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Eighty-six academic advisors from 66 different undergraduate institutions traveled to Salus University’s Elkins Park, Pennsylvania campus on Friday, January 5 for the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP) Philadelphia LAN Meeting.
As the host institution, it was a unique event for Salus, which had many of its health science programs represented through programmatic presentations and networking opportunities. On-campus logistics were handled by the University’s Office of Admissions, with director Monica Scirrotto, MS at the head while the meeting was organized by the director of the College of Science and Technology (CST) Post-baccalaureate Pre-Health Program at Temple University, Bob Rarig, PhD.
“I thought the LAN Meeting went really well,” Dr. Rarig said. “I’m thrilled with the turnout. It was tremendous. It’s a group effort. Monica [Scirrotto] and her team did most of the work. I think we learned a lot about Salus. I think we learned a lot about a lot of other things and our guest speakers were great.”
The day started at 9 a.m. with a quick sign-in process and refreshments for visiting guests. After quick welcomes by University President Michael Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE; provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Gerald O’Sullivan, PhD; Scirrotto and Dr. Rarig, Salus University’s deans and directors panel commenced. Programs included in the panel were Audiology, Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS), Occupational Therapy (OT), Optometry, Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P), Physician Assistant (PA) Studies, and Speech-Language Pathology (SLP).
A quick caffeine break was followed by a presentation on Salus’ Interprofessional Collaborative Practice program, led by Bennett Career Services Center Director, Ryan Hollister, MS; Interprofessional Practice and Education Director, Karen J. Hanson, PhD; and the Division of Global, Interprofessional, and Specialized Programming, Melissa Vitek, OD ‘95, FAAO.
The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) gave a brief update and presentation before a networking lunch took place in the Elkins Park newly minted cafeteria.
After lunch, University of Washington School of Medicine Assistant Dean for Social and Health Justice, Edwin Lindo, JD, gave a presentation that outlined the details of the recent SCOTUS Decision on Affirmative Action in regard to higher education.
The rest of the afternoon was filled with professional school updates, which gave graduate and professional schools in the region and opportunity to relay new information and useful recruiting knowledge to those in attendance. The schools that gave presentations included:
Closing remarks were made and then optional tours of the Elkins Park campus were given to attendees. The tours led by current Salus students and admissions staff included views of the following clinical lab spaces: Optometry's Clinical Procedures and Virtual Reality Simulation labs, Audiology's Audiometric Principles and Vestibular Labs, Physician Assistant Studies’ Standardized Patient Simulation Lab and Anatomage Table, the Activities of Daily Living Lab (utilized by our OT and BLVS programs), the Speech-Language Institute, and the O&P Lab.
It was certainly an eventful and educational day for all involved and Salus hopes to one day host another Philadelphia LAN Meeting.
“It’s all about learning and growing,” Dr. Rarig said. “I know I did today and I hope everyone else did too. I think [Salus as a hosting venue] was phenomenal; great facilities. I would love to teach in these classrooms or meet here again. It’s a great place. The cafeteria is fantastic. It was great, I’d love to come back.”
