A new beginning.  

That’s what Michael H. Mittelman, OD ‘80, MPH, MBA, FAAO, FACHE, President of Salus at Drexel University, called the ceremony held on Aug. 20, 2024, where the Drexel University flag was hoisted for the first time above the Salus University flag on the flagpoles in front of the pond on the Elkins Park campus.  

“As we raise the Drexel University flag alongside our own, we celebrate the culmination of months of hard work, collaboration, and the beginning of a promising future together,” said Mittelman. “This flag should serve as a symbol of our unity and shared goals. We are now part of something bigger: a dynamic, diverse community dedicated to innovation, education, and service.”  

Doing the honors of raising the flag were Drexel Provost Paul Jensen, PhD and Bre Myers, AuD ‘06, PhD ‘17, CH-AP, Assistant Dean of Osborne Audiology, Salus at Drexel University, and the Salus faculty’s executive council president.  

“It’s a wonderful day and this really shows the unity between the two institutions,” said Myers. “It makes everything feel kind of real. It’s been great working with the people at Drexel to bring it to this point and we look forward to what the future holds.”

The ceremony attracted dignitaries, faculty and staff from both institutions, Salus students, and even a visit from the Drexel mascot, Mario the Dragon. In addition to Mittelman, speakers included Drexel’s outgoing President John Fry, who will take over as President of Temple University in November 2024, and Kristen Battista ‘27AUD, Salus Student Council Executive President.  

“I want to express my excitement and gratitude for this merger,” said Battista. “Integrating with Drexel will allow our students at the Elkins Park campus to access state-of-the-art facilities at the Center City campus of Drexel University and benefit from Drexel’s technology and infrastructure as well as a plethora of other academic resources.”  

Among those attending the ceremony included Drexel’s Interim President, Denis O’Brien, Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, PhD, Drexel’s Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Dean of the Graduate College and Founding Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies in the College of Medicine, and Beth Moy, Salus’ Chief of Staff, who were instrumental in planning and executing the details of the merger.  

Phase 1 of the merger began on Jun. 30, 2024, following approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The next step of the two-step merger process is pending approval from the U.S. Department of Education, specialized accreditors, and additional third parties.  

For Thomas Beeman, PhD, LHD, MBA, USN (ret.), a Former Member of the Salus Board of Trustees and now a Salus Representative on the Drexel Board of Trustees, the ceremony was a significant milestone. He was instrumental in advancing the idea of connecting the two institutions and reaffirming the value of the potential merger. The ceremony thus represented the culmination of extensive efforts by many dedicated individuals at both institutions.    

“I thought today was a banner day, but a banner day is always preceded by a tremendous amount of hard work and both the Drexel leadership team and its board and the Salus leadership team and its board did an extraordinary amount of work to make this happen. I am deeply grateful for them and all their work,” said Beeman. “My aspirational hope is we become the premier healthcare educator in the country, and I think we have that potential with the array of educational programs and the level of expertise and the technology we have.”

The ceremony also attracted the presence of Donald M. Gleklen, JD, who has been identified with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) and Salus University for 43 years. Gleklen was one of the early non-optometrists to join the PCO Board of Trustees in 1980, bringing important insight and leadership to the board. From 1980 to 1999, Gleklen served on the board and was its chair from 1991 to 1998.  

A U.S. Navy Lieutenant, Gleklen said the Navy would call the flag-raising ceremony a “change of command ceremony.”

“Making the transition from one leader to another,” said Gleklen, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1995 during PCO’s 75th anniversary, which he proudly wore to the flag-raising ceremony.   

“For Drexel’s extensive healthcare programs and facilities to be made available to Salus students is terrific,” said Gleklen. “I think there is a lot of pride in both institutions, and it took a lot of hard work to put this together. The beginning has been excellent and it’s going to be good for the students, good for the institutions, good for the city, and ultimately good for the patients.”

Learn more at Salus at Drexel University. Salus at Drexel University celebrates a century-long legacy from its founding College that demands academic excellence and a commitment to thoughtful development and growth.