13 minute read
University News
Welcome
NEW FACULTY AND STAFF
James Kelly, MMS, PA-C, assistant professor, Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program
Korey Patrizi, OD, Resident ’21, instructor, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO)
Emma Ray, Coordinator, Office of Admissions, Database and Document Management
Brunilda Bilalaj, Administrative Assistant, Office of Safety & Security
Kathleen McMullen, Human Resources Coordinator
Alexis Gates, Didactic Educational Program Assistant, PA program
Brandi DeVeaux, MS, OTR/L, CLT, Instructor, College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation (CHER)
Chad Duncan, PhD, Director of Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program
Rebecca Heinz, Assistant Director of Admissions
Bernadette McNulty, PhD, Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations
Amanda Meltzer, Administrative Coordinator
New BOT Members and Designation
Salus University’s Board of Trustees (BOT) 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.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/NEWBOTMEMBERS
In other BOT news, for her 12 years of contributions, first as chair of the Finance Committee and most recently as chair of the Health Services Committee and Executive Committee, Jane Scaccetti was granted emeritus status by the board at its January 2021 meeting.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/JANESCACCETTI
Black Student Union Building Bridges
During the protests in response to the racial injustice events in the first part of 2020 that included the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minnesota, a group of Black Salus University students wanted their voices heard more frequently on theissues of the day. After a University-sponsored roundtable discussion in May 2020 which allowed Salus community members to air their views, the students decided to form the Black Student Union (BSU) in February 2021. Inaugural officers for the group included president Tavii El, MSOT ’21; vice president Brandon Garces ’23OD; secretary Johana Fortune, MSOT ’21; and treasurer Camille Menns, MSOT ’21.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/BSUGROUP
DEI Forum on Asian Hate
As a member of the Board of Trustees, Joyce Koh, Esq., was asked and accepted an invitation to communicate with the University’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population.
The University invited Koh, along with Salus partner Ken Wong and Chestnut Hill College professor and psychologist, Bindu Methikalam, PhD, to serve as panelists for a virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) panel discussion titled “Perspectives of Racism and Hate for Asian Americans” March 24, 2021.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/HATEFORUM
A Series of Firsts for DICE
For the first time, the University utilized a hybrid online and face-to-face delivery model for the MSc in Clinical Optometry with an Advanced Studies certificate degree program. Salus has been working with the students since the summer of 2020 by conducting online informational webinars that then expanded into online coursework beginning in January 2021.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS
New Muslim Student Group Formed
The Salam Salus Muslim Student Association group had its first event April 30, 2021, and it came with some distinction — it was the first on-campus event held since the beginning of the pandemic.
The group was started because students wanted an inclusive platform for Muslims and an increased awareness of the Muslim culture and traditions on campus.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/SALAMSALUS
LOFK Event Comes Up Large for BRB
The relationship between Salus and TD Bank is still going strong as TD Bank was named the Lighthouse Award winner at the 14th Annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity fundraiser May 1, 2021. This year’s event was a combination livestream and virtual event, with a specific focus on the University’s Mobile Healthcare Unit, affectionately known as the “Big Red Bus” (BRB).
Additionally, in honor of her family’s more than 100 years of combined service to the optometric profession, to patient care and professional education, and after seeing first-hand the benefit of providing early vision care to students at their schools, Cathie Muhr has donated $100,000 toward a new mobile unit, so the Looking Out for Kids program may continue in a more suitable environment.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/LOFK21EVENT
Drive-Thru Ceremony Unique and Special
The 122nd commencement ceremony was unique in that it offered both a virtual and an in-person option for graduates and their families.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/DRIVETHRUGRADS
2021 Salus Medal Awarded
Brooke Kruemmling, PhD, COMS, associate provost, was presented with the Salus coin on June 2 in recognition of her leadership on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
The College Tour Launch Party
A film crew from The College Tour spent a week at the University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus in early March to capture its specialness. Each segment of The College Tour, which streams on both Amazon Prime and Roku, is student-and faculty-driven to give viewers a look at what it’s like to be a student at Salus and what makes Salus unique. A launch party was held in June to view the finished product.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/THECOLLEGETOUR
Dr. Vitek Named Dean of DICE
Melissa Vitek,
OD ’95, FAAO, director of the Department of International and Continuing Education (DICE) and PCO assistant professor, has been named dean of DICE. Dr. Vitek has provided her department with excellent leadership, playing a crucial role in the success and progression of international and continuing education students at Salus.
CFO of the Year
Donald Kates, CPA, vice president of Finance, was named CFO of the Year by Philadelphia Business Journal in June 2021. These awards are presented annually to financial professionals for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards.
Fond Farewells
MARGARET MULLIGAN
Margaret Mulligan, MD, is “ready to roll” with her second retirement after 10 years as an associate professor in the University’s PA program.
She came to academia later in her career after being in private practice for 33 years as a family physician. Someone she knew asked her if she had ever considered teaching. Dr. Mulligan considered the suggestion and decided that yes, she would be interested in sharing her knowledge and experience with students learning to be physician assistants.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/MULLIGANRETIRES
AMY LUSTIG
Amy Lustig, PhD, MPH, CCC-SLP, assistant professor in the SLP program, accepted a position in August 2021 at a specialty ALS clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lustig has been an integral part of the SLP program since its launch, advising graduate students, mentoring the development of capstone projects, and providing supervision and client care in the Speech-Language Institute since its inception.
Program Updates
PCO World Pennsylvania College of Optometry
PCO PROMOTIONS
The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University has named new deans. They include: Elizabeth Tonkery, OD, MPH ’13, associate dean of Curriculum and Assessment; Bhawan Minhas, OD, Resident ’14, FAAO, associate dean of the Accelerated Scholars Program; and Bisant Labib, OD ’14, Resident ’15, FAAO, associate dean of Optometric Special Programs.
In addition, Chad Killen, OD ’19, Resident ’20, has been named the director of the On-Campus Residency Program.
THE EXCITEMENT AND ANXIETY OF MATCH DAY
Residency Match Day is when all residency programs and applicants receive their results on where they ultimately are matched after a season of residency interviews which begins in October and closes at the end of February every year. Optometry residents go through a selection process that includes applying to programs, interviewing, and submitting ranks into a computer algorithm that formulates results which are released on Match Day.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/MATCHDAY2021
DONOR SUPPORT OPENS MORE DOORS
One thing the COVID-19 pandemic did not spoil is charitable giving, including new philanthropic partnerships. In fact, the University’s most recent donation of $7,500 came from a new donor, Keplr Vision. The Illinois-based company immediately recognized an opportunity to help students through the Optometry Learning Experience (OLE), a program established 40 years ago by PCO.
In addition, MacuLogix, a company that equips eye care professionals with devices and training needed to effectively diagnose age-related macular degeneration (AMD), has established a $25,000 MacuLogix AMD Advocacy endowed award at PCO/Salus to be presented annually to a graduating optometrist who’s demonstrated a commitment to managing patients with ADM.
PCO/Salus was selected for the award to honor two of its graduates for their practical commitment to AMD diagnosis — Glenn Corbin, OD ’82, of Wyomissing Optometric Center and Gary Kirman, OD ’86, of Kirman Eye. The company is also donating an AdaptDx Pro, used for dark adaptation testing, to The Eye Institute at Chestnut Hill.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/KEPLRVISION
DR. VERMA HONORED BY POA
Satya Verma, OD ’75, FAAO, DPNAP, Diplo-
mate, director of externship programs at PCO, was honored in April 2021 with the Pennsylvania Optometric Association’s 2021 H. Ward Ewalt, OD, Meritorious Service Award. This award recognizes a POA member or an individual who has long-term dedication/service to the POA and/or optometry; whose life-long dedication and commitment to the profession is exemplary.
DR. CASSER RECIPIENT OF OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION AWARD
Linda Casser, OD, FAAO, FNAP, PCO professor, was named recipient of the 2021 Dr. Jack Bennett Innovation in Optometric Education Award in May 2021. This award was established in March 2000 to recognize an ASCO volunteer for outstanding innovation to optometric education. Nidek YC-200 S Plus — now featured in what is the new Laser Suite on the University’s Elkins Park campus.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/NEWLASERLAB
THE AURICLE Osborne College of Audiology
DR. SILBERT HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Joel Silbert,
OD ’73, FAAO, former director of the Contact Lens Program and former chief of the Cornea and Specialty Contact Lens Service at The Eye Institute (TEI), was honored in June 2021 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Optometric Contact Lens Educators (AOCLE).
NEW LASER LAB
Although they don’t yet have individual names, Alissa Coyne, OD ’10, Resident ’11, FAAO, coordinator for the Ophthalmic Lasers and Minor Surgical Procedures course and PCO assistant professor calls them “the twins” because they were purchased at the same time. She’s referring to two new lasers — both
ENHANCED ROLES FOR TWO FACULTY MEMBERS
Two internal appointments and changes in title have been announced in the University’s Osborne College of Audiology (OCA).
Bre Myers, AuD ’06, PhD, CH-AP, three-year track program coordinator and associate professor, has been named assistant dean of the College’s Foundation and Assessment of Audiologic Medicine; and Jonette Owen, AuD ’03, MS, assistant dean for Clinical Education and assistant professor, has been promoted to associate dean for Clinical Education.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/OCAPROMOTIONS
THE PULSE College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation
BLVS CANADIAN COHORT EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINT
In the Spring of 2019, the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) welcomed its first international cohort of students from Canada, who enrolled in the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy program at Salus.
While the Canadian students have seen their graduation date impacted by COVID-19, three of the 11 students successfully completed their program in December 2020, with all others completing their program in May 2021.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/BLVSCANADA
OT INSTITUTE OPENS
The Occupational Therapy Institute (OTI) at Salus, the clinical facility for the Department of Occupational Therapy, opened for patient care in March 2021. Located in West Oak Lane within TEI, OTI is the University’s newest clinical facility, joining TEI, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) and the Speech-Language Institute (SLI).
OTI will serve as the clinical training site for OT students at Salus, offering diverse clinical experiences that emphasize various specializations including vision rehabilitation, emerging practice and community-based settings, and traditional placements.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/OTINSTITUTE PA STUDENTS HAVE FUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Salus students joined other Physician Assistant (PA) Studies students from Arcadia University, DeSales University, Drexel University, Jefferson University, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) and Temple University to participate in “The Amazing Race,” April 10, 2021, in Philadelphia.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/PAOLYMPICS
OT ARTICULATION DEAL WITH MANHATTAN COLLEGE
Salus recently signed an articulation agreement with Manhattan College to create a pathway for Manhattan College students to earn their master’s degrees in occupational therapy. Under the agreement, Salus will offer reserved seats to eligible Manhattan College students who successfully complete either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in pre-occupational therapy and meet admissions criteria for the Salus Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/ MANHATTANCOLLEGE BRIANNA BRIM NAMED DIRECTOR OF OTI
Brianna Brim, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPP, Assistant Professor, OT, has been appointed as director of OTI, the clinical facility for the Department of Occupational Therapy which recently opened for client care.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/BRIANNABRIMOTI
POST-BACC PROGRAM ADDS SLP TRACK
Students applying to the University’s Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program have required specific prerequisite courses since the program’s inception. But as of fall 2021, this has changed. Prospective students will be able to get that coursework through the SLP track in the University’s Post-baccalaureate program. And, what will set the program apart from others is prospective SLP students will now receive hands-on, patient-interaction experiences in the Post-bacc program, which will give them the best chance to get into a graduate program, either at Salus or someplace else.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/SLPPOSTBACC
OT DEPARTMENT HAS FIRST DIPLOMA DAY
The OT Class of 2021 had been thrown a lot of curveballs along the pandemic journey, adjusting to virtual learning and fieldwork. Some sort of face-to-face would allow students the opportunity to see each other, socialize and celebrate their accomplishments.
So, the OT department held its first-ever OT Diploma Day July 14, 2021, at the Hafter Student Community Center. More than half the graduating Class of 2021 attended the event.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/OTDIPLOMADAY
LVR PROGRAM FIRST TO BE ACCREDITED
The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) has been accrediting Orientation and Mobility (O&M), Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) and Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) programs for a while now.
But the organization did not previously accredit Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) programs... until now. And, Salus University’s LVR program, in the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS), is the first program to achieve this accreditation.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/LVRACCREDITED STUDENTS UNWIND AT PA FORMAL
After having more than a year of pandemic-related issues added to their already challenging graduate school workload, the University’s PA students were ready to blow off some steam.
The PA formal in July 2021 offered a festive atmosphere which included getting dressed up, dancing and socializing face-to-face for the first time in quite a while for the students, about 60 of whom attended.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/PAFORMAL2021
Conference Updates
BANNER YEAR FOR PCO/ SALUS
Highlights from Optometry’s Meeting® 2021, the annual meeting of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and American Optometric Student Association (AOSA), prove it was a banner year for PCO. Culminating in some truly memorable moments, by the conclusion of the event, PCO achieved two National Optometry Hall of Fame inductions, a student quiz bowl championship, and a 5K victory.
READ MORE AT SALUS.EDU/OPTOMETRYMEETING21
AAPA CHALLENGE BOWL WINNING TEAM
The Salus PA student team placed fourth in the virtual American Academy of PAs (AAPA) conference Challenge Bowl competition on April 18, 2021.
Salus University is dedicated to promoting the values of DEI: respect, equity, dignity and equal opportunities for the University community and beyond.
