It wasn’t until the end of her first year in a master’s program at Drexel University that Nina Danko ‘28AUD became interested in a career as a Doctor of Audiology.
Fortunately for her, Drexel was in the beginning stages of merging with Salus University, and the Osborne College of Audiology at Salus is recognized as one of the best in the country.
That merger provided Danko with the opportunity for a seamless transition since she was already a Drexel student.
“I had great guidance from some of the professors at Drexel who helped me with the whole application process and guided me on who to reach out to at Salus,” said Danko, who completed her undergraduate work at Holy Family University in biology/pre-medicine with minors in chemistry and forensic science and her master’s at Drexel in laboratory science. “Once they knew I was interested in going to Salus and pursuing a career as a Doctor of Audiology, my professors set me up. They helped guide me toward the Salus program. It was a very positive experience.”
Mergers between two universities don’t have to be daunting and intimidating. Danko has embraced the opportunities the merger offers, such as increased access to resources and expanded possibilities for research and work-study programs. In return, the health sciences programs at Salus have given Drexel students different career options to consider.
The two universities announced the merger in June 2023 and are currently in Phase I of the endeavor, pending approval by the United States Department of Education, specialized accreditors, and additional third parties. In Phase II, expected sometime in the summer of 2025, Salus will no longer be a separate, degree-granting educational institution.
The majority of current Salus programs will continue to operate under Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions and the College of Medicine. For reasons of accreditation, the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) will operate as a standalone college. It is the expectation that a portion of the merger will be completed during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The merger also offers excellent opportunities for prospective students. Fayth Trainor, a third-year student in Drexel’s five-year medical sociology program, is considering a minor in medical technology devices. She sees this as a strong foundation on which to explore the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at Salus.
“During my freshman year at Drexel, I became interested in speech and my advisor recommended I look into the Salus SLP program and I really liked it,” said Trainor, who is from the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Since her ultimate goal is to be a pediatric speech-language pathologist, she thinks the application process will be a lot easier. “By the time I graduate the merger will be complete,” she said.
She believes the merger with Salus brings new and innovative majors to Drexel while also offering a more moderate-paced and smaller class-size experience.
Both Danko and Trainor see nothing but positives in the merger.
“I don’t think students should be too worried. I don’t see the merger as negative or scary. However, I would emphasize the positives to incoming students, the connections, and the opportunities in research and work study. I personally don’t see anything negative about it,” said Danko. “It’s a great opportunity to continue my educational journey locally.”