Orientation Week Combines the Traditional with the ‘Next Normal’

Salus University’s Orientation Week did what an orientation experience is supposed to do for incoming student Lauren Wychowski: It reaffirmed for her she had made the perfect choice for her graduate school.

“I can definitely tell that they really do care about us and want us to succeed,” said Wychowski, of Rochester, N.Y., who is enrolled in the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. “The orientation seemed a lot more personable, especially with the virtual campus-wide orientation (format). And, even though it was virtual, they really did make it hands on with the small groups.”

It was the first time Orientation Week, this year held from Aug. 17-21, has been a hybrid experience for students — mostly virtual with some on-campus elements of small groupings based on programs, practicing social distancing and mask-wearing rules established to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that didn’t take away from the orientation experience  the students received.

“I wish that we could have been doing the whole orientation on campus and meeting people across other programs,” said Sarah Gouchnauer, a PA student from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “But it was nice that we did breakout groups on our online orientation because I feel like I got to have some really good conversations with people from different backgrounds and different programs.”

Chrislyn Cabonilas, a PA student from Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, said the instructors were upfront about how difficult the educational journey was going to be, but that she appreciated that direct approach.

“They set it up in such a way that you feel like you’re going to do your best. They’re really preparing us for our careers and for the program itself,” she said. “They don’t sugarcoat anything, but they let us know they’re there to support us and that it’s going to be manageable as long as we do our best. You feel a little overwhelmed, but at the same time excited because you know that you’re going to have what you need in order to succeed.”

Donna Agnew, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, director of the PA program, said even though this year’s orientation was a little different than normal with the embedded virtual component, it nonetheless still provided an opportunity for students and instructors to get to know each other, one of the week’s primary goals. Around the virtual aspects of orientation, PA students were able to meet in small groups on campus for a portion of three different days during the week.

“If down the road we do have to flip the switch and go back to quarantine, they have had the opportunity to develop relationships both with each other and with the faculty,” said Agnew. “We have front-loaded our modules that require face-to-face training for foundational training in physical diagnosis and gross anatomy so that they can have those completed and the rest can be more of a hybrid with the online courses.”

Students entering the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program also experienced a hybrid approach to program orientation with some face-to-face on campus and synchronous virtual meetings, as well as asynchronous (pre-recorded) talks in which they were given windows of time to view.

Faculty conducted those meetings in order to prepare the students for success in the program, complementing the University’s orientation program.

SLP students followed Orientation Week with participation in clinical orientation as well — coined “Clinic Boot Camp” by the department — where they learned the specific policies and procedures of the Speech-Language Institute as well as other aspects of the clinical program.

“We are readying them quickly because in two short weeks, they will begin conducting sessions with their clients in both face-to-face and virtual therapy sessions,” said Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP, SLP chair and program director.

Serianni added that based on what he saw during Orientation Week, he’s already proud of the SLP Class of 2022.

“They come to us under extraordinary circumstances, but I already get a sense of their grit. They are ready to approach their education and training under this new hybrid model of graduate education which we have fully embraced, and seemed poised to excel,” he said. “They are already proving to be flexible and adaptable to changes and glitches. Their spirit of resilience is strong and I am sure we will see great things from this cohort.” 
The week culminated with the annual White Coat ceremony, which was also held virtually.
 
Barry Eckert, PhD, FASAHP, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, presided over the ceremony, which welcomed new students and explained the symbolic nature of the  white coat.
 
“This year it’s a bit different because of our current situation with COVID-19, we’re having to do it (the ceremony) virtually instead of face-to-face,” said Dr. Eckert, who added that the actual white coats will be presented to the students at the program level. “But we really want to focus on what this all means. This ceremony recognizes your hard work and dedication leading up to today as you begin your professional careers at Salus. You were selected from a highly competitive group of applicants and went through a very rigorous application and admissions process.”

He stressed how very proud students should be of the hard work they have already completed.  
 
Dr. Eckert introduced Salus president Michael Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, who relayed his enthusiasm for the White Coat ceremony, which has always been his favorite.
 
“Even doing this virtually, it gives me chills and excitement because of what you all are about to embark on during your journey here at Salus. This white coat ceremony symbolizes a lot of that,” he said.
 
Dr. Mittelman also passed along some sound advice to the students as they begin their professional educational journeys on-campus, off-campus and virtually, which included the awareness that becoming a healthcare professional is a privilege and that they will be held to a higher standard in both their professional and personal lives; that their care should be patient-centered; and that they should be empathetic.
 
“You must cure and also care. We’re going to teach you to cure. But you also have to care. I think that’s the crux of what we do as healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Mittelman. “This ceremony symbolically represents those responsibilities that you’re going to now assume as a healthcare professional as you commence this professional journey here at Salus. So we’re excited for you.”