Why did you choose Salus?
People often ask me how I fit a full-time PhD program in my already busy life of raising a family, working, volunteering, maintaining friendships, and recreation. In one word, ‘balance’. Also, a supportive spouse and family are key!
I decided to embark on a PhD program because I was craving to use my brain in a way I had not for quite some time. Also, I wanted to make contributions to the field and work towards my long-term career goal to work in academia.
I have been a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for nearly 20 years, and I love this profession! I have a private practice which allows for a lot of flexibility in scheduling and clientele.
Over the years, I have had many questions arise from clinical practice and referenced ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), colleagues, and other reliable sources for answers. However, there are not always answers to my specific questions. Rather than winging it or hoping an answer would soon be published, I decided it was time for me to learn how to conduct investigations so I and others can be well-informed. Also, I love presenting on topics related to the field and mentoring prospective SLP’s and special education teachers. A PhD was a logical next step.
Rather than waiting to be an interviewee, I interviewed several schools to determine which would be the right fit for me. I needed to make an informed investment. After all, I would be devoting several years and a large sum of money. Early on, I met with Dr. (Mitch) Scheiman who is the dean of Research and director of Graduate Programs in Biomedicine at Salus. I had a list of questions and a few research ideas to share. He was very personable, and I left with a feeling that my experiences and ideas were valuable.
I considered a few programs and was attracted to Salus University for several reasons. First, I was familiar with Salus from the patient aspect. My children and family members have had positive experiences as clients of the Speech-Language, Eye, and Ear Institutes.
Second, the time commitment was just right. Salus offers a full-time 3-4-year program that allows me to maintain work, family, and personal commitments. The weekly time commitment has ranged from 10 hours to 30+ hours on school and research-related content. The coursework is online with the option to attend face-to-face discussions once a week. I am a people person, so the face-to-face option to talk with peers, faculty, staff, and mentors was desirable.
Third, the campus is beautiful and close to my home. In the past year and a half, I have attended Salus lunchtime discussions and trainings, and use the Learning Resource Center, Cafe, and Hafter Student Center.
Lastly, the PhD in Biomedicine is flexible in that my dissertation combines my professional and personal passions. My advisor, Dr. (Amy) Lustig, is knowledgeable, generous with her time, easy to talk with, and excited about my proposed study. Regarding coursework, the emphasis is on research designs and methods, data analysis, public health, and grant writing.
Also, the professors and my cohort of peers have varied backgrounds which leads to learning about topics outside of my field. The content and subsequent discussions are engaging, and my brain is getting the workout I was looking for. My experience is not quite like Rodney Dangerfield’s in Back to School but it is perfect for me! I chose Salus and am happy with my investment thus far.
