Salutations Masthead 2011

November-December 2013

In This Issue

New Chief of Staff

White Coat Ceremony

Looking Out for Kids

Wormington Run 2013

Student News

Salus University Alumni Association

Salus University Admissions

Dr. Mittelman's blog

______________

WE SALUTE

The Salus University community warmly welcomes its newest members:

Joanne Bailey, OD,

Instructor, PCO

Leonard Campbell, director, Network Security

Darren Cromartie,

Physical Plant, Custodial Technician

Lourdes Estevez,

TEI, Patient Representative

Lisa Kuehn, assistant professor, Physician Assistant program.

Myrda Scott,

TEI, Manager, Primary Care

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

Naomi Crespo,

TEI, on passing her certification exam and achieving Certified Professional Coder status.

Dr. Thomas Goyne, adjunct, on his appointment to the Board of Directors of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology.

Monica Maisto, on her promotion to Director of Admissions.

Alicia Miller, TEI,

optometric technician, on the birth of her son, Cole Edward Hackett.

Dr. Mike Mittelman, on his Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed piece giving his perspective on American healthcare.

Dr. Luis Trujillo '09, on his promotion to full-time PCO faculty member.

Maria (Grabowski) Zod

Admissions, and her husband, Aaron, on the birth of their first child, Maxwell David.

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

Dr. Joel Silbert, PCO professor, and his daughter, Dr. Mira Aumiller '02, adjunct, on the passing of Dr. Silbert's mother, Genevieve, in October.

_________________

New MPH Scholarship

In the fall the University announced the establishment of the John Whitener Family Scholarship, to be awarded annually to an outstanding optometry student or optometrist who is completing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at Salus.

James Deom, Salus University PCO Class of 2014, is the first recipient of the scholarship. The $2,000 scholarship was established by John C. Whitener, OD, MPH, in memory of his parents.
A former Salus PCO adjunct faculty member and member of the advisory board that helped to create the MPH program at Salus, Dr. Whitener worked in the AOA (American Optometric Association) Washington, DC office for many years, interacting with government agencies and optometric organizations on behalf of the profession. In addition to his service with the AOA, Dr. Whitener has also been actively involved in the American Public Health Association (APHA). Dr. Whitener was inducted as a Distinguished Practitioner by the National Academies of Practice in 2011.

________________

Salus You Tube

The University has an official You Tube channel and invites you to check out the original and creative videos first year optometry students in Dr. Michelle Britchkow's and Dr. Sara Shkalim's optics class have produced.

_________________
Happy Anniversary

October 13 was the anniversary of the official opening of the Hafter Student Community Center, named in honor of PCO alumnus Martin Hafter, OD and his wife, Florence. Formally opened on that date in 2006, the Center has become much more than a fitness and sports center and student meeting place.

Dr. Oleszewski New Chief of Staff

President Michael H. Mittelman announced recently that Dr. Susan C. Oleszewski '76 has accepted the newly created position of chief of staff. Dr. Oleszewski will move to the Elkins Park campus sometime in December.

Prior to accepting this position, Dr. Oleszewski was vice president of Patient Care Services and executive Director of The Eye Institute.

White Coat Ceremony

Pictured left to right are Optometry students: Rehana Manji; Archit Shah; Jasleen Kaur; Arieneh Tahmasian; Robin Choi; Bonita Tsai.

In October, Salus University students received the symbol of their professions - the white coat - in a special ceremony at Congregation Keneseth Israel across the street from the campus that was attended by family and friends. Optometry, Audiology, Physician Assistant and Occupational Therapy students were helped into their white coats by their dean or director and congratulated by Salus president, Dr. Michael H. Mittelman, who told them the white coat is "a symbol of service, not status." Congratulations to our Optometry and Audiology Class of 2017 and our Physician Assistant and Occupational Therapy Class of 2015! Photo slidehow

7th Annual Looking Out for Kids

In November, this year's annual Looking Out for Kids (LOFK) charity event drew an enthusiastic crowd that turned out to support the cause and meet guest co-hosts Dr. Janet Samuels, Norristown, PA School Superintendent (shown at right with her husband and Dr. Mittelman), and Brian Westbrook, Comcast sports commentator and former Eagles running back.

The event, featuring a cocktail reception, special VIP session with the guest hosts, and a silent auction, raises money to fund vision care and eyeglasses for underfunded and uninsured area schoolchildren.

LOFK always generates interest and enthusiasm among the Salus community. Dr. Susan Oleszewski, who founded the event seven years ago, thanked everyone for their help with the event and their support, calling it a "great event for a great cause." Event photos.

Annual Wormington Run Biggest Yet

On October 13, the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Salus PCO chapter held its annual 5K Wormington Run/Walk in honor of Dr. Charles Wormington, professor. The proceeds from this race go to Fox Chase Cancer Center and this year, the hospital was on site for the race. This year's event, held at Alverthorpe Park in Abington, PA, drew more than 150 runners and walkers. Photo slideshow

Student News

Occupational Therapy (OT) students had the benefit of an adaptive car on campus last month so that they could have hands on experience with the vehicle in preparation for teaching their clients how to use the assistive technology in the car.

In other OT news, students Praveen Philip '14OT and Jessalyn Mayer '14OT presented a session entitled, "Parkinson's Disease and Brain Pacemaker: Improved Independence" at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association state conference on November 9, 2013 in Pittsburgh. The well-attended session received excellent reviews, according to program director, Dr. Fern Silverman.

______________________________________

SOSH -Students in Optometric Service to Humanity - held a Halloween candygram event in October. For a contribution to SOSH, Salus faculty, staff and students could send a candygram to friends and have it delivered in time for the holiday, with proceeds going towards the SOSH annual humanitarian trip.

____________________________________________

In November, student members of the Student Academy of Audiology and Osborne College of Audiology faculty completed a humanitarian trip to the Appalachian region of Kentucky. The group saw patients ranging in age from toddlers to the elderly, who had been recommended through Red Bird Missions, a humanitarian organization connected with the United Methodist church that has provided services in that region since 1921. The ten students were Jamie Guinan; Alisha Latham; Jaymee Levine; Jenna Pellicori; Megan Piekosz; Lyndsey Spencer; Ellie Swartz; Katie Thompson; Brittany Viniarski, and Seth Weible. All third-years, the SAA members were precepted by Drs. Jonette B. Owen and

Rebecca Blaha and performed audiologic evaluations, cerumen management, video otoscopy, hearing aid fittings, adjustments and repairs, and ear mold impressions. Coincidentally, also at the Red Bird Mission at the same time with students from another program were OCA adjuncts,

Drs. Rita Chaiken '03 and Jiovanne Hughart.

______________________________________

Congratulations to the Wolfpack (below), NOSA's 2013 Flag Football champions:

Israel Chujor '17OD; Tyler Doersam '14OD; Vittorio Mena '14OD; Charlene Pineda'15OD; Jenna Sembrat '16OD; Daniel Situ '16OD; Xavier Thompson '14OD; Chaz Truesdale '16OD; John Weathers '16OD; Robert Woodard '16OD.

Greetings of the Season

and

best wishes

for a healthy

and most

Happy New Year!