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Salus University vice president emeritus Anthony Di Stefano, OD ‘73, MEd, MPH, FAAO, called his commencement speech “How to Fight a Pandemic.”
Dr. Di Stefano, who has been associated with the University in some capacity for more than 50 years, received a Doctor of Science Honorary Degree at the University’s 120th commencement May 22, 2020 — the first virtual commencement in the institution’s history because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the United States.
In accepting the honor, Dr. Di Stefano designed his remarks to graduates to include three themes: legacy, public health and political action.
“Legacy is our institutional foundation; public health is our personal and professional responsibility as our University name ‘Salus’ envisions; and political action is the critical dimension to transforming the healthcare system to one in which you will prosper,” said Dr. Di Stefano.
He cited earlier remarks by Salus president Michael Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, about the institutional legacy rooted in the courage and leadership of the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry’s (PSCO) founder, Dr. Albert Fitch, to establish a progressive college of optometry in the midst of a historic pandemic that occurred a century ago.
“This should motivate each of us to live up to that legacy,” said Dr. Di Stefano. “At this moment of uncertainty, of anxiety, of frustration — this is the time to build on our common heritage as service providers in the fields of healthcare, education, rehabilitation and biomedical research. This heritage now unites us in a shared responsibility. Our institutional genome is a reflection of the hundreds of individuals over the last 100 years who have brought us to this point. Don’t disappoint them. Put your legacy to work — to be confident, to be proactive and to be thankful.”
In addressing the country’s public health system, Dr. Di Stefano asked why it has been so “woefully undervalued and neglected?”
“Our health policies and economics have failed us in responding to the many inadequacies of our public health infrastructure — we were not prepared for COVID-19 in spite of the many warning signs,” he said. “Most importantly, we have learned that public health is a community affair. It’s the essence of what you and all of us should stand for.”
In the political arena — the third critical dimension to transforming the healthcare system — Dr. Di Stefano said that politics is an absolute imperative in translating the principle of health as a community affair because it determines the public health policies, strategies and leadership that will take us toward realizing the absolute need for universal healthcare.
“Politics is not a dirty word, but a matter of life and death. I implore you to never miss the opportunity to confront a crisis and define who you are, who we are,” he said.
But the one word Dr. Di Stefano wanted graduates to take away from his address was “vote.”
“The best way to live this leadership responsibility is to recognize voting as the critical event in your public heath careers. Never lose the opportunity to practice public health by voting in every local, state and federal election,” he said. “This is where public health policy is made and where the health and well-being of our society is determined.”
Delivering the oration for Dr. Di Stefano’s honorary degree was president emeritus, Thomas Lewis, OD ‘70, PhD, FAAO, president of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) from 1989 to 2008 and then Salus University, which PCO established, from 2008 to 2013.
Dr. Lewis said that when he became president of PCO in 1989, his first — and easiest — decision was to offer Dr. Di Stefano the position of vice president and dean. The two had already worked together for 14 years, and Dr. Lewis said he was always impressed by Dr. Di Stefano’s intelligence and problem-solving abilities.
“In my opinion, the decade from 2000 to 2010 was the most impactful in the 101-year history of this institution. Our mission for PCO began to expand beyond vision, into other key health-care professions that were symbiotic with each other. And, as you might imagine, at the center of many events of that decade was Dr. Di Stefano,” said Dr. Lewis.
On a personal level, Dr. Lewis said although the two had different personalities, temperaments and management styles, they accomplished quite a bit by working together.
“We shared a common vision for the institution and for the importance of healthcare. And, we always respected each other’s points of view. I actually believe it was our differences that led to more balanced positions on key issues and better decisions. It was truly an honor to have led the institution with him for a quarter century,” said Dr. Lewis. “If asked to name the five people throughout the history of this institution who have contributed most to its growth, development and mission, I can assure you Dr. Di Stefano would be included.”
In his commencement speech, Dr. Mittelman publicly thanked Dr. Di Stefano for his longtime contributions to the University, including being one of Dr. Mittelman’s instructors at PCO.
“Together with Dr. Tom Lewis, Dr. Di Stefano honed his vision and dreams for the University into a clear path for Salus’ future,” said Dr. Mittelman. “From moving the campus to Elkins Park, to diversifying the academic programs to be more interprofessional in approach, Tom and Tony ensured that our future is not only bright, but also continues to be ahead of the pack.”
