure our students are getting the best education possible. We also realize the challenges associated with teaching in a virtual environment, leveraging the technology that’s available to us and working in close quarters with others in clinics and labs. None of this is perfect and frankly, none of the learning platforms that people are using across higher education were designed to be used in totally virtual environments. Your creativity and ability to adapt and make things work less than optimum settings have been enviable and extremely effective and we also realize that often the results of everyone’s efforts are not up to your high standards. We also know how stressful this is. There is no simple rejoinder to many of these stress-causing challenges and we also know that everyone copes with stress a bit differently. I’d like to share some stress-relieving strategies that I’ve shared in the past and suggestions to help you through this, that have served me well over the years:

For students, stay focused on your studies - Don’t get behind. Keep up with your studies, ask questions when you’re not sure and seek help as you feel you need it. Stay in close touch with your faculty.

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

Get enough sleep – This also sounds pretty basic and to some, maybe it seems 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, even in the cold – There are many places around us that you can go and safely walk around in nature that will help to calm your mind and present opportunities for some exercise at many levels.

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 and not nonchalantly – 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.

Give us concrete suggestions on how we can improve our learning environment - While we cannot redesign Blackboard or Blackboard Collaborate, we may be able to design workarounds or can provide specific training that help to augment the teaching and learning experiences.

I can assure you that the pandemic and everything we’ve had to do to keep everyone safe and healthy, while ensuring everything else gets done, has stressed all of us. With the impending approval of a third vaccine, hopefully, later today, there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. While we probably won’t be back to “normal” until enough people are vaccinated, that time is approaching, hopefully by late summer or early fall. In the meantime, we all need to remain focused, healthy and optimistic. We have skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are there for students and Human Resources has access to counselors for faculty and staff. I would strongly encourage you to contact them, if you feel like you need to. For students, all you need to do is make an appointment here.

Finally, it appears we might have a rainy weekend but you still should be able to get out and enjoy some fresh air. I strongly encourage you all to get out and enjoy the good weather while we still have it.

As you get out and about, please continue to wear your double face mask when around others, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. Remember what you do off campus affects all of us on campus.

Be safe, have some fun and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Salus New Year Message: Week of January 1st, 2021

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

As we prepare to thankfully leave 2020 in our rearview mirrors and welcome in 2021, I want to take this opportunity to thank the entire university community for your continued support, indefatigable resiliency and compliance with our Salus Safety Strategy which has allowed us to effectively provide our world-class programs, overcoming significant challenges along the way. You all rock!

Reflecting upon 2020, with its many challenges, it has been a year of intense focus, clarity and noteworthy achievements, to include the completion of our Standardized Patient Simulation Laboratory; our Occupational Therapy Program received a 10-year reaccreditation; we celebrated milestone professional recognition for several of our faculty and staff members; we recognized 4 outstanding faculty members with the Presidential Medal of Honor; several of our professions have already achieved or are on the road to achieving 100% national board pass rates; we welcomed our new Special Assistant for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Dr. Juliana Mosley-Williams; we welcomed our new Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation, Dr. Jim Konopack; we wished Mr. Bill Brichta a fond farewell as he began his retirement and welcomed Ms. Regina Scriven as our new Vice President, Technology and Learning Resources and we recently received a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the state to help fund our new Orthotics and Prosthetics program.

While 2021 promises to be much brighter than 2020, we still have a ways to go before we approach any semblance of what we would consider normal. History reminds us that in the midst of a crisis, things might actually get worse before they get better. For example, in late 1944, following the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, it seemed as if the Second World War was all but over. On Dec. 16, with the onset of winter, the German army launched a counteroffensive that was intended to cut through the Allied forces in a manner that would turn the tide of the war in Hitler's favor. Thousands were killed or wounded. The battle that ensued is known historically as the Battle of the Bulge. The U.S. Army ultimately beat back the German offensive, but with great sacrifice, and continued their drive toward Berlin, thus helping to end World War II.

We can draw some parallels from this to what we’re experiencing today. While there are now several vaccines approved for COVID-19 around the world, experts are still predicting a rather grim winter for our country, given the current number of infections and hospitalizations. Thus, it’s imperative that we continue our diligence with wearing face masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing. While these measures are certainly effective, as you know, we have also implemented our “Return to Learn” testing program for all students and clinical faculty returning to campus for scheduled instruction. To date, over 500 people have signed up for their tests and I’m sure others are preparing to do that this week. Remember, you cannot return to campus for your scheduled instruction unless you have evidence of a negative test. Additionally, throughout the semester we will be offering testing solutions to our students returning to campus from their externship, clerkship and other clinical rotations.

There is light at the end of the tunnel as we look towards 2021. We will emerge from this public health emergency stronger, smarter and better prepared for the next time we’re confronted with any emergency that comes our way. We are better healthcare providers, with refined critical thinking skills. 

My staff and I are working hard to ensure we receive the vaccine along with other healthcare professionals at the appropriate time. As you know, we’ve applied to become a COVID-19 vaccine closed Point of Dispensing (POD) that will help to ensure all of us, including our immediate family members, are vaccinated efficiently. Hopefully, that will be approved shortly.

Needless to say, 2020 has been a most challenging year for us all; probably the most in our school’s 100-year history. Personally, I can’t wait to see our classrooms and labs full of students and faculty and be able to show up on campus and not wear a mask and douse my hands with hand sanitizer. But, that will all have to wait. Looking ahead, 2021 does promise to be a much brighter and exciting year. As vaccines become more ubiquitous, and people receive them, things will improve quickly. Salus is a great university because of the students, faculty, staff and volunteer board members that bring our university to life. That has never been more apparent to anyone looking at us than this year. I look forward to working with each and every one of you as we prepare for an exciting 2021 and position ourselves for another year of great accomplishments, growth and successes.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year. Stay safe, stay healthy and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Happy Holidays: Week of December 18th, 2020

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

Good morning from a beautiful, cold, snow-covered Elkins Park campus. While we, happily, didn’t get the 10 -14 inches of snow originally predicted, we got enough to make it look like a winter wonderland. We’ve made it through the semester; face masks, social distancing, virtual classes and all! I look forward to the day when we are mask-less, able to meet in larger groups and see our campus buzzing with activity again! As we get ready to depart on Winter Break, just a few things to leave you with:

WELCOME TO REGINA SCRIVEN: Please join me in welcoming Regina Scriven as the University’s new vice president of Technology and Learning Resource Services. Regina comes to us after serving more than eight years as director of Information Technology for the School of Public Health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Welcome aboard, Regina. We’re so happy to have you as part of the Salus team. To read more about Regina, go to salus.edu/ReginaScriven.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s “Where Are They Now” features Brittney Hamlett, MMS ‘17, a physician assistant in the Emergency Room at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. Read more about how Brittney’s career has progressed since her graduation at salus.edu/BrittneyHamlett. 

SLP PODCAST: Check out the first of a five-part ongoing podcast series about the University’s Speech-Language Pathology program. Chair and program director Bob Serianni talks to some of our students from the Class of 2022. Click here to listen to the podcast.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT DAY: Very special thanks to Jeanne DiVincenzo and her staff at CPPD for leading a very thought-provoking discussion on things we all could be doing to help recognize and alleviate the stress our students, faculty and staff have been experiencing during the pandemic. I found this extremely helpful, personally - thank you! We hope to continue this important discussion next semester.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Congratulations on making it through probably one of the most challenging semesters in our history. I look forward to getting the vaccine and getting on with our normal lives! A Navy tradition I have embraced through the years was who ever had the watch on Christmas Eve was supposed to write a “clever” poem in the logbook. As a junior officer, I had to come up with several. So, I will leave you with this, as we all prepare to get some much-needed rest and relaxation: 

‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the campus,

Not a student was stirring, not in clinics or classes;

The finals were finished, the grades were prepared,

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

The pandemic has challenged through much of the year,

But even with that, we have all persevered;

A vaccine is in sight,

That sure will end our plight;

With the New Year approaching,

We hope for no masks and in-person toasting;

As we wait for the end of this long misery,

We look to next summer when we’ll be COVID free!

While we wait for that time with patience and hope,

We wish you all peace, rest and time on the slopes.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa to all and to all a good night! 

Be safe, get some rest, and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Thanksgiving Holiday Planning: Week of November 20th, 2020

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

Good morning on a chilly Fall day from Elkins Park. It’s been another busy week around as we work to help keep everyone safe and healthy heading into the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

NEW GALLERY DISPLAY: To help keep spirits up, curator Elynne Rosenfeld has come up with another fabulous art display for the D’Arrigo Family Gallery outside the Bennett Lounge at the Hafter Student Community Center. Works from the recently formed Philadelphia Pastel Society (PSS) can be viewed through Dec. 17, 2020. If you’re on campus, stop by and take a look at the display – you won’t be disappointed! Read more about it here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: This week’s “Where Are They Now” features Kelly Garcia, MS ‘19, a speech therapist at the Independence Charter School in Philadelphia. To read more about Kelly’s professional journey after graduating from Salus, go here.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY PLANNING: This is going to be a Thanksgiving holiday unlike most of us have ever experienced. Most years, the holiday is a time to connect with family and friends for good food, fun and fellowship. For some, it may be a difficult time, as we remember those we have lost or that returning home to family may not always be pleasant or welcomed for various reasons. When we think of all we have endured in 2020, and now, seeing increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases nationally and in our own region (see charts below), it may be more difficult to find a reason to be grateful. However, as you approach Thanksgiving, try to make the best of what I know is a stressful and challenging situation and reflect on all we do have to be thankful for – our health, our loved ones, our opportunities to help others and a brighter future ahead.

There will be temptations to see friends and family members you haven’t seen in a while during this short break. I would caution you not to take chances and to resist the temptation to gather, even in small groups.

To that end, consistent with the latest CDC guidance, I want to strongly encourage you not to travel during this holiday, as difficult as that might be. If you do, please ensure that you are taking all the necessary steps to maintain your health and safety as well that of as your family members and your classmates. That means wearing your face mask at home if you’re going to be with people not from your immediate circle (your immediate circle includes family members you live with, roommates and others you have regularly spent time with), social distancing of at least six feet, washing your hands frequently and maintaining maximum airflow in your house by opening windows, doors, etc. 

If you travel outside Pennsylvania, you need to be aware that beginning today, anyone who visits Pennsylvania from another state, including Pennsylvanians returning to the Commonwealth, must get tested within 72 hours prior to entering the Commonwealth. If you are unable or choose not to be tested, you are required to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to PA. The Commonwealth is expecting individuals to police themselves, which means that you would be unable to come to campus and would miss any scheduled face-to-face instruction.

AFTER THANKSGIVING BREAK: Below are enhancements that we are making to the Salus Safety Strategy designed to protect our community over the next two months.

December
Following Thanksgiving weekend, our academic programs have made adjustments to limit on campus instruction through winter break. While our clinics will remain open to serve our patients and clients and certain lab instruction will continue at Elkins Park, student activity on campus will be reduced. Your individual program will be in touch with these details. Please note, that there is an exemption from this restriction from the PA travel restriction for our students traveling in and out of Pennsylvania to “work” at their clinical sites.

Vaccine
You all have heard the good news concerning some of the vaccines currently be developed, which has been shown to be about 95 percent effective against the virus. While this is great news, an effective vaccine is still awaiting FDA approval and it will be several months after that before the vaccine is distributed to the public. Additionally, we will still need to take all the current precautions, such as continuing to wear a face mask for several months after receiving the vaccine to ensure there is no additional spread. While there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s imperative that we remain vigilant until we get there - which we will.

Winter Break
The Elkins Park campus and all Salus clinics will be closed from Thursday, December 24th through Sunday, January 3rd. Any essential staff that needs to work during this period will be informed by their supervisors. 

Return to Learn Testing
Following winter break, all students, laboratory educators, clinical educators and clinic staff will be required to be tested for COVID-19 prior to their return to campus or our clinics in January. We are partnering with LabCorp to provide Pixel at-home COVID-19 self-administered PCR tests by mail. Salus will make these tests available, at no cost to you, on or around December 28th via a secure web portal. Individuals will access the portal to order their test (which will be sent by overnight mail), take the test at home and then return the test via pre-paid overnight mail to LabCorp. Test results will be communicated to the individual and Salus 24-48 hours after receipt by LabCorp. A negative test result will be required to access campus or the clinics. Any positive tests will be followed up by medical professionals and Salus. The entire process from start to finish will take between 4 and 6 days, so individuals will need to plan to order the test early enough to allow for their return to scheduled instruction/work. Additional details will follow in the coming weeks.

Please remember that while our protocols are designed to reduce the risk of exposure, the contagious nature of COVID-19 means we cannot eliminate all risk of infection. We have successfully made it this far thanks to your efforts in following protocols and remaining flexible throughout pandemic. I ask that you continue to follow guidelines and act responsibly. You have become more resilient and adaptable as we have moved through these past nine months. Let’s hang in there so we can all sprint across the finish line together in the upcoming months. Please try to get out and enjoy the nice weather that’s predicted for this weekend. As always, please remember to wear your face mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. Be safe, remain vigilant and stay SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Presidential Medals and Alumni Awards: Week of November 13th, 2020

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

Good morning! It’s a bit soggy and cool around campus but that hasn’t dulled the spirits of our students, faculty and staff as they’ve continued their didactic, lab and clinical studies. Much is happening on and around campus that I’d like to share this morning: 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS AND ALUMNI AWARDS: Tonight we are celebrating the 2020 Presidential Medal of Honor recipients during a virtual event that will premiere at 6 p.m., featuring acceptance remarks from our award winners. Please join in with the link salus.edu/presidentsmedals. In addition, we are recognizing the 2020 Alumni Association Award recipients with an online event at salus.edu/alumni-awards. Our alumni awardees reflected on their memories at Salus and expressed their gratitude for the special recognition. I hope you watch both events and enjoy the shows!

IMPACT OF ELECTION RESULTS: Thanks to Dr. Juliana “Dr. J.” Mosley for setting up our latest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee Lunch and Learn, this week featuring one of her colleagues, Dr. Jeffrey Carroll, assistant professor of Political Science and the chair of the Center for Data & Society at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. The timely topic was “2020 Election Results, National Impact and Marginalized Populations,” and provided a spirited discussion about several important topics related to the election. Thanks to Dr. Carroll for his insights. Keep an eye on our website for a story detailing the event.

PA LONG WHITE COATS: Congratulations to the Physician Assistant Class of 2020, which held its Long White Coat virtual ceremony last night, honoring 48 graduates. It was great to see everyone and participate in the ceremony.

SEP COMEBACK: The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), initially started in 1977 by Robert E. Horne, was offered every summer for 39 years continuously until its hiatus in 2015. Now, thanks to a generous grant from National Vision, America’s Best, the program will be returning under the direction of Ruth Shoge, OD ‘06, Resident ‘07. Read more about the program at salus.edu/SummerEnrichment.

BATTLING THE PANDEMIC: While we’re still taking the proper precautions to battle COVID-19, check out a behind-the-scenes story about how our University team has managed the pandemic to this point, particularly the process that enabled a successful pivot to virtual instruction over the course of a weekend and what steps were taken to get our students, faculty and staff safely back to campus on a limited basis. Read more at salus.edu/PandemicBattle. 

BLVS AND EMPLOYMENT: The Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) at Salus University recently hosted a panel discussion, in partnership with Penn State Abington Rehabilitation and Human Services (RHS) Program, called “Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of Individuals Who are Visually Impaired” to educate current students and practitioners who are employed or seeking employment. For the first of a three-part Q&A series on our website, go to salus.edu/BLVSemployPart1.

FINAL THOUGHTS: COVID-19 cases have been dramatically increasing across the country to the point where we have surpassed the number of cases seen back in March and April (see graph). Our own region has not been immune from these increases. It’s imperative that we all continue to be remain vigilant when it comes to wearing our masks, socially distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. The CDC announced that there is growing evidence that face masks also protect those who are wearing one, so there’s another good reason to put that face mask on.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in a couple of weeks, there will be temptations to see friends and family members you haven’t seen in a while. I would caution you not to take chances and to resist the temptation to gather, even in small groups, given the rise in infections across the region. Most of the current spread has been linked to small family gatherings and sporting events. The last thing you want to do is get infected, infect family members or return to campus after the holidays and spread the virus here. I realize how difficult this is, but we all need to practice good judgement going into the holidays.

Most of you have heard the good news concerning the Pfizer vaccine, which has been shown to be 90% effective against the virus. While this is great news, the vaccine is still awaiting FDA approval and it will be several months after that before the vaccine is distributed to the public. While there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s imperative that we remain vigilant until we get there - which we will. In the meantime, if you haven’t already downloaded the COVID Alert PA app to aid in contact tracing efforts, I strongly encourage you to do that. Here’s the link: COVID Alert PA app.

Related to all this, there have been almost 400 flu cases confirmed in the state so far. If you haven’t already gotten your flu vaccine, please try to get that done this weekend. The weekend looks to be a typical Fall weekend, so please get outside to get some fresh air and enjoy what’s left of the Fall leaves. Remember to wear your face mask, socially distance and wash your hands frequently. What you do off campus affects all of us on campus! 

Be safe, be smart, remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Veteran's Day, Election Day and the Marine Corps Birthday: Week of November 6th, 2020

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

Good morning from Elkins Park on a beautiful Fall morning. It’s hard to believe it’s going to be near 70 degrees today, but we’ll take it! It’s been another busy week on campus with our students and faculty working hard together in labs, clinics and virtual and face to face lectures. Here are some of the other things happening around campus and virtually:

Election Results Discussion: Dr. Juliana Mosley and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will host a Lunch & Learn event at noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, featuring Dr. Jeffrey Carroll, discussing “2020 Election Results, National Impact and Marginalized Populations.” I encourage all of you to participate in this. Remote access will be sent via email prior to the event.

Where Are They Now: Check out our new online feature “Where Are They Now?” which catches up with some of our recent graduates to see how they’re doing in their professional lives. This week features Susan (Barnes) Gresham, OD ‘19, a top Traditional Optometry Program graduate who gave the spring 2019 commencement address. To read more about Dr. Gresham, go here.

Private Practice Symposium: The PCO/Salus Private Practice Symposium 2020 will be held online from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Speakers include Janelle Davison, OD ‘06, James Deom, OD ‘14, MPH, FAAO, Kennard Herring, OD ‘14, and Michael Talone, OD ‘98. For more information, click here.

Long White Coat Ceremony: The Physician Assistant (PA) Long White Coat Ceremony will be held online at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. For updated information, click here.

Presidential Medals Ceremony: The 2020 Presidential Medal of Honor ceremony will be online at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Keep an eye on our website for additional details.

Eye Care Tips: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diabetes is the main cause of blindness among people under 74 years of age. However, 90 percent of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented. So, we’ve got some eye care tips for those with diabetes. Read more about that here.

OT Research: A paper titled “Exploring the Role of Occupational Therapy with Mothers Who Breastfeed” by Lauren Sponseller, PhD ‘18, OTD, MSOR/L, MEd, Chair of the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department, has been accepted for publication in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, a top OT research journal. To read more about Dr. Sponseller’s research, go here.

Final Thoughts: Tuesday marks the 245th 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 one-third of that time. Wednesday, we also recognize all of our 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, 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, has been 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 I was on active duty we observed the Navy and Marine Corps birthdays and Veterans Day by participating in cake cutting ceremonies and attending a few veteran’s events. I think this year it is even more important remember how fortunate we are to have men and women who, every day, make sacrifices and place their lives on the line to ensure we enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans. 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 245 years. 

As we exercise patience and wait for our uniquely American democratic process to be completed and learn the results of the election, please don’t lose sight of the fact that the ability to hold elections such as ours was paid for by veterans, many who made the ultimate sacrifice, so we could freely choose our leaders. 

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

So, as we celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday on Tuesday and take time to honor our veterans on Wednesday, I hope you reflect on how we can leverage our own commitment to always conduct ourselves with honor and have the courage to always do what’s right for our patients, clients and those around us. I think this is exceptionally true as we watch and wait to see the final results of the election.

Finally, as we approach the weekend, the weather is going to be near perfect. If you decide to participate in any election-related events, I’d like to remind you that whether your candidate wins or loses, you continue to embrace our core values of inclusion, acceptance, diversity, and respect for all people and our differences.

If you decide to participate in an in-person event, also please keep in mind the risks of the pandemic and be sure to socially distance and wear a facemask. Remember, what you do off campus affects all of us on campus.

Have great weekend and try to get out and enjoy the nice weather. Be safe, stay healthy and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Plan to Vote: Week of October 23rd, 2020

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where our faculty, students and staff continue to work hard to teach, learn and support our health science educational mission. It’s been another busy week on campus as we successfully navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and providing virtual and in-person classes and labs in addition to delivering our optometry, audiology and speech-language pathology clinical services.

VOTING PREPARATION: Election Day is a little more than a week away and voting is underway in many parts of the country. In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots can be dropped off at many locations around us. As we approach November 3rd, I highly encourage all of you who have not already either mailed in or dropped off your ballots to begin to plan ahead. No matter where you go on Election Day, lines will be long either voting in person or dropping off a ballot. More than likely, voting will take longer than in previous elections which certainly can impact your academic or clinical schedules. As a courtesy to others, please notify the school of your intentions ahead of time so no one has to cover your shift or you miss a required assignment that could have been rescheduled prior. We want everyone to have the opportunity to vote.

DEI LUNCH AND LEARN: The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will host a Lunch & Learn event at noon Wednesday, Oct. 28, featuring Janet LaBreck, who was the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration under President Barack Obama and co-founder of Synergy Consulting Partners. That group is dedicated to creating positive change within organizations and systems, with a commitment of full inclusion for individuals with disabilities. The link for the remote access will be sent via email prior to the event.

IMPORTANCE OF PRONOUNS: International Pronouns Day, celebrated earlier this week, seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.

STUTTERING AWARENESS DAY: Stuttering Awareness Day raises awareness in our own communities and joins with other organizations to educate the public and reach those who stutter who still feel alone and isolated. The Speech-Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University offers comprehensive evaluation services and treatment plans for stuttering. To read more about “Stuttering Facts vs. Myths,” click here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: There is arguably no more important civic duty than exercising your right to vote. Given the challenges that our country is currently experiencing, this is especially true this year. So please make arrangements to either vote by mail or in person. If you do vote in person, please remember we still are in the middle of a pandemic and you will need to take appropriate precautions that include wearing your face mask, socially distancing while standing in lines and washing your hands when you’re done.

Finally, it's going to be a relatively nice weekend, so please try to get out and enjoy some of the nice fall weather. The leaves are reaching peak and it’s a great stress relief to get out and enjoy the nice weather. Remember, if you feel like you’d like to talk to one of our CPPD counselors you can make an appointment here.

Please continue to socially distance, wear your face masks, wash your hands frequently and keep in mind that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus. Be safe, be smart, remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

COVID Alert PA App: Week of October 2nd, 2020

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where the trees are starting to turn colors and it’s really starting to look like fall outside. There’s been lots of activity on campus this week and even last weekend as students began to learn new clinical skills in all of our professions. It brought back painful memories watching our optometry students learn retinoscopy using schematic eyes as well as thoughts of how technology has really changed over the years to help augment that. It was much more fun to watch our OT students meander around the building with wheelchairs and other mobility devices! So, here’s what’s happening:

COVID ALERT PA APP: The State of Pennsylvania just released a new app, COVID Alert PA, that will use Bluetooth technology to alert a person when they have come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus. You just need to go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to get it. The app runs on iPhones that support iOS 13.5 and higher, and Android phones running Android 6.0 and higher. According to the PA Website, users can help fight COVID-19 by opting to tell the Department of Health, through the app, how you are feeling daily and whether you have any COVID-19 symptoms. If you do have symptoms, the app will give you information on what to do. This tool helps you track your own symptoms within the app, and you’ll get public health information based on your responses. The app also can provide timely alerts if you’ve had a potential exposure to someone who tested positive for the virus. I’ve already downloaded as have everyone living in our house. I strongly encourage all of you to sign on. To learn more about this go here.

STRESS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: Salus alumni, Olivia Cheng, MSOT '18, and current Salus Occupational Therapy (OT) students, Gina Inglese, '20OT, and Elisabeth Van Horn, '20OT, set out to help their fellow healthcare workers by creating a stress management support group to help during this uncertain time. You can check out their podcast here.

NEW DAY IN THE LIFE SERIES: Check out our “Day in the Life” series featuring second-year OT student Kristen Hasse, '21OT. Read more here. Also, our “I Chose Salus” series this week features Optometry student Stephen Shalamanda, '24OD. Read more about that here.

PEI AND SLI PODCAST: Lindsay Bondurant, PhD, CCC-A, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) and Bob Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, chair of the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) department, did a 30-minute podcast during the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (PCOM) Virtual Wellness Fair Sept. 26. Dr. Bondurant spoke about the services provided by PEI and the role of audiologists. Bob gave an overview of services provided by the Speech-Language Institute (SLI). The session was live and included questions from attendees.

InfantSEE LAUNCH: Launched in 2005, InfantSEE, a public health program managed by Optometry Cares — The American Optometric Association’s Foundation — is celebrating 15 years of service, providing assessments to more than 150,000 infants. InfantSEE optometrists provide comprehensive infant eye assessments between six and 12-months of age free of charge regardless of family income or access to insurance coverage. The Eye Institute (TEI) at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University is proud to be a participating provider of this national program.

SALUS CUP COMPETITION: The Hafter Center has updated its annual Salus Cup to accommodate the current situation. Teams are comprised of classmates within their respective academic programs. Faculty, staff and residents are on an additional team together. Ways to receive and lose points during the Salus Cup: 

• Make a reservation for a workout block (+1)
• Attend your workout block reservation (+1)
• Sign up via PTMinder for a livestream class (+1)
• Participate in a livestream class (+1)
• Miss your reserved workout block time without canceling (-1)

Points will be added up at the end of each week and the team with the most points at the end of the week will receive one Salus Cup point. The team with the most Salus Cup points at the end of October wins. For clarification or more information, contact the Hafter centers trainers.

VOTING: The right to vote is the cornerstone of our American democracy. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and as we read about potential disruptions to the voting process, it is imperative that you plan ahead. If you’re planning to vote by mail, these are the steps to vote by mail in Pennsylvania:

1. Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application.
2. Fill out the application completely.
3. Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.
4. When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.

If you do decide to vote in person, please ensure you know the location and times your polling place will be open. You can find that by accessing the PA voter website here.

FLU SHOTS: If you haven’t already gotten your flu shots, it’s not too late. I strongly encourage all of you to get your flu shots, especially this year. We’ve been working with Temple Health to ensure it’s as easy as possible. This will be a drive-through event that will be staged in the parking area closest to Township Line Road. The next dates the flu shots will be available on campus are as follows:

• 10/9: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/16: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• 10/23: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Please dial 215-517-5000 option 1. Any staff member can take your information over the phone to register you, but we were told that you should ask for Korliy and Kaila.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As the nicer fall weather becomes more inviting to do things outdoors, it’s imperative we all remember we’re in the midst of a pandemic. While it’s clearly safer to do things outdoors, it’s still extremely important to practice social distancing and wear a cloth face mask when around others, yes, even outdoors, if you cannot maintain a safe distance of at least six feet. As the weather gets colder, things will begin to move indoors, which presents even more risk of airborne exposure to the virus. If you do decide to venture into a restaurant or other eating establishment, please ensure that it is well-ventilated and there is ample distance between you and the other patrons. A recent CDC MMWR (Morbidity, Mortality Weekly Report) study found that for new COVID-19 positive patients over 18 years old, 42% of them reported dining at a restaurant, including indoor, patio and outdoor seating. It’s not too much of a stretch to assume that indoor venues present a greater risk than outdoor venues, simply due to diminished ventilation. Either way, it appears we assume a greater risk participating in these types of events. According to the CDC risk stratification, the more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. The risk of COVID-19 spread increases in a restaurant or bar setting as follows:

• Lowest Risk: Food service limited to drive-thru, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick-up.
• More Risk: Drive-thru, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick-up emphasized. On-site dining limited to outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
• Even More Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
• Highest Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity not reduced and tables not spaced at least 6 feet apart.

I’m not suggesting you don’t go out and enjoy yourselves – but if you do, please be aware of the risks involved and do everything you can to mitigate those risks. Finally, the weekend looks to be nice so do get out and enjoy yourselves. Continue to social distance, wear a cloth face mask when around others and wash your hands frequently. Also, please remember that what you do off campus will directly affect all of us on campus.

Be safe, have some fun, be responsible and remain SALUS STRONG!

Mike

Happy Fall: Week of September 25th, 2020

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

Happy Fall and greetings from a little get-away off campus. While I’ve been gone most of the week, several events have been happening around campus, in addition to our in-person and on-line classes, labs and clinics.

QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING: On Monday, many of us participated in what was the second time our Board of Trustees met virtually. As has been our practice, the meeting provided our all-volunteer board an update on all of the things our fantastic faculty and staff have been doing in response to the pandemic and also our initiatives surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion and many other more academically focused success stories.

DEI EVENTS: The University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee held an important and informative Lunch and Learn this week on the topic of “Interest Conversion in a Time of Pandemic and Police Brutality: How COVID and Growing Authoritarianism Provide an Opening for Solidarity.” The featured speaker was Tim Wise, one of the most prominent and anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. We look forward to continued dialogue around diversity, equity and inclusion within the Salus community. If you were not able to attend and would like to view the recording, please check your email from the DEI Committee for instructions.

GRAND ROUNDS: Today’s Grand Rounds will be presented by Dr. Tracy Offerdahl on the topic “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Update.” For more information, click here.

COVID-19 DASHBOARD: In order to help maintain transparency and keep everyone informed, today we will be launching our COVID-19 dashboard that will inform our entire university community of the number of people who have tested negative and positive since we began tracking this several months ago. Of note, due to the continued unavailability of a reliable and affordable daily testing alternative for our entire community, we continue to rely on self-reporting of symptoms and/or potential exposure through our screening process to keep our community safe. Isolation, self-quarantining and private testing is utilized to clear infected (actual or probable) individuals for a return to campus.

VOTING INFORMATION: National Voter Registration Day was earlier this week. If you're not registered yet, now's the time! Click here for more information and to make sure you’re registered.

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus is on Gabriel Fickett, OD, FAAO, one of our newest assistant professors at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University and The Eye Institute (TEI). Dr. Fickett has extensive experience fitting specialty contact lenses for adults and children with corneal disease, post penetrating keratoplasty, keratoprosthesis, aphakia, and ocular trauma. Read more about Dr. Fickett at salus.edu/GabrielFickett.

FALL COMMENCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Sen. Arthur L. Haywood III — who represents the Fourth District, which includes parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties — will deliver the keynote address at the University’s 121st Commencement ceremony, scheduled at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. The pandemic hasn’t dampened Sen. Haywood’s enthusiasm for delivering what he and I believe to be an important message to Salus graduates. Read more at salus.edu/SenArtHaywood.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach this weekend, I’d like to wish our Jewish colleagues a “good fast” as they prepare to observe Yom Kippur, which begins on Sunday evening. I’d also like to take a moment to remind everyone to ensure that they have registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election. The outcome of this election will affect us all for generations, so, no matter what your political leanings are, it’s my strong conviction that we all have both a personal responsibility and obligation to vote.

Finally, while I probably don’t need to remind anyone of this, we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic. No matter what you hear or see in the media, this a real public health emergency and we, especially as health care professionals, need to continue to serve as examples and practice social distancing, wear a face mask when around others and wash our hands frequently. Also, please remember, when on campus, the only place you are permitted to eat is in the cafeteria or tent we’ve set up outside that space. Also remember that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus!

Have a great weekend. I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy this nice Fall weather. Be safe, be smart and remain Salus Strong!

Mike

Welcome Back: Week of August 28th, 2020

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

Good morning from a warm and muggy Elkins Park!

WELCOME BACK! - I’d like to welcome back all of our students returning to campus – I recorded a welcome video stressing the importance of our Safety Strategy and what will be accessible on campus during this fall semester. While I won’t win the academy award for the video, I encourage all of you to check it out. 

FACULTY FOCUS - This week’s faculty focus features Bisant Labib, OD ‘14, Resident ‘15, FAAO. Learn more about why she believes humor has the ability to transform any negative situation or emotion into a positive one. It’s well worth the read!

N95 MASK DONATION - Salus recently received a much-needed donation of more than 285 N95 masks from Medical Students for Masks – an organization dedicated to protecting frontline healthcare workers. Read more at salus.edu/PPE-Donation.

OUR NEW FACULTY MEMBERS - We have a couple new faculty members I’d like to welcome to the Salus Community: Eileen Hunsaker, MS, CCC-SLP, recently joined the University as director of Clinical Education for the SLP program and Chad Killen, OD ‘19, Resident ‘20, who became a PCO instructor. 

UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT DAY - This morning, we’ll conduct a virtual faculty-wide Development Day from 9-11:30 a.m. Please join in on Blackboard Collaborate.    

VOTE! – As the country prepares for the presidential election this coming November, I want to ensure everyone has a chance to vote, no matter what your political affiliation is. If you’re going to vote by mail, which I encourage, given the pandemic, I urge you to get your mail-in ballot early so it will be counted. Here are the steps to vote by mail in Pennsylvania:

1.    Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application.

2.    Fill out the application completely.

3.    Submit the request to your local election office. You should request your ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

4.    When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week we all were witness to yet another shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. This time in Wisconsin. I am again angered and dismayed by the event and that our nation once again finds itself reeling from the tragic shooting of a Black man by police, as three of his children looked on. Mr. Blake, who is now paralyzed as he fights for his life, is just the latest in a long line of Black men and women who have been shot and severely wounded or killed by police.

We continue to stand with all those who demand justice, equality and accountability for Black lives in our country – lives like those of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony Robinson, Denise Hamilton, Earnest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. I want to reiterate what our DEI committee noted in their email yesterday encouraging all members of the Salus community to check on each other, and especially on our Black students, friends, and colleagues. Ask questions such as “How are you feeling? What do you need from your us – your classmates and colleagues?” We will fully support our Black students, faculty and staff and try to use this tragedy to come closer together as a Salus community, not get pulled farther apart. 

On a much more positive note, this weekend should be pretty nice, so please take some time to relax, reflect and get outside. Remember to continue to socially distance, wash your hands frequently and wear a face mask when around others. Also, please remember that what you do off campus effects all of us on campus, so please be vigilant. This pandemic, while it seems to be lasting a lifetime, will end - we just need to stay on top of things until it does.

Stay safe, be smart and remain Salus Strong!

Mike

Wrapping Up Orientation Week: Week of August 21st, 2020

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

Welcome on a beautiful morning from a busy Elkins Park campus where we’re wrapping up orientation week. 

WHITE COAT CEREMONY: Thanks to Dr. Jim Caldwell, Alexis Abate and their staffs for helping to orchestrate our virtual White Coat ceremony yesterday. We had about 325 people in attendance. It was great to be able to hold the non-traditional, virtual ceremony, even without distributing the white coats. This has always been one of my favorite ceremonies at Salus because of what it symbolizes – the transition from undergraduate student to becoming a healthcare professional. I’m looking forward to when each program will be able to distribute the white coats in person!

ORIENTATION SPEAKER: Earlier in Orientation Week, Juliana Mosley, PhD, chief diversity officer and community relations officer at Chestnut Hill College presented a virtual Zoom webinar titled “Making the Unconscious Conscious . . . Through Cultural Humility” as part of our Orientation Week for new students. I encourage you to read more about Dr. Mosley’s presentation at salus.edu/CulturalHumility.

 

FACULTY FOCUS: This week’s Faculty Focus feature story is on Laine Higa, OD, Resident ‘15. When he’s not teaching PCO students, Dr. Higa has utilized his quarantine time to explore and cultivate his love for cooking and baking. Read more at salus.edu/LaineHiga.

 

DONATION TO LOFK: Bruce Foulke, the dynamic president and CEO, and Dorian Smith, senior vice president for business development of American Heritage Credit Union, presented a check earlier this week for $10,000 to the Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) initiative. American Heritage Credit Union shares our mission of helping children in need and we greatly appreciate their generosity and the opportunity to partner with them on this important initiative. 

VOTING: The Postal Service has warned almost every state that voters may not get their ballots back to election offices in time because of election rules that are not compatible with the time needed for delivery and return of absentee ballots through the mail. No matter what your political affiliation is, if you have decided to vote by mail, I implore all of you to request your mail in or absentee ballot early and return it as soon as you receive it. We want to ensure your vote is counted!

FINAL THOUGHTS: It was great to be able to welcome some of our new students in person and most of you virtually to campus this week. I’m extremely excited about the upcoming school year. As I mentioned to you earlier in the week, while this year will present some very unique challenges to all of us, the training you will receive under these conditions will make you better clinicians and decision makers. When I was in the Navy, we would always say you fight the way you train. Training under pandemic conditions will teach you to think more critically about yours and your patient’s safety as well as to pay much more attention to details that would normally be considered routine. These additional pressures will build resiliency, more defined critical thinking skills and the ability to pivot under pressure. We will all get through this together.

Just a few reminders – it’s easy to fall into old habits and forget about social distancing when talking with your classmates before and after class. Please ensure you maintain those appropriate distances, even while wearing your face coverings. Speaking of that, please ensure that you’re wearing those face coverings properly – covering your nose and mouth. I’ve seen some creative variations of that this week which are not very functional. Also, I ask that you please restrict eating to the cafeteria areas which include the tent outside the south building, the outdoor seating around the pond, as well as the regular cafeteria and not eat in classrooms or the common hallways. It’s okay to drink and lower your mask for that, but not for prolonged times while indoors. Finally, please continue to wash your hands frequently and remember that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus – we need to minimize our risks as much as possible. 

It looks like it’s going to be a nice summer weekend, so I encourage you to get out and enjoy some of the local hiking, biking or jogging trails where you can remain socially distanced or just relax in a park somewhere. Next week, I suspect you’ll be pretty busy as classes and labs spools up, so take advantage of this weekend to recharge and prepare for the upcoming week.

Be safe, be careful and be smart.

Mike