September 1, 2012

“I always had an interest in behavioral health. I was always the ‘counselor’ among friends and had a genuine interest in helping people. I didn’t realize I could make a career out of what came so naturally to me until I came here,” said Laura Salciunas, a 2012 graduate of the Behavioral Health Counseling Program.

Laura is currently working at an outpatient methadone clinic in Camden, New Jersey as an addictions counselor and case manager. Her supervisor, who is also a Drexel Behavioral Health Counseling alumnus, knew from his own personal experience that Laura’s skills and clinical knowledge would far surpass that of candidates from other institutions. “It feels amazing to be able to use the skills I learned at Drexel there every day,” Laura said.

In addition to working full-time, Laura is beginning a Master’s program in Counseling and Clinical Health Psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) with a focus on Addictions and Offender Counseling.

In 2004, Department Chair Ronald Comer, PhD, established a fast-track admissions process with the Psychology Department at PCOM. Exceptional students in Drexel’s BHC undergraduate program who have maintained a competitive grade point average can request a special "fast-track" letter of recommendation from Comer. Students who receive such a letter go through an abbreviated admissions process where the application fee, GRE score submission and additional letters of recommendation are waived. Thus far, every student recommended to PCOM by Comer has been admitted. Laura Salciunas is one of these outstanding fast-track students.

In addition to her BHC course load and a co-op at a nonprofit organization that rode bicycles with women in transition from substance abuse, domestic violence or incarceration, Laura was also involved in two chorus organizations on campus and was a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity.