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Salus University Alumni Association
Salus University Admissions
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WE SALUTE
The Salus community warmly welcomes its newest members:
Michelle Britchkow, Interim Instructor, PCO
Jamie Lindsay, Educational Program Coordinator, PCO
The Salus University community offers sincere congratulations to the following members:
Sara Ann Bierwerth '12 OD, for receiving the 2012 Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care from the AAO.
Lianne Brooks, patient representative, TEI, on the birth of her son, Amare, last month.
Avi Gonen, OD, associate dean and director of global development, for a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer about his family history and his home.
Melissa Vitek, on her appointment as director of Electives and Advanced Studies and Assistant Professor, PCO.
The University Community extends sincere sympathy to:
The family of Hubert Elmore, retired TEI and Elkins Park employee. Hubert attended the TEI groundbreaking in 2010, where this photo was taken.
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Phoneathon Underway
The annual Phoneathon began on September 19 and will run into November. If you receive a call, we hope that you will consider a donation.
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Hafter Center Olympics In conjunction with the Summer Olympics, the Hafter Student Community Center (HSCC) sponsored the "HSCC Olympic Games." After every Hafter Center workout, participants were given points for each exercise they completed, which they then put on the country and sport of their choosing.
Congratulations to winners: Wendy Sontag (gold), Donna Tomlinson (silver), Don Kates (bronze), and honorable mentions: Tyler Doersam '14OD and Taylor Allard '14OD.
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Salus Intramural Basketball Back!
The new season of intramural basketball opened earlier this month and, according to reports from the Athletics Department co-chair, Vittorio Mena '14OD, the season is off to a great start.
Men's and women's teams compete weekly for the title of champion in the Hafter Center gym.
Weekly results and vivid descriptions of the games by Vitto Mena are posted on the Salus website for all to enjoy.
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PCO Residency Programs Earn
Re -Accredited
The PCO residency programs in Primary Eye Care, Pediatric Optometry/Vision Therapy and Low Vision Rehabilitation received the classification of 'accredited' from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).
According to Dean Linda Casser, "this outcome is a very important one and represents a critical outside review by a body that is sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education."
Appointed annually for a one year residency, appointees are clinical instructors at The Eye Institute (TEI), the University's clinical facility for optometry students. This year TEI and the University welcomed 12 residents (see July issue for names).
The residency program at TEI is led by director Michael Rebar, OD '10.
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HAPPY
THANKSGIVING
to our Canadian alumni, students and their families!
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Physician Assistant Class of 2012
The 42 graduates of the University's physician assistant (PA) program received Master of Medical Science (MMS) degrees at their September 14 commencement ceremony at Temple Keneseth Israel. The graduates, faculty and University administrators processed from campus across the street to the synagogue for the 2:30 p.m. ceremony.
Introduced by program director Dr. Richard H. Vause, Jr., keynote speaker, Lawrence Michael Herman, PA-C, MPA, president-elect of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), spoke about how the profession has changed in the last 20 years, becoming one that provides graduates with a large selection of specialty career options. "Whatever you choose," he told his new colleagues, "I congratulate you on an excellent choice."
Class representative Nellie Lynn Kippley also spoke, highlighting some of the accomplishments and challenges she and her classmates faced during their 25-month program.
After inducting the eligible graduates into Pi ALpha National Honor Society, Dr. Vause also announced the induction of two additional members of the Honor Society. He explained that the Society is organized for the promotion and recognition of "significant leadership, community / professional service and related activities" and allows the induction of an alumnus and a person who is not a physician assistant but has supported the profession. Inducted as an alumnus was Christopher Marsh, PA-C '10 and, to his surprise, former Dean of Student Affairs Robert E. Horne, who was inducted as an honorary member.
Also in attendance was Salus president-designate Rear Admiral Michael H. Mittelman, OD '80, MPH, who inducted graduate Abby Christine Funk into the United States Navy. The newly commissioned Lt. Funk will be stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC.
For a list of graduates, awardees and a slideshow of the event.
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SOSH: El Salvador 2012
by Nicole Maierhoffer '14OD
 For the third year in a row, the PCO chapter of SOSH (Student Optometric Service to Humanity) traveled to El Salvador for its annual mission during the week of August 9 to 15. The group made a significant impact on the communities they served, providing eyeglasses, readers, sunglasses, medications and artificial tears.
SOSH members who took part in the trip were PCO Class of 2014 students Tara Bucklew, John Chan, Michelle Chen, Lindsay Cook, Angelica Delgado, Chelsea Dunn, Brittany Flaherty, Maegan Folk, Rachel Fritz, Rahul Gupta, Alex Levashvili, Nicole Maierhoffer, Allie Mercurio, Steven Miller, Tara Morris, Ben Steger, and Jenna Walters, and Kristina Ngo '15OD.
In addition to the students, there were three translators and three optometrists, PCO clinical faculty member Dr. Jean Marie Pagani, Dr. Julie Marsh and Dr. Heather Miller.
While in El Salvador, the group worked with the local organization, Commandos de Salvamento El Salvador, to travel to remote communities and provide care. During four clinic days, the PCO SOSH provided vision screenings to approximately 650 people. Many of these patients received their first eye exam ever, due to their limited access to health care.The communities were very grateful to have had SOSH in the villages, and community members delivered very touching speeches to the group after every clinic day.
About 15 to 20 referrals were made daily in conjunction with the medical team. Patients were provided with a variety of medications, including glaucoma medications, steroids and antibiotics. Artificial tears were handed out to almost every patient as well.
A possible return to El Salvador is being discussed again for next year. At the end of the trip, the PCO students were greeted and thanked by members of the Commandos de Salvamento, who extended an invitation for the years to come.
Members of SOSH would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the doctors and translators involved in the trip, making the trip a success. A special thank you to Stephanie Badulak, for her help in coordinating the trip with the SOSH officers. In addition, we would like to thank the Salus community and our alumni for their support in all of SOSH's fundraising efforts, donation drives, equipment donations and medication donations. Without the generous donations, the SOSH trip would not be possible. (Photos)
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Osborne College of Audiology News
The University's Osborne College of Audiology (OCA) held its annual faculty workshop on campus on Friday, August 17. Both adjunct faculty and full-time faculty attended for a day of developmental activities.The agenda included an update on the College from Dean Victor Bray, and instruction by Dr. Radhika Aravamudhan, associate professor, on several topics including the new syllabus template, and incorporating evidence based practices into courses.
 At Student Orientation that day, an Otoscope Ceremony was held for the Class of 2016 Doctor of Audiology (AuD) students (pictured above with OCA faculty after the ceremony). A symbol of the professions associated with hearing health care, an otoscope is the tool utilized to see the structures within the ear. The College holds its otoscope ceremony during orientation week as audiology students must always bring their otoscope with them to clinic - and clinic begins on the first day of classes.
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Salus MPH Program Agreement
Representing Salus University and its Master of Public Health (MPH) program, vice president for Academic Affairs Anthony F. Di Stefano, OD, MPH, MEd, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the India Vision Institute (IVI) in Hyderabad, India.
IVI is a partnership between the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia, and the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad. The institution supports research, educational and technological development to advance Indian capacity in vision correction, eye disease and blindness prevention.
According to William Monaco, OD, MSEd, PhD, Salus special assistant for program development, students from IVI already have begun to register.
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Day of CE Honors Dr. Lewis
 On Saturday, September 15, a full day of Continuing Education was held on the Elkins Park campus in honor of Salus University president, Dr. Thomas L. Lewis.
The sold-out event, "Premier Patient Care for Optometrists" featured speakers Michael De Paolis, OD, FAAO; Murray Fingeret, OD, FAAO; Ravi Patel, MD, MBA; Deepta Rawat, MD, MS, and Joseph Shovlin, OD, FAAO.
Dr. Lewis was on hand to greet colleagues and attended all of the sessions. Donna Buraczewski, OD, (above, left) president of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association (POA) presented Dr. Lewis with the H. Ward Ewalt, Jr., OD Award in recognition of "his lifelong dedication and commitment to the profession of optometry."
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