Week of June 10, 2024

 

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

Greetings on this beautiful Friday morning from our Elkins Park campus. This week has been exceptionally busy as we hosted the 2024 DonorPerfect Community Conference on fundraising – SPARK. Alongside this, we held community meetings for our students, faculty, and staff. Amidst these activities, our students have been diligently working in clinics, labs, and classrooms, with our international students gaining hands-on experience in our Auxiliary Clinical Procedures Lab. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the unfortunate situation at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, which is closing its doors today due to fiscal challenges. The rapidly changing landscape of higher education is indeed concerning, and the abrupt closure has left many shocked and unprepared. Our hearts and prayers go out to the affected students, faculty, and staff as they navigate this difficult transition. These challenges underscore the importance of our strategic decision to merge with Drexel later this month as a proactive approach to ensuring stability and growth in such uncertain times. As we’ve said before, the merger is designed to strengthen our position and prevent the kind of calamity that has befallen the University of the Arts, providing a more secure and promising future for our entire Salus community. 

RECOGNITION RECEPTION: We had a great event last weekend at the annual recognition reception where we honored the 2024 Presidential Medal winners as well as the annual Alumni of the Year Award winners in our various programs. You can read stories about medal winners Patricia Modica, OD ‘88, Resident ‘89 here; and Stephanie Czuhajewski, executive director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology here. We also honored the 50th reunions of the Classes of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975. Look for a story on the event next weekend on our website and look for future stories throughout June and July for individual stories on our Alumni of the Year winners. 

HARROWING HAITI TRIP: David McPhillips, OD ‘85, FAAO, FVI, has been going on Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity (VOSH) trips to Haiti since he was a student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) in the mid-1980s. In the recent past, Haiti’s political unrest has given volunteers on humanitarian trips pause when deciding whether to embark on such trips. But the last Pennsylvania chapter VOSH trip in March 2024, turned out to be a little more challenging than usual for a small group of six, which included Dr. McPhillips, two other PCO/Salus doctors, Mark Rakoczy, OD ‘81, FVI, and Mike Satryan, OD ‘84, and three optometric technicians. Click here to read more. 

UARTS PATHWAY AT DREXEL: With the abrupt closing of the University of the Arts, Drexel University is committed to supporting those UArts students currently enrolled or just starting their college experience as they consider the next step in their educational careers. Drexel is developing a pathway that will help UArts students continue their education as seamlessly as possible during this challenging time of transition and will allow them to stay on track and finish their degree. To read more, click here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: This week, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, France, code-named Operation Overlord, which began on June 6,1944. It was the largest amphibious landing operation in modern history, involving over 7,000 naval vessels, including more than 4,000 landing craft and 1,200 warships. Preceding the landing on Utah, Omaha, Gold, and Sword beaches, 23,000 paratroopers bravely landed behind enemy lines. During the invasion, over 160,000 men landed, and the Allied forces suffered more than 10,000 casualties, including those killed, wounded, and missing. By the end of the Normandy Campaign, nearly 29,000 Americans had lost their lives.

Notably, several thousand doctors, corpsmen, and medics also stormed the beaches at Normandy, many of whom were severely wounded or killed in action. The success in securing the beaches of Normandy paved the way for the liberation of France and ultimately the end of the war in Europe. 

These young Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Army Air Corps Airmen, often described as “The Greatest Generation,” played a crucial role in saving the world from tyranny. Their heroic sacrifice reminds us again that the price for freedom is great, a fact that I fear many Americans have forgotten. Throughout our history, men and women have given their all to defend freedom and democracy. As we reflect on those who stormed the beaches of Normandy, facing fierce German opposition, or those who jumped blindly from gliders into darkness, let us remember the immense sacrifices they made so that we can enjoy the freedoms our democracy affords us. Their efforts helped to ensure we can all comfortably practice our given professions in a manner which benefits our patients, clients and students. 

As you prepare for the weekend, take a moment to reflect on the history that they made on D-Day, which affords us the freedom to live, work and play as we choose. Be safe, continue to look out for one another, and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Week of June 3, 2024

 

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

Good morning on a beautiful Friday from our Elkins Park Campus. While the week was short, it certainly has been busy. The Drexel Human Resources team hosted the first of at least two Benefit Fairs on Wednesday where they filled the Hafter Center with experts to help answer questions and sign people up. The next one is scheduled for 6 June at TEI. And yesterday, Dr. Elisabeth Van Bockstaele and the Drexel team provided an informative Drexel Speaker Series that discussed Library, Educational Support & IT. While all this was happening, students and faculty have been engaged in normal classroom, clinic and lab activities. This campus never rests!

Here are other items I hope you will find of interest:

JOYOUS COMMENCEMENT: Drexel president John Fry delivered an inspirational and motivational keynote address at our 128th commencement ceremony May 23, 2024, at the Kimmel Cultural Center in Philadelphia. We were also honored to present President Fry with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. To read more about the day, click here. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL: Dr. Rita Chaiken has been involved with the University’s Osborne College of Audiology virtually since its establishment in 2000. She was asked by the College’s founder, George S. Osborne, to teach the second-ever cohort of the program in 2001. Now, she and four other winners will be awarded with the Salus Presidential Medal of Honor at the annual recognition reception at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, June 2, at PineCrest Country Club in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Click here to read more about Dr. Chaiken and her contributions to the profession of Audiology. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE II: In his house, Jim Saviola, OD, FAAO ‘85, has what he calls a “fancy” piano his wife and three daughters all play. About a year-and-a-half ago, Dr. Saviola wanted to do something outside work to “keep his brain working.” So, he took up piano lessons. He was sitting at the piano recently for one of those lessons when his phone rang informing him that he had been named a Presidential Medal of Honor winner by Salus University. Click here to read more. 

PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL, TAKE III: It’s turning out to be a banner year for Paul B. Freeman, OD '74, FAAO. Not only is he celebrating his 50th anniversary of graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, but he is also adding to his long list of accolades the 2024 Presidential Medal of Honor from his alma mater. Click here for more details. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: She’s always had a passion for Occupational Therapy (OT), so when her husband was transferred to Washington by the Air Force, Amber Fessler, OTD ‘20, started looking into doctoral programs in that area. When she didn’t find any program in the state that suited her, she started looking elsewhere. That’s when she found Salus University’s post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program, particularly the Remedial Vision Rehabilitation aspect. Read more here. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: Last week, we had the privilege of celebrating the achievements of our graduates. This coming weekend, we will extend our celebrations to honor several of our outstanding alumni. On Sunday, we will present the Presidential Medal of Honor to individuals from various professions who have distinguished themselves on international, national, and local stages. Their remarkable work has improved the lives of thousands and impacted countless more. 

Salus University, along with our founding college, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry, has long been renowned for developing leaders in the fields we educate. As we prepare to merge with Drexel University, our legacy of leadership, innovation, and community service will be further enriched by the numerous opportunities Drexel will bring to our students, faculty, and staff. It’s an exhilarating time—both to celebrate those who have achieved so much and to anticipate the exciting possibilities ahead. Our only limitations are those we place on ourselves, so let’s dream big and prepare to accomplish even greater things! 

As you head into the weekend, please keep in your thoughts and prayers all those who are suffering around the world. Continue to respect one another and remain SALUS STRONG as we look forward to our bright future!

-Mike

Week of May 27, 2024

 

To our Salus Community, 

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our graduates, and thank Dr. Jim Caldwell, Ms. Shannon Boss, Ms. Alexis Abate, their teams, and our Salus faculty and staff volunteers for making yesterday’s commencement ceremony so special for everyone who attended. President Fry’s insightful remarks truly captured the essence of this significant milestone and provided wisdom that will undoubtedly guide our graduates as they embark on their exciting professional journeys. 

As we approach this Memorial Day weekend it’s important for Americans to remember that throughout our history, starting with the American Revolution, through the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, more than one million American Service members made the ultimate sacrifice to help secure the blessings of liberty for the United States and our global allies.

As we bear witness to all the strife in the world today, I ask you all to pause and remember those who gave their last full measure of devotion so we could enjoy ceremonies like yesterday’s graduation and the many other freedoms our democracy enables. Memorial Day is not just about sales and a long weekend. In our fast-paced and busy lives, many traditions have been lost, neglecting to remind us of this truly important Day of Remembrance. 

Originally established in 1868, Memorial Day serves as a day to honor those that died while serving and protecting our nation and preserving our democracy. Take a moment to remember our brave and honorable women and men who gave their lives so we can be free. If you know a person serving on Active Duty or a Veteran, please thank them for their service.

Have a great weekend. Stay safe, look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

-Mike

Preparing to Celebrate Our Graduates: Week of May 17, 2024

 

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

Good morning from Elkins Park where we are preparing for next week’s commencement ceremony and also welcoming students back to campus as our Summer Semester begins. Here are some other items I hope you will find of interest:

128TH COMMENCEMENT: John Fry, President of Drexel University, will deliver the keynote address at Salus University's 128th commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Kimmel Cultural Center in Philadelphia. Read more here.

SLP POST-BACC ADVANTAGES: The Post-baccalaureate Program in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) was designed to prepare students to excel academically and professionally by establishing a foundation necessary for their success in the field of SLP. And there are several advantages of being a part of the Post-bacc SLP program at Salus. For details, click here.

FROM DREXEL TO SALUS: Hearing about the upcoming merger between Salus and Drexel University seemed like an ironic coincidence for two second-year Physician Assistant (PA) Studies students, Emily Damico ‘24PA and Momina Khan '24PA. Although both will have graduated from Salus before the two institutions academic programs merge in the summer of 2025, they see a tremendous benefit for current and prospective students when it comes to the partnership. Read more here.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Alicia Reiser, MS, OTR/L, OTD ‘18, ADHD-RSP, was looking for the “missing piece” in her career. And, she found it in the Salus University Post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) program’s Remedial Vision Rehabilitation: Pediatrics and Acquired Brain Injury track. Click here to read more about her journey.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Next week is all about our students! The launch of our newest graduates presents an opportunity to thank our talented faculty and staff for preparing these young professionals to take on the challenges that today’s complex world presents to them. I have no doubt that our graduates have all the tools they need to excel in their given professions.

In order to effectively address a changing environment, it will be incumbent upon our new graduates, as you begin your new careers, to commit to life-long learning and a life of service as you navigate through these changes. I know I speak for the entire Salus community when I wish them the very best as they spread their wings and leave our nest.

If you’re preparing to graduate on Thursday, I hope you, your families and significant others take some time to enjoy the Greater Philadelphia area. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Remembering Mother's Day This Sunday: Week of May 10, 2024

 

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

Good morning from our Elkins Park campus where students are finishing up final exams today and preparing for commencement, clinical rotations or graduation. Here are some things I hope you will find of interest:

INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION: The Hafter Student Community Center on the Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus was a hub of collaboration recently as Physical Therapy (PT) students from Arcadia University joined first-year students from the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Occupational Therapy (OT) programs at Salus to learn how to work together for the benefit of their patients. Read more here.

BEP SIGNING DAY: Darryl Glover, OD ‘11, co-founder, Essence Johnson, OD ‘10, chief visionary officer, and Jacobi Cleaver, OD ‘11, chief program officer of the Black Eyecare Perspective (BEP) recently hosted a signing day for the organization’s Pre-Optometry Club members who have gained acceptance into a school or college of optometry, as well as recognize any student who will be entering optometry school the following academic year. Click here for details.

ACCEPTED STUDENT DAYS: Salus hosted three Accepted Student Days this year, which attracted more than 110 accepted students and about 200 guests from across all programs. To find out more, click here.

INVEST PHILLY PANELIST: Thomas Beeman, PhD, LHD, MBA, USN (ret.), a member of the Board of Trustees at Salus University, served as a panelist on one of three panels at the recent “Invest: Philadelphia 2024” conference. Among the topics Dr. Beeman discussed was “Action plan: Initiatives underway in Philadelphia’s eds and meds sector to create positive outcomes for students and patients.” Click here to read more.

ARTICULATION AGREEMENTS WITH DeSALES: Yesterday morning several of us ventured up to DeSales University in Center Valley, PA where we toured their beautiful campus and signed articulation agreements establishing a pipeline from their excellent science programs into PCO and our Orthotics and Prosthetics program. We’re excited to welcome DeSales students into our programs. Special thanks to Dr’s O’Sullivan and Caldwell and Monica Scirrotto for taking the lead on this.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. This very special day, with a connection to Philadelphia, was first conceived by Anne Reeve Jarvis prior to the Civil War who created “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to help teach young mothers how to care for their children. It wasn’t until 1908, through the efforts of her daughter, Anna Jarvis, that led to Mother’s Day being named an official holiday by President Wilson in 1914. Ms. Jarvis worked with John Wanamaker (of Wanamaker Department Stores fame) to obtain funding to have a Mother’s Day celebration at a church in Grafton, West Virginia. At the same time, thousands of people attended a Mother’s Day event at Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia. As they say, the rest is history, which you can read more about here.

As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, I’d like to recognize the wonderful contributions that all our Salus moms have made to Salus, your professions and those you all serve. Thank you for what you do every day to provide a world-class education to our students and the best care available to our patients and clients.

To every member of our Salus community – have a safe, fun and relaxing Mother’s Day! Even Salus's Mother Goose (seen below) is preparing to celebrate with her new goslings! To all preparing to enjoy some well-deserved time off, clinical rotations or walking across the stage at the Kimmel Center, take some time to reflect on all the wonderful lessons our mothers have taught us over the years. Be safe, look out for one another and come back next week SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Leveraging AI Thoughtfully: Week of May 3, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where we have welcomed a new family of goslings on campus (short video attached). Our students have been busy completing final exams and practicals, as faculty prepare grades. Only a couple of weeks until Spring Commencement! Here are some other items I hope you will find of interest:

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University has continued a long-standing collaboration with Head Start programs in the Philadelphia area for more than 35 years. Head Start is a primarily federally funded program that provides education, health and social services to families with children aged three, four and five. For PCO/Salus, this has meant contributing to a variety of services, including primary eye care exams at Head Start centers and schools in the Philadelphia area. Click here to read more.

MERITORIOUS HONORS FOR SLP: The University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) students really raised the bar when it came to their capstone projects this year. Out of the seven meritorious posters chosen to be featured at the annual Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) convention April 10-13 in Pittsburgh, two of those were from research conducted by Salus SLP students. For details, click here.

O&P KENYA TRIP: During a humanitarian trip to Kenya, Victoria “Tori” Page ‘25O&P had a young patient who hadn’t walked since her leg amputation the previous year. Tori spent a long time working on a prosthesis trying to make her patient as comfortable as possible. At the end of her appointment, Tori asked the patient how her new leg felt. “She looked at me with a big smile and said, ‘I’m walking!’” Read more here about the O&P humanitarian trip to Kenya.

A SPECIAL PA OLYMPICS: This year’s PA Olympics took on a little more significance for students in the Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program at Salus because it honored one of the University’s former faculty members, Adam Moore, MHS, PA-C, ATC. Adam was an assistant professor for the Salus PA program from 2016 to 2022 and at Thomas Jefferson University until his passing in September 2023. During his time at Salus, Moore had served as a faculty advisor for the PA Olympics. Click here for additional details on the event.

DREXEL DEI RECOGNITION: Drexel Alumni is the recipient of the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. In its inaugural year, this award recognizes Drexel Alumni for its programs, culture, and initiatives that encourage and support diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all alumni, across racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual and gender identities, religions, socio-economic statuses and more. Read more here.

FINAL THOUGHTS: I have spent the last two days in DC this week attending the Special Medical Advisory Group for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs where I am the designated representative for optometry. Every time I attend these meetings, I am extremely impressed with all that the VA is doing to improve health care for our Veteran population. Administering the nation’s largest integrated health system, the VA is leading the way in digital health integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital solutions responsibly and effectively into VA care. It’s a daunting task when you consider there are over 9-million veterans enrolled in the system.

One process the VA has been using to select the right industry partner to help them integrate AI into their patient care processes is called “AI Sprint.” AI Sprints are three-month competitive engagements that foster collaboration among industry, academia and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Sprints are staged with specific challenges introduced into the process every 3 weeks to determine how teams might mitigate them. I see great value in academia adopting similar processes to devise solutions to some of the novel challenges we face in our higher ed/healthcare ecosystem. As we attempt to leverage AI and related technologies, we need to embrace best practices ensuring cybersecurity, patient, and student safety as well as accuracy and reliability. Our partnership with Drexel will help operationalize some of these processes

It looks like the weekend is going to be a bit cooler than it has been, so try and get out and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather while it still lasts. As you get to the last weeks of the semester, keep your eye on the ball concerning your studies and continue to look out for one another to remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike

Upholding Our Values of Inclusivity, Understanding and Respect: Week of April 26, 2024

 

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

Greetings from our Elkins Park campus where spring has been in full bloom and our students and faculty have been working diligently toward the finish line this semester. Dr. Vitek and I just returned from a very exciting and successful trip to Bangkok, Thailand where we had the opportunity to meet with many of our Salus alumni, faculty and students and Rangcit University as well as prospective students. Other than being over 100 degrees there, it was a very successful engagement. I’ve posted a photo below of the group. We’re getting excited about our upcoming commencement ceremony at the Kimmel Center on May 23rd when we will welcome and honor our commencement speaker, Drexel president John Fry. In addition to all that’s happening on campus, here are some other items of interest:

ENVISION CONFERENCE: The inaugural Envision Conference held recently at Salus was a multidisciplinary low vision rehabilitation and research conference by Envision University in collaboration with the University’s Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), the William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center housed at The Eye Institute (TEI), the clinical teaching facility for PCO, and the University’s Blindness and Low Vision Studies and Occupational Therapy programs. Click here to read more about the event.

QUIZ BOWL HAIL MARY: Going into the 2024 PCO/Salus Quiz Bowl, Anna German ‘26OD knew she would be at a disadvantage. As a first-year student in the Doctor of Optometry Accelerated Scholars’ program, there were classes she hadn’t yet taken with information she hadn’t yet learned that would have greatly helped her in the annual trivia contest. So, she had to rely on her instincts and essentially throw up a Hail Mary on the final question. Find out what happened by clicking here. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Alexander Paluzzi, MSOT ‘21, wasn’t a typical Occupational Therapy (OT) student at Salus University. After graduating with a bachelor’s in secondary education and a master’s in international education, both from Drexel University, he started his career teaching social studies and working as an Applied Behavior Analysis Autism therapist. And now he is teaching anatomy and kinesiology at Salus. Read more about Alex here.

ACADEMIC RESTRUCTURING: Read Drexel University president John Fry’s message about the University’s efforts to strengthen Drexel's ability to attract and retain top students and to secure its future as a leading student-centered, experience-driven, research university. Click here for details. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: With all that is happening on college campuses around the country, I am thankful to our Salus University community members for continuing to conduct ourselves professionally and respectfully. As events in the Middle East unfold, emotions understandably run high, and discussions may become charged with differing perspectives.

It's essential during such times that we uphold our values of inclusivity, understanding, and mutual respect. Salus is a place for open dialogue and diverse viewpoints, and it's through respectful engagement that we can foster understanding and empathy, even amidst differing opinions. Let us remember that each member of our community brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table. By actively listening to one another and engaging in constructive dialogue, we can navigate these challenging moments with grace and understanding.

As always, the well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the counselors at CPPD if you need support or assistance during this time. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to maintaining a supportive and respectful environment at Salus University.

As we approach the weekend, it looks like the weather will be very nice, so try to take a break in your students or whatever you might be doing indoors to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Be safe, continue to look out for one another and remain SALUS STRONG!

- Mike