Thanking Our Board of Trustees for their Service: Week of September 15, 2023

 

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

Good morning from London, England where I am about to jump on a plane back to Philadelphia from the President’s Conclave at Oxford University, a rigorous and informative meeting of college presidents focused on key challenges facing higher education and novel solutions. Dr. Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University, and I were invited to discuss our institutions’ experience with mergers. His university is 5-years post-merger with St. Patricks University in Dublin. I look forward to inviting President Keogh to Salus in the near future to share with you his experience. I've attached a few photos from Oxford for your viewing pleasure.

In addition to this, here are some things you might be interested in:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 2023 Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. We are excited to honor Susan Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, FAAO — founder of LOFK — with the Lighthouse Award, which recognizes beacons of light and strength in the community in which they live, work and serve above and beyond their occupations. Click here to order your tickets.

NEW CHER INTERIM DEAN: Congratulations to Lauren Sponseller, PhD ‘18, OTD, MSOTR/L, MEd, CLA, chair of the Occupational Therapy (OT) department at Salus University, who was recently named interim dean of the University’s College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER). Click here to read more about Dr. Sponseller’s new responsibilities.

FORWARD THINKING: When Alfred Mwamba, AuD ‘14, graduated from Salus University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA), he became the first and only audiologist in his home country of Zambia, southern Africa. Since then, Dr. Mwamba has trained 83 people serving in 17 countries across Africa in hearing healthcare services. Read more here about Dr. Mwamba’s effort.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We are preparing to welcome our all-volunteer Board of Trustees on campus Sunday night for a social in our new cafeteria spaces followed by our quarterly board meeting on Monday. These 21 individuals have given their time, knowledge, professional experiences, and philanthropy over the course of their tenure on our board. Some members have been with us for almost 30 years, a remarkable commitment.

I am deeply grateful for their collective leadership and service, especially as together, we worked tirelessly to ensure the sustainability and growth of all of our stellar programs with our impending merger with Drexel. We would not be here without their insights, guidance and dedication. If you have the opportunity to express your thanks as a member of our Salus community, I encourage you to do so.

As you prepare for the weekend, it appears we’ve dodged Hurricane Lee but please keep those in its path in your thoughts and prayers. When you’re out and about, please remember that Covid cases are still rising in our area so if you are going to be around crowds, masking might be prudent. Stay safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Sharing Information on Integration: Week of September 8, 2023

 

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

Happy Friday from our Elkins Park campus on what is starting out as a much more comfortable day than days past. It’s been another busy week on campus with our post-bac students starting their exciting program and new first year students getting in the swing of things around their busy schedules. In addition to this, here are some other items of interest:

FACULTY SALUTE: Salus University welcomed new faculty members and presented tenure and promotions to other faculty members at a recognition ceremony on Aug. 24, 2023, as part of our recent University Development Day. Click here to read more about the event.

MAKING THE TRANSITION: Also, as part of University Development Day, Walter Kimbrough, PhD, presented “Continuing to Work the Mission in a Time of Transition” to our Salus community at The Eye Institute. To read more about Dr. Kimbrough and the message he brought to Salus, click here.

CRISTO REY STUDENTS RETURN: We welcomed our second cohort of four Cristo Rey High School work study students last week with a site visit and breakfast event. The students had an opportunity to meet their department supervisors, receive their Salus badges and take a look around the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, campus. We look forward to providing our Cristo Rey interns with a full and complete Salus experience. If you see any of the Cristo Rey students on campus, introduce yourself and welcome them aboard.

FALL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Vice Admiral Michael Cowan, former Navy surgeon general, will visit on Thursday, 21 September 2023 with faculty, staff and students ahead of our Fall Commencement in October. Our 2019 white coat ceremony speaker, Admiral Cowan was specifically requested by students to come back. We are thrilled and excited to welcome him!

FINAL THOUGHTS: During our first town-hall meeting of the new semester this week, I noted that the key to the success of our merger with Drexel is sharing information so that there are no surprises once it is finalized.

The questions we’ve been receiving so far mostly fall into several categories: questions asking for more details about the integration process; questions about compensation and benefits; and what I would call process questions, chiefly about timeline and how the integration of our two institutions will roll out. While we don’t yet have answers to some of the specific questions about potential changes in compensation, benefit levels or changes in individual benefits, working with our partners at Drexel we will work hard to get these for you.

I want to reiterate my promise to you that I will continue to share what we know when we know it. As the Integration Council prepares to kick off on 20 September, I want to thank President’s Council members who will serve in leadership roles and others who will serve in ad hoc positions to help make our transition as seamless as possible.

Small group meetings will begin again in the coming weeks so that I can hear from you and respond to your questions more directly. If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to your director, dean, vice president or to me directly. We are eager to hear from you. I’ve asked all deans, directors and vice presidents for their help with this to ensure we’re reaching every member of our Salus community in this important effort.

As you prepare for the weekend, please remember that Covid cases are still on the increase in our region so you could be taking appropriate precautions, especially if you’re going to be around large groups of people. As much as we hate going back to masking, there may be situations where it’s again warranted. Please remember that what you do off campus affects all of us on campus. If you’re feel ill, please stay home and test if symptoms warrant it. If you do test positive, follow CDC guidelines concerning quarantine to help minimize any potential spread.

I attached a photo of our beautiful campus as it shows off the colors of late summer. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Celebrating Labor Day: Week of September 1, 2023

 

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

Greetings on this Friday before Labor Day! It’s been another busy week on campus as our construction project takes shape (pictures below). Our classes, labs and clinics have been humming -- you can feel the excitement and buzz!

In other news around our Salus community:

LOOKING OUT FOR KIDS TICKETS: Tickets are available for the 2023 Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at The Switch House at The Battery in Philadelphia. We are excited to honor Susan Oleszewski, OD ‘76, Resident ‘78, FAAO — founder of LOFK — with the Lighthouse Award recognizing beacons of light and strength in the community in which they live, work and serve above and beyond their occupations. Click here to order your tickets.

UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT DAY: Thank you to Karen Hanson, Jim Caldwell, Dr. J, Maura Keenan, Jennifer Brown and Kristen Dittrich for their expert coordination of our University Development Day, which featured Walter Kimbrough, PhD, in the morning session. Dr. Kimbrough is President Emeritus of Dillard University, and his topic was, "Continuing to Work the Mission in the Time of Transition." The afternoon session featured Christine Arenson, MD, director of the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. Dr. Arenson's topic was "NexusIPE: Achieving Health and Learning Outcomes that Matter.”

ORIENTATION WEEK IMPRESSIONS: From August 14-18, 2023, Salus University welcomed our largest entering class. Read what they thought about their Orientation Week experiences here.

WHITE COAT CEREMONIES: This year’s ceremony marked the 20th year in which Salus has celebrated the White Coat, with three separate ceremonies throughout the day on Aug. 18, all held in the Hafter Student Community Center on the University’s Elkins Park campus. The white coat signifies not only a change in attire, but a significant step forward in students becoming compassionate, skilled, and dedicated healthcare providers. Click here to read about the day’s activities.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As we approach Labor Day weekend, I like to remind everyone why we celebrate this holiday celebrating the greatest workers in the world – American workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883. By 1894, 23 more states adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday. I hope everyone enjoys their three-day weekend honoring American workers.

As we end the week, we are keeping everyone affected by Hurricane Idalia in our thoughts and prayers as recovery efforts continue from this terrible natural disaster. In addition to faculty and staff members with friends and families in affected areas, we have several students enrolled at Salus and in clinical rotations from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, states in the path of Hurricane Idalia. Please know we are here for you during this difficult and challenging time. If you experience difficulty concentrating on your studies and rotations, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) for support.

Finally, as I noted last week, as Covid cases are on the rise in our region, please remember to socially distance, wear a face mask when around others, wash your hands frequently and please remember that what you do off campus directly affects all of us on campus.

Have a great weekend! Be safe, be responsible, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Photos of the South Building Construction Progress:

Helping You to Manage Stress: Week ok August 25, 2023

 

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

Good morning from our verdant Elkins Park campus where everything is vibrant and green helped by summer rains! It’s been a busy week around campus with all of our new students beginning lectures and labs and returning students heading back to clinics and didactic schedules. Our South Building construction project continues to make exciting progress as newly completed areas are already actively used by students, faculty and staff. Here are some other items of interest:

MOBILITY MEET UP: Salus University and the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center at The Eye Institute (TEI), recently celebrated Orientation and Mobility (O&M) interns, patients and support persons. Click here to read more about the “Mobility Meet Up.”

SEESHORE FEST PREVIEW: Seeshore Fest 2023, an annual event that raises money for the William Feinbloom Rehabilitation Center and Foundation Fighting Blindness, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, in Dewey Beach, Delaware. Click here for details.

STUDENTS WELCOMED FROM TAIWAN: Salus University recently hosted its on-campus clinical education program in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). Three Audiology students and five SLP students from Chung-Shan Medical University in Taiwan attended the four-week certificate program enhancing their knowledge within the professions and getting an up-close look at graduate-level training in the United States. The program was coordinated through the Academic Affairs Division of Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming (GISP). Read more here.

OAT TEST PREP COURSE: The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge base and aptitude in several key content areas relevant to optometry school curriculum. Currently, no optometry program in the country offers a prep course for the OAT. But, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University is about to change that. Click here to read more.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I mentioned during Orientation and White Coat ceremonies, there’s a great deal going on around us, and there’s also much to get accustomed to in school – between new schedules, new living environments, new subject matter to learn and working with new friends and colleagues.

I want you to know that you’re not alone. If you’re having difficulty with a specific subject I can guarantee that many of your classmates are experiencing the same challenges. For our first-year students, I can remember my first year at PCO, sitting in Dr. Lorraine Lombardi’s anatomy lectures trying to figure out how I was going to remember all that stuff. Throw in ophthalmic and physiological optics and my head was spinning. It took a little over a semester both to realize I had this and also that I wasn’t alone. Most of my classmates were feeling the same way. Your deans, program directors and faculty all realize the stress you’re experiencing. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of them for help. While there is no simple answer and everyone copes with stress a bit differently, here are a few suggestions to help you through this that have served me well over the years:

Stay focused on your studies - Keep up with your studies and try not to fall behind.

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!), do some exercise, 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, to include 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 very close to campus you can go and enjoy nature that will help to calm your mind and present opportunities for some exercise at many levels. Alverthorpe Park is five minutes away!

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.

We all understand how difficult these programs are. It’s important to remain focused, healthy and optimistic, which is the most difficult task. We have skilled counselors in our Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) who are there for you. I strongly encourage you to contact them, if you feel like you need to. All you need to do is make an appointment here.

Finally, Covid cases are once again on the rise, both nationally and in our region. It is prudent for us to be aware of this and take appropriate precautions, such as social distancing and consider masking around crowds, especially if you are immunocompromised or have a chronic disease.

If you are not feeling well, please stay home and test yourself for Covid before returning to campus. If you’ve been exposed to someone with Covid please follow CDC guidelines, which include masking for at least 5-days when around others and testing at the 5-day interval, even if you are symptom free, to ensure you do not spread the virus.

This is also a good time for everyone to think about getting their annual flu vaccine as flu season will be here before we know it.

As you prepare for the weekend, please try to get outdoors, enjoy the late summer weather and recharge mentally and physically as I want you all to remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Welcome to All of Our New Students: Week of August 18, 2023

 

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

Good morning on a rainy, hopefully soon to be sunny, August morning from our Elkins Park campus where, later today, our new students will celebrate their first professional milestone moving from layperson to healthcare professional at one of our three White Coat ceremonies. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Hafter Center.

Here are some other items of interest:

COMMUNICATION CONFIDENCE: The Speech-Language Institute (SLI) of Salus University has used some of the funds from an Eagles Autism Foundation grant to provide a client with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. And, it appears the client is happy learning how to use it to communicate with others. Click here to read more.

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE: Nine optometric professionals affiliated with Rangsit University in Thailand gained diversified knowledge and skills to take home with them after a recent one-month program hosted by the Academic Affairs Division of Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming (GISP) at Salus University. Read more here.

FIRST-YEAR ADVICE: Graduate school can be challenging and sometimes intimidating, particularly for first-year students. But Salus University students have created an environment for themselves that is focused and friendly. We recently asked some students what they wished they knew during their first-year to help adjust to grad school even more. Here are their suggestions.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It was wonderful meeting some of you individually and a real thrill to see nearly 400 new students sitting in the Hafter Center on Tuesday. Welcome to our largest entering class! 

As you prepare for the beginning of classes next week, I’d like to remind you of some of the thoughts I shared with you earlier this week:

Take care of yourselves: As I noted on Tuesday, you will have many new academic pressures on you, both physically and mentally. It will be important for you to establish routines that incorporate healthy eating, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and most importantly, stress management. Take the time to prioritize these things in your busy lives now and in the future. It’s okay to ask for help along the way. Our Center for Personal and Professional Development, linked here, is always available, and your faculty are also a ready resource.

Time management: The one thing you will not want to do in any of your programs is to fall behind academically. In addition to building health and wellness habits, develop a routine that includes study and down time. Every one of you will be taking some sort of national accreditation examination, some while still in your programs, others right after graduation. How will you allocate your time to prepare for these in addition to mastering the material you’ll be taught in your chosen profession? While this might seem daunting, your faculty and others at Salus can assist you in developing successful time-management solutions. 

Say thank you! Please take a moment to thank the professors, mentors, family members and friends who have supported you. I am certain that their guidance, encouragement and sacrifices have helped to bring you to this point in your academic and professional careers.

Have fun and enjoy yourselves: Take time to relax a bit along the way. You’ll hear a lot of advice from me on this topic in my weekly updates. Knowing how to pace yourself will make the difference in bringing your “A” game to class and clinic. Mental and emotional clarity takes time, intention and healthy habits that you can begin building today.

Becoming “OneDrexel”: As you know, we are on course to merge with Drexel University. This week you enter as Salus students but during your time here we will all become part of the Drexel family, which is extremely exciting! I will continue to keep you updated as our integration efforts get underway.

As you prepare for classes this weekend, take time to reflect on this advice because I want you to be SALUS STRONG now and well beyond your time with us. Have a great weekend! I look forward to seeing you around campus in the coming weeks!

-Mike

Get To It: Week of August 11, 2023

 

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

Greetings from Elkins Park on a beautiful summer morning. It’s been a busy week on campus as we prepare to welcome our largest entering class for next week’s Orientation festivities. Here are some items of interest: 

GUIDE DOG WEEK: International Assistance Dog Week, observed from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12, is a time to recognize all of the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations. In this Q&A session, Lachelle Smith, MS ‘04, director of the Salus Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) program, shares the many ways her guide dog, Lyra, enriches her daily life.

EXPANSION AND NAME CHANGE: The Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE) at Salus University has expanded, and is now the Academic Affairs Division of Global, Interprofessional and Specialized Programming (GISP). Click here to read more.

SEP CLASS OF 2023: Congratulations to our distinguished 2023 Summer Enrichment Program graduates entering the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus this fall! The SEP program introduces students to leaders and resources at Salus while strengthening a sense of community. Read more about this year's cohort here.

UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT DAY: Our Fall University Development Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Aug. 25 at The Eye Institute (TEI). Our keynote speaker, Dr. Walter Kimbrough, will share his perspectives on "Continuing to Work the Mission in the Time of Transition.” 

FINAL THOUGHTS: I recently came across the following quote from Marcus Aurelius:

“Do now what nature demands of you. Get right to it if that’s in your power. Don’t look around to see if people will know about it. Don’t wait for the perfection of Plato’s Republic but be satisfied with even the smallest step forward and regard the outcome as a small thing.”

What an important reminder that perfection is the enemy of good. Whenever I catch myself feeling stressed by everything that needs to be completed, this teaching re-centers me: every action taken toward a desired end -- no matter how small, yields progress. One step in front of the next builds agency and motivation.

As we prepare to send many of you off to new clinical rotations and welcome our largest entering class, think about how you can apply this to your own situation, whether you’re preparing for national competency exams or figuring out how you’re going to manage your busy daily schedules.

Our summer is quickly coming to a close, especially as we welcome our new students next week. Please try to take advantage of this upcoming weekend to reflect upon the advice I’ve noted and try to recharge as we get ready to start another academic year at Salus – the last one before our exciting merger with Drexel!

Be safe, stay hydrated and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Finding Things to Enjoy: Week of August 4, 2023

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Mike