Busy Week at Salus: Week of May 17

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

While most of our students are off campus this week, faculty and staff have been busy preparing for next week’s commencement activities and our quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

In addition to all of the above, on Tuesday, State Senator Maria Collett visited the Elkins Park Campus (see photo above) where we had the opportunity to discuss optometric scope of practice, our interprofessional teaching and learning model and our state-of-the-art facilities including the virtual reality lab. Senator Collett is a Registered Nurse and lawyer and has a great understanding of healthcare and the importance of all of our professions being able to practice at their highest levels of competency. 

Congratulations to Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, director of Graduate Programs, Biomedicine and Dean of Research, who will be awarded an honorary degree from the New England College of Optometry, his Alma mater, on May 19.

Dr. Helene Kaiser, our director of the Traineeship Program and coordinator for the Clinical Skills Course and Laboratory is headed out on a mission trip this weekend with a group called Remote Area Medical in a town called Rural Retreat in Virginia. The group provides medical, vision and dental care to those who cannot afford care. This trip is one of many that our students and faculty for all of our programs participate in during the year to support those in need of healthcare.

Yesterday, we cut the ribbon on a new satellite optometry clinic at the University of the Sciences. This project has been in the works for several months. Thanks to the hard work of Mr. John Gaal, Dr. Maria Parisi, Mr. Brian Zuckerman and many others from both of our institutions, our students and faculty will be providing comprehensive eye exams and contact lens fitting and dispensing services for USciences undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and their families at no cost to the patients. This truly is win-win for both institutions! Our local 6ABC was there to cover the event. 

Come visit our faculty and staff at the Chestnut Hill Home & Garden Festival on Sunday, May 19, where we’ll have a table representing Salus. It’s always a great event to attend and the weather should be perfect!

I’m off to Denver this weekend to spend time with our Physician Assistant colleagues as they attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Our students will be participating in ultrasound workshops and competitions as well as the annual PA Challenge Bowl, where they will compete with PA students from around the country to test their knowledge and skills. It should be an action-packed fun few days!

Finally, next week is chock full of commencement-related events starting with the Salus Awards Luncheon on Wednesday May 22 at the Presidential in East Norriton. That evening our Occupational Therapy seniors will also be presenting their Capstone projects in the Hafter Center. On Thursday we will all gather in Center City for our quarterly Board of Trustees meeting followed by commencement at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts at 2 PM. While busy, it’s always an exciting time for students and their families, faculty, staff and administration.

So, as we approach this weekend, take some time to relax, enjoy the good weather and maybe even some outdoor exercise. Take care of each other and be safe!

Mike

Finals are Done: Week of May 10th

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

We finally made it to Friday! Most of our students are done with finals (at least after this morning) and are taking some time to relax before they graduate in a couple of weeks, head off to externships or prepare to begin summer semester.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Jingyun Wang, PhD, associate professor, who attended and presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference last week – congratulations!

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) Centennial Gala on April 27, 2019 marked the official kickoff of Focus on Our Future: The Centennial Campaign. With this campaign, we are committed to raising critical private support to ensure that the impact PCO and Salus has on our students, our region, and our world is even more powerful in the next 100 years. The campaign seeks to raise $5 million in funding to enhance our endowment, increasing support for student scholarships; improve educational facilities; and bolster our community service programs. 

Learn more about the campaign and to donate. 


A few weeks ago in April, faculty and graduates of BLVS attended the Penn Del AER Conference where they represented Salus with both presentations and poster sessions. Fabiana Perla, EdD, COMS, CLVR, chair of the Department of BLVS and Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald, BLVS presented on their exploratory study of rehabilitation services to inmates with visual impairments; and Lachelle Smith, director of the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy program and Emily Vasile, MAT, TVI, MS, CLVT, instructor, presented All Aboard: Discovering a Collaborative Pathway Toward Independent Living – How Parents, TVI, and VRTs Can Chart a Child’s Path to Success.

I had the opportunity to participate in the Temple University Fox School of Business commencement ceremony yesterday, looking at things from a totally different perspective than I’m used to. It was interesting having to sit through the ceremony, listen to the speakers and then enjoy my five seconds of fame as I walked across the stage to get my blank diploma! Apparently, Temple and most bigger schools mail your diplomas to you after the graduation ceremony. Many of you might have experienced that in undergraduate school. This practice really highlights the importance of the work that Dr. Jim Caldwell, Shannon Boss and their staff do in preparation for our commencement ceremonies at Salus. We DO give real diplomas at graduation. They’re meticulously prepared in the right order so the right students get them every time – at least that’s been the case since I’ve been here. There is much to be said for attending a smaller institution like Salus. We sincerely value and cherish each one of our students and feel honored you’ve trusted us with your education. In reflection, I’m glad I went to graduation, “walked” and enjoyed the experience as a student. This whole experience helped me to keep my perspective fresh, especially now as we get ready to launch our next class of Salus graduates in about two weeks.

Have a great weekend and enjoy your well deserved break. Have some fun, spend time with friends and family and recharge your mental batteries!

Mike

Ready for Finals: Week of May 3rd

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

Well, all the dust has settled from last weekend’s events. As I mentioned in my note to you all on Monday, it was just a fantastic weekend of celebration. We’re now putting our noses back to the grindstone with finals and other end of the year events.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Ilan Dock, from PCO class of 2021 who won the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Quiz Bowl last weekend. He will receive a $1,000 travel grant to represent the University’s Pennsylvania College of Optometry and compete in the national Essilor ® Optometry Student Bowl – the largest student event held at the Optometry’s Meeting – in June 2020 in Washington, D.C.

This Friday evening, the Sports Vision Club will host its annual dodge ball tournament – come play dodgeball and relieve finals stress with your fellow students while learning how to protect your eyes playing sports. Prizes and bragging rights will be rewarded to the winning team. Teams will be made up of 6-8 players and it is $5 a player.

On Saturday, Salus will be participating in the Philadelphia Science Festival Carnival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will have educational games for the public and information about the University as well as the clinics. This is a great event that we participate in every year and I highly recommend you come check out the Festival. Let’s hope the weather holds!

On a personal note, many of you know I’ve been enrolled in an MBA program at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Well, the end of that is also here as I will be graduating next Thursday! It’s been an unbelievably challenging yet rewarding experience. If you’re wondering if I’m going “to walk”, the answer is yes. It’s been over 40 years since I’ve done that, so I thought it was about time to see what things looked like from another perspective and besides, it will make me much more empathetic for those of you who are about to do the same during our ceremony later this month!

Next week, to help our students get their day kicked off appropriately, we’ll be serving bagels and cream cheese in front of the Learning Resource Center on Monday May 6th and Wednesday May 8th at 8:00 a.m. in honor of finals week!

It’s looking like it’s going to be a rainy weekend. For those who are running the annual Broad Street 10-miler, good luck and be careful. For the rest of you, get out and have some fun of your own! Be safe and look out for one another!

Mike

Centennial Celebration Weekend - Week of April 26th

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

Greetings from Elkins Park and the beginning of our Centennial Celebration weekend! I can’t believe it’s actually here!

Tonight, at 6:00 p.m., at the Science Institute, we celebrate the achievements of 35 professionals who have made significant contributions to their professions, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and Salus University. It’s going to be a very special weekend that kicks off our celebration that goes through the weekend.

Concurrently, on Friday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the AOSA Quiz Bowl will be happening in the Hafter Center. All students and faculty are welcome to attend, and those who do will receive two drink tickets and food. Second year optometry students will compete and the winner will go on to represent PCO in the national ASOA Quiz Bowl competition at the Optometry’s Meeting in June 2020.On Saturday, we’ll begin the day with free optometric continuing education on the Elkins Park campus at 8:00 a.m. sponsored by Physician Recommended Nutraceuticals. Drs. James Deom and Thomas Kislan will be discussing a practice guide to build a sustainable, medically focused practice to capitalize on the changing landscape in eye care.

At 10:00 a.m. the Salus Alumni Board will hold its annual meeting in room S301 on the Elkins Park campus. I’ll be giving an update about all the great things that are happening at the University and we’ll hear about plans for the coming year. All alumni are invited and encouraged to attend.

Campus tours of both Elkins Park and TEI in East Oak Lane; and PEI and SLI Open Houses will begin at 10:00 a.m. and go until 1:00 p.m. At 12:30 p.m., there will be the Presidential Medal of Honor Plaque Unveiling at the Hafter Student Community Center.

In additional to all the other things going on Saturday morning, Salus - PCO faculty and students will perform comprehensive eye exams at the VSP® Chester, Pa. event. Community service is in our DNA – and this is yet another example of how we care for those in need.

Now, that’s a busy morning! The BIG EVENT, the Gala, celebrating 100 years of Pennsylvania College of Optometry’s legacy, starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing and the Essilor Luxottica “After Party” starts at 9:30 p.m. 

View Weekend Schedule

This will be a great weekend of events to celebrate the College’s 100 years, and a great kickoff to the next 100 for the entire University.

As a prelude to this weekend’s events, on Tuesday, I was interviewed by Rosemary Connors from NBC10, who will also be hosting the Gala. Here’s a link to the interview if anyone’s interested.

Needless to say, it’s going to be an action-packed, fun weekend. I hope everyone has the opportunity to participate in any or all of the festivities. We’ve got a great deal to be thankful for and to celebrate. The Pennsylvania College of Optometry pretty much defined how optometry is practiced today and will continue to do so well into the future. That’s something to celebrate!

Have a great weekend. I hope to see many of you at the functions both on and off campus.

Mike

Graduation Is Right Around the Corner: Week of April 18th

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

Greetings on a beautiful Thursday from Elkins Park. My update is a day early this week due to the holiday schedule. 

Last Friday, students and staff participated in the inaugural Health Fair conducted by the LeVine Backstretch Clinic, which is operated at the Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pa., as part of the horse racing facility. Salus had the largest group of participants with 21 volunteers and conducted 78 vision screenings and 28 hearing screenings. It was a great turn out. 

Renovations are under way at The Eye Institute at Chestnut Hill – last week new auto-phoropters were installed. Other renovations will include new signage, remodeling of the front desk area and a renovation of the pre-screening area. 

I can’t believe it, but our Centennial Gala is only a week away! Catch up on some more PCO history with this story on Melissa Trego, OD’04, Resident ’09, PhD, PCO dean. 

Finally, with so much swirling around in the news these days, between the horrible fire at Notre Dame Cathedral and the release of the Mueller Report, it’s easy to forget that this weekend should be one of reflection and celebration. On Friday evening our Jewish colleagues and friends will begin to celebrate Passover, commemorating the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. At the same time, our Christian colleagues and friends will be observing Good Friday and then celebrating Easter on Sunday. Both of these holidays represent a time to reflect with family and friends how lucky we all are to be able to observe these holidays together in a country that was founded on the premise of religious freedom and equality. 

I hope everyone takes some time this long weekend to take a break from all the news around us and concentrate on what’s most important – family and friends. 

Be safe, get some exercise and come back next week ready to move into the final stretch as our semesters begin to come to a close. Graduation for many is just around the corner! 

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all those celebrating these holidays!

Mike

Raising Awareness in DC: Week of April 12th

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

Greetings from Salus where Spring is in full bloom and our new stock of goslings are floating around our pond. Between some of our students taking exams and others on spring break, the campus has appeared to be pretty quiet this week although there’s lots going on!

Earlier in the week, about twenty students and I headed down to Washington DC, along with 600 other Doctors of Optometry and students to bring the American Optometric Association’s pro-patient, pro-access message to nearly all of the 535 members of the 116th Congress. During that time, we had the opportunity to brief members of Congress on important issues and pending legislation that included:

• Fighting costly health and vision plan abuses
• Stopping the FTC's unnecessary contact lens paperwork proposal
• Making the contact lens prescription verification process simpler and safer
• Supporting essential vision, eye health care for veterans by continuing to fight for better vision and eye health care for America's veterans
• Preserving the doctor-patient relationship, legislation that argues for the appropriate use of tele-health services as a supplement to high-value, high-quality eye and vision care.

Our students carried the day in discussions with legislative staffers and a few principles. While these visits don’t guarantee support, they certainly raise awareness of key issues facing our patients and the profession, overall.

On Thursday, Dr. Stephen Pugliese, our liaison representative from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), our University accrediator, spent most of the day at Salus as one of the first steps in the self-study review process with MSCHE. The process plays a vital role in the University’s ongoing planning, assessment, and accreditation and provides the opportunity to document Salus University’s impact and effectiveness as an institution of higher education. In addition to meeting with me, several Board of Trustee members and our MSCHE internal Steering Group, there was also an open forum for student leadership, faculty and staff which was extremely well-attended.

On Thursday evening, the Sports Vision Club hosted a webinar with the Sports Vision Pros - three prominent optometrists in the sports vision field - where they discussed cases and hot topics commonly seen in sports vision.

On Saturday, Salus Physician Assistant students will take part in the PA Olympics - with other area PA programs - at the Bamboo Gardens in Vincentown, NJ. Games will include “Dodge the Flu", “Egg Speculum”, and Trivia. Good luck!

Also, on Saturday, from 10AM – noon, we will be hosting “A Conversation with Veterans” along with State Representatives Steve McCarter and Jared Solomon.  The goal of the forum is to identify some of the challenges Veterans in the local area might be having and discuss possible solutions.  If you’re interested in hearing the discussions, please join us in the Lombardi Classroom.

To celebrate #NationalFoodMonth, why not get cookin’ with our throwback to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry Out of Sight Recipe book - published in 1994. If you try one of the recipes we pulled - take a photo and tag us!

Finally, only a couple of short weeks until our CentennialGala. I’m extremely excited about honoring all of our Presidential Awardees on the 26^th, as well as the party on the 27^th! I hope you all have purchased your tickets and got your dancing shoes all shined and ready to go. We’ve got over 400 people registered for the event which is going to fill that room at the Hilton!  

Have a great weekend.  Be safe, have some fun and look out for one another!

Mike

SLP Capstone Presentations: Week of April 5th

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

Greetings from a cold and rainy Elkins Park. What happened to Spring??? The campus has been a little quieter than usual since some of our programs are on their Spring break.

Earlier this week I attended the annual meeting of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) in Harrisburg. The most important issue they are working on, in my opinion as it pertains to us, involves potential changes to federal financial aid programs and how ultimately loans will be paid back. We (Salus) have been very strong advocates for deferral of interest accrual until after graduation as well as expansion of shortage area loan forgiveness programs that include all of our professions. I’m not overly optimistic we’ll see quick changes, but my plan is to be the “squeaky wheel” since very few are raising these issues. 

Yesterday, students from the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program presented their capstone project posters to a good size crowd in the Hafter Center, including Dr. Eckert and I. The work was fantastic and really a reflection of all the hard work both the students and faculty mentors put into these projects over the course a semester. Well done!

We’re less than a month away from our Centennial celebration. Dr. Jeff Nyman and I were interviewed by Monica Cryan from PHL17, who just happens to be Dr. Pagani’s daughter, earlier this week and I had the pleasure of being interviewed yesterday by Patty Jackson from WDAS (105.3), which was lots of fun. Both interviews centered on PCO’s heritage and the commitment we have had to our community over the past 100 years. So, I hope this helps to motivate you to purchase your tickets for the Gala. There’s still some time. Just click here to get your tickets.

Next week many of us will be in Washington, DC to help the American Optometric Association educate several Congressional leaders about optometry and some of the national legislative issues that affect how we all practice. I’m always excited about participating in these events and even more excited that our students will be engaged, which is so very important.

I hope everyone has a safe and restful weekend and has a chance to get out and enjoy some of the early buds and flowers. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate!

Mike