Salutations Header

    

                                                                                                       April 2012

In This Issue
CER New Occupational Therapy Programs
HOYA Lab Opens
NOSA Banquet Honors Dr. Lewis and Dean Horne
OCA Receives Award
PA Directors Assume Additional Roles

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WE SALUTE

The Salus community warmly welcomes its newest members:

Anthony Dean,

       Custodial Technician

Andrew Kastenhuber,

       Facilities Manager

Alfred Luton,

       Custodial Technician

William Monaco, OD, PhD, MPH

        Associate Director, Public 

        Health Programs 

Maureen Owens

         Controller

 

The Salus University community offers sincere congratulations to the following members:

Rick Echevarria, director Physical Plant, on the successful completion of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Facility Management Professional (FMP) credential program at Villanova University. 

 

Leidy Garcia of TEI, on the birth of her son, Seth Evan, last month.     

 

Dr. Jenny Myung Shin of TEI, on the birth of her son, Owen Micah. 

 

The University community extends sincere sympathy to:

Lisa Blade of the Cafe, on the passing of her father, Carmen Leonardo.

Dr. Larry McClure, director of Institutional Research and Strategic Planning,on the passing of his father, Lawrence McClure, Sr.    

  ________________________ 

 

Dr. Bennett Award

Dr. G. Richard Bennett, associate professor and director of The Eye Institute Glaucoma Center was honored by his undergraduate alma mater with the Clarion University Distinguished Alumni award.
   Dr. Bennett, who was nominated by his mentor, Dr.J. Robert Moore, professor emeritus at Clarion,  received his award at a banquet at the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh this month.     

  Congratulations, Dr. Bennett! ______________________ 

Student Academy of Audiology Events
by Namrata Desai '14AUD
The Student Academy of Audiology chapter has been active in the first quarter of the year. In January, we had our Hafter Center SAA hearing screening for all of the University's faculty. We thank Dr. Susan Calantoni, who precepted this event for the SAA member volunteers. 
    The first bake sale of the year was held on Valentine's Day and was a major success, thanks to the delicious treats that were made by several SAA members. 
    Another successful screening took place at the Maternity Care Coalition- Early Head Start program in South Philadelphia on two separate Fridays at the end of February and the first week of March. We were able to screen approximately 50 children, age four months to toddlers, who all needed to be screened using OAE equipment. Thank you to all the SAA members who volunteered for these screenings - and a special thanks to Dr. Rall in precepting this event. 
   On March 1, SAA invited Dr. Eileen Rall, pediatric audiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Salus faculty member, to speak to first and second year students about what is necessary to secure that perfect clerkship, externship, or even job. Once again, ww had nothing but positive feedback from her presentation! 
    On March 10, SAA was able to participate in a program that is supported by both Dr. Bre Myers and Dr. Rall at Cheltenham High School called Adopt-A-Band. We had an information booth with demos at the high school's indoor cavalcade competition on that day. There were over 34 bands there, so this was a great opportunity to get the word out about hearing protection! SAA also had the honor to present an award to one of bands.
   Thank you to all the members who helped out with this event: Dana McAdams, Mariana Coleman, Larry Gabbin, Katie Thompson, Namrata Desai, Laura DiTusa, Paris Florence, Lyndsey Spencer, Megan Piekosz, and a special thanks to Dr. Rall in helping us out with this!
____________________________

CER Debuts Occupational Therapy Program

The College of Education and Rehabilitation (CER) will welcome Master of Science (MSOT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students to the Elkins Park campus in August. the appointment of the program's director, Dr. Marian Gillard, was announced by Dean Audrey Smith in December. 

    These new programs mark the first time that the College will have a cohort residential program on campus. The incoming class of Occupational Therapy (OT) students will participate in the white coat ceremony that marks the beginning of Orientation week for all programs. Since the early 2000's, students in the CER current master's degree and certificate programs for Low Vision and Blindness have taken a hybrid of online courses with a two to eight week summer residency period in Elkins Park.

     "Occupation" is composed of the daily tasks and purposeful activities in which people engage, coupled with the meaning these tasks and activities provide. Occupational Therapy is based on the principle that people can improve their health and well-being by engaging in occupation, the dynamic process that supports a person's continuous adaptation.   

     The Salus multiple pathways model allows students to stop at the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) level, or continue to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, or the University's new PhD degree in Biomedicine, an interdisciplinary program designed for health professionals seeking graduate research training and/or an academic career track. 

For more OT program information

HOYA Free-Form Lab Opens

HOYA Lab Ribbon Cutting April 2012
 
The Visual Skills lab, newly renovated and renamed the HOYA Free-Form lab, was officially opened on April 12 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Mr. Barney Dougher, president of HOYA Vision Care North America (above, third from left), was assisted by Salus president, Dr. Thomas L. Lewis (above, second from left), PCO Dean Linda Casser (above, right), Mr. Mike Elton, director of  Professional Services for HOYA Vision Care N.A. (above, left) and Dr. Anne-Marie Lahr, assistant professor and instructor in ophthalmic optics (above, second from right).     

   Renovations to the PCO teaching lab were made possible through an $80,000 grant from HOYA that was initiated by a request from Dr. Lahr to Mr. Elton and supplemented by University funding.

    The result is a spacious, well-planned classroom with three distinct teaching areas and an upgraded audio-visual system that had faculty members visiting the new lab testing it out with help from Mr. Glenn Roedel, director of University's Academic Technologies department, which oversaw the installation of the new equipment. After tours of the campus and The Eye Institute, and lunch with ophthalmics teaching assistants, Dean Casser hosted a PCO student leaders reception for Mr. Dougher and Mr. Elton before a dinner with HOYA Lab faculty instructors. (photo courtesy of Glenn Roedel)

NOSA Honors Dr. Lewis and Dean Horne

The annual NOSA (National Optometric Student Association) dinner this year was even more of a special occasion than usual.

    In addtion to the induction of new officers and a NOSA awards ceremony, members honored University president, Dr. Thomas L. Lewis, and vice president and Dean of Student Affairs, Robert E. Horne, for their many years of service.

    The 26th annual awards banquet was held at the Blair Mill Inn in Hatboro, PA, and included the announcement of Candace Ellis '15OD as NOSA Member of the Year, raffles, a song from NOSA historian Connie Berryman '14OD and an original poem from NOSA Community Service Chair Yolanda Wiggins '14OD.

     Highlights of the evening included posters of "then and now" photos of the evening's honorees and a biography and award presentation to Dr. Lewis by current vice president Jennifer Luckie '14OD, and by current president Camille Cohen '14OD to Dean Horne. The students had collected video from students to Dean Horne, which were played for everyone to enjoy.

    A symbolic candlelight ceremony between the outgoing and  incoming NOSA officers also was held. The new NOSA officers for 2012-2013, all members of the PCO Class of 2015, are Candace Ellis, president; Ruchi Shah, vice president; Daphney Lezin, treasurer; Shanee Chandler, secretary; Cerina  Buchanan, community service chair, and Charlene Pineda, fundraising chair.   The postions of historians and parliamentarian will be appointed in the fall.   

Osborne College Receives Award for Practice Management Focus                  
Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) was awarded the first ever Beltone Award of Excellence at the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) annual convention, AudiologyNOW!, last month in Boston.
   Accepted by Dean Victor Bray on behalf of the College and the University, this award recognizes OCA "for its outstanding dedication to the field of Audiology and private practice management." Beltone, which produces hearing instruments sold in the United States, partnered with the College to present curriculum and tools that focus on private management and ownership as a career path after graduation.
     According to Beltone president, Todd Murray, the company believes that "the creation of an on-campus private practice audiology clinic can be a model for other programs in the future."  He noted that OCA is one of the few to open its curriculum to include the private practice model, "teaching best practices and business-building skills to students in the AuD (Doctor of Audiology) program."

      Four students were presented with scholarships during the OCA Open House at the conference. Megan Schenk, Class of 2012, received the Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) award and scholarship for her class.  Third year student Andy Lau received the Anita Pikus, AuD award and scholarship.  Whitney Hill, Class of 2013 received the Audiology Foundation of America (AFA) award and scholarship for her class. Ms. Hill also co-presented a research poster at the confernece with Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan, associate professor: "Chirp vs. Click Evoked ABR: Comparison of Wave Latency and Amplitude in Adults."  Third year student Darius Zamani received a prestigious NIH/NIDCD T-35 grant for the short-term research training program at the Washington University, School of Medicine program in Audiology and Communication Sciences.  Mr. Zamani will spend three-months this summer working in a wet lab with an NIH researcher on cochlear anatomy and physiology. 

PA Directors Assume Additional Roles

Vice president of Academic Affairs, Dr. Anthony F. Di Stefano, has announced the appointment of Dr. Richard Vause as associate dean for Program Development within the College of Health Sciences (CHS). This new position is in addition to Dr. Vause's current role as director of the Physician Assistant program. 

    Reporting to Dr. Di Stefano in this new capacity, Dr. Vause will collaborate with faculty and administration across Academic Affairs in the areas of potential new degree and non-degree programs; promote and support the University's new CHS Advisory Board; expand the University's articulation agreements in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, and support other University needs and opportunities. 

     Dr. Di Stefano also announced the appointment of Dr. John Fitzgerald as associate director of the Physician Assistant (PA) program. Dr. Fitzgerald will assume additional operational and leadership responsibilities in the PA program that build on his current roles as medical director and director of Clinical Programs. Dr. Fitzgerald also will lead an interdepartmental academic team designed to further the growing needs and opportunities in the externships and field placements across our University programs. Additionally, Dr. Fitzgerald will assume responsibility as acting PA program director in Dr. Vause's absence. 
REUNION 2012!
 Saturday, May 5
Optometry and Audiology Alumni