EDUCATING GLOBAL HEALTHCARE LEADERS
Educating the Global Workforce of the Future
International students thrive at MCPHS
Global partnerships expand opportunities
Learn how students from more than 90 countries thrive at MCPHS.
Founded in 1823 on a transformative vision, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is a global leader in health and life sciences education, training a highly qualified workforce to serve, inspire, and lead. Along with three state-of-the-art campuses in New England— including a flagship campus in Boston—and a robust online presence, MCPHS has connections spanning six continents. Our vibrant Community includes a sizable cohort of international scholars, a worldwide network of faculty and alumni, and hundreds of partnerships with highlyregarded organizations. At MCPHS, everyone is encouraged to fully engage, and diversity, equity, and inclusion play a central role inside and outside classrooms, labs, and clinics. MCPHS offers more than 100 programs across two dozen fields, including degrees and certificates that provide a springboard to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions. The University’s singular focus on the health and life sciences makes it the ideal setting for students to learn how to work in the collaborative environments of the real world. Our valuable experiential learning opportunities include interprofessional education activities, clinical rotations, and service-learning programs. With health and life sciences professionals in great demand, MCPHS prepares students for jobs that exist in every country in the world. Our graduates stand ready to lead the way in solving the most pressing healthcare issues of our time.
LEADING THE GLOBE
15%
of MCPHS students—and faculty— come from outside the United States.
90+
countries represented by MCPHS students.
100s
of partnerships and collaborations with organizations across the country and around the world.
#3
in the United States for the economic value MCPHS provides for its students, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce.
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
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A GLOBAL COMMUNITY of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. MCPHS is a dynamic university at the center of an engaged global Community of current and future healthcare leaders: students representing more than 90 countries across six continents; a diverse faculty and staff of experts with impressive international credentials; and thousands of alumni working at renowned institutions around the world. Ambitious students travel thousands of miles to attend MCPHS: One in six students hails from a country other than the United States. This makes for an impressive group of individuals from many different backgrounds who are connected by a shared, formative experience. International students have some of the highest rates of engagement at MCPHS. They play an integral role in the University Community by fully participating in academic experiences, getting involved in student organizations and social clubs, and holding a variety of leadership positions and on-campus jobs, including as resident advisors, student ambassadors, and student government representatives. MCPHS is consistently ranked in the top 10 for specialized institutions hosting international students by the Institute of International Education Open Doors. The distinguished faculty at MCPHS—many with decades of clinical experience—are thought leaders in fields ranging from biology to nursing to health humanities, with the professional
awards and recognition to prove it. They are exceptional teachers and scholars who spearhead projects—including with students—through our own Center for Research and Discovery, in addition to partnering with colleagues across the nation and around the globe, to expand their knowledge and reach. Our Community extends even further through collaborations at the institutional level with hundreds of renowned universities, medical centers, community health organizations, and industry partners, including the University of Paris Cité, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Peking University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Nirma University, the Korean Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, and Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. MCPHS connects a vast network of thousands of esteemed alumni working on every continent. Our graduates stay engaged with the University, offering current MCPHS students invaluable opportunities for professional mentorship and experiential, real-world learning. The entire MCPHS Community benefits from the diversity of experiences and perspectives that comes with being the most comprehensive independent health and life sciences university in the country—and perhaps the world.
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Across the University, our expert faculty and staff are committed to the success of international students. This supportive group of educators offers mentorship to students on an individual basis or through our comprehensive programs tailored specifically to the needs of global scholars.
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Center for International Studies This global resource network spans the University system, coordinating and elevating MCPHS initiatives on the international front. Encompassing both academic and administrative units and working in synergy with other MCPHS Centers for Excellence, the Center provides services for international students, fosters collaborations with organizations around the world, and promotes dialogue and programming on urgent global healthcare topics. Early Start Program Staff and faculty dedicated to providing support to international students collaborate with current international students to develop the curriculum for this two-week orientation. Its purpose is to ready MCPHS first-year and transfer students coming to the United States to study for the first time to meet the academic, linguistic, social, and cultural expectations of their new journey. Academic Bridge Program MCPHS professors apply the latest linguistic research and teaching techniques to help international students strengthen their English skills with a focus on health and science communication. The one-semester program prepares students to dive into classes in their major. Immigration & International Support Services This team of dedicated and knowledgeable personnel provides immigration advising and assistance to international students before and after their arrival in the United States, including after graduation, when students on F-1 visas are on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training. English Language Resource Center English language learners and multilingual students on all three campuses can strengthen their English skills through one-to-one or group tutoring with faculty or peers.
Building connections around the world Mai Haneda EXCHANGE STUDENT RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY
A shared research interest brought Mai Haneda from Ritsumeikan University in Japan to MCPHS for a two-month student exchange program. She is a graduate student in pharmacology, and her advisor, Kikuko Amagase, PhD, recommended Mai come work under the mentorship of her longtime colleague and friend Professor of Pharmaceutics Iman Zaghloul, PhD. While in Boston, Mai was immersed in advanced pharmaceutical sciences courses and seminars. “I want to work in pharmaceutical development in Japan, so it’s valuable to learn the differences in culture and thinking so my work can be worldwide,” Mai said. In addition to collaborating on research and lab experiments, Dr. Zaghloul is exposing Mai to pharmacy education in the United States, which places more emphasis on pharmaceutical industry competencies. “When we collaborate with other countries, we open our minds to the world and understand the healthcare needs of other countries,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity when we work together and learn from each other.”
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A GLO
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IN HEALTH AND LIFE From the moment MCPHS was founded as the first college in Boston in 1823, the University has led the way by pioneering dynamic educational approaches. As healthcare evolved and advanced, MCPHS embraced change and growth, adding an array of educational programs, incorporating the latest cutting-edge technology into labs and clinics, and expanding its community of global scholars. The University embarks on its third century as the preeminent institution for health and life sciences education. With a pivotal position in Greater Boston, the global hub of life sciences innovation as well as a major
medical powerhouse, MCPHS offers an opportunity-rich, metropolitan classroom. Our collaborations and partnerships with top universities, medical centers, community health organizations, and companies provide students with a rich diversity of educational opportunities. We have longstanding relationships with Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, and many other premier institutions such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, which number more than 1,000 in the region. From their earliest days on campus, students enjoy valuable,
OBAL
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SCIENCES EDUCATION hands-on experiences, including time in MCPHS clinics and labs as well as access to experts and thought leaders. They continue learning through clinical rotations and internships across Greater Boston. MCPHS is the first institution of higher learning chosen by the leading life sciences trade group MassBio to bring an ambitious workforce development initiative to life, a testament to the University’s leadership position. There is a severe shortage of skilled workers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and biomanufacturing. MCPHS is meeting the challenge by partnering to prepare students for the plethora of jobs. The University has
also received grant funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to bolster its workforce training programs. MCPHS is at the forefront of providing health and life sciences education to students who want to do more than meet today’s healthcare needs: They want to make a difference. The University has increased and diversified its educational program offerings—especially in technical healthcare fields—to meet the growing demand. Today, MCPHS offers a variety of programs in two dozen distinct health and life sciences fields. These programs were tailored specifically to the needs of employers.
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INNOVATING AT THE INTERSECTION OF STEM AND HEALTHCARE The world needs professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields to solve society’s most pressing global problems. Yet graduates in these fields are in short supply, both in the United States and around the world. That makes a STEM degree from MCPHS an ideal stepping stone to a meaningful and lucrative health or life sciences career. 8
Qualified students on F-1 visas pursuing certain STEM degrees can apply for a 24-month STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension with help and advising from Immigration & International Support Services at MCPHS after graduating and beginning their OPT. MCPHS offers a number of degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, Bachelor of Science in Medical and Molecular Biology, Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology, Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Health Analytics, and Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Life Sciences (awarded in the professional phase of the PharmD program) that meet the STEM criteria established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Internships That Position Students for Success MCPHS provides undergraduate international students in more than 10 programs—including the Bachelor of Science in Medical and Molecular Biology, the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Business, and the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Health Analytics—with the opportunity to be placed in an internship at a leading academic medical center, research institution, or company in the Boston area as part of their educational experience. Students from the University complete internships in preeminent labs, including at Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals, such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital.
Professional Education Programs Strengthen Connections with Industry MCPHS is an educational partner of choice for life sciences companies, which are facing a major shortage of skilled talent in Greater Boston. The University helps organizations attract and retain employees by creating custom training programs for top talent in key functions such as regulatory affairs. MCPHS also offers fellowships in collaboration with leading pharmaceutical companies, such as Takeda and Novartis.
Alum Leverages Boston Life Sciences Connections in South Korea Christopher On, PharmD ’15, MS, RPh, serves as Head of Business Development and Licensing for CellBion, a pharmaceutical company in South Korea that specializes in nuclear medicine and focuses on radioligand therapy, an emerging approach to treating cancer. He leads the company’s strategic growth and expansion initiatives and is steering the organization toward its initial public offering (IPO) on the stock market. “MCPHS equipped me with both the knowledge and the perspective to excel in the pharmaceutical industry,” said Dr. On, who evaluates potential drug candidates and assesses company pipelines as part of his role. He attributes some of his success to studying in Boston, the epicenter of the global life sciences industry. “My connections and collaborations with representatives from Boston’s medical institutions and pharmaceutical companies have been instrumental in my career. I also maintain close ties with my peers from MCPHS, and we continually collaborate and support one another in our respective fields.”
At MCPHS, our Community is united by a common vision of a healthier, more equitable world. With that transformative goal in mind, the University trains the next generation of health and life sciences leaders in the contemporary skills they need to thrive in the global workforce today—and tomorrow. MCPHS educates the change agents who will influence the direction of healthcare organizations around the globe to help people everywhere.
A GLOBAL WORKFORCE BUILT TO LEAD
Learn more about our unique educational model—as well as our history —by visiting our Bicentennial website at mcphs.edu/bicentennial.
Our educational model is based on the belief that healthcare is global. Solving the greatest healthcare challenges of our time, especially equity and access issues, requires embracing different perspectives, including those from across countries and cultures. At MCPHS, our students have the unique opportunity to hone their expertise in integrative medicine, for example, by learning about complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Our New England School of Acupuncture (NESA)—the first professional school for the field of acupuncture in the nation—bridges Eastern and Western medicine, bringing the best of both worlds together for students—and patients. With an emphasis on experiential education, our students choose from a host of real-world training opportunities aligned with healthcare workforce needs. Through our on-campus patient treatment centers and clinics, as well as a worldwide
array of institutional partnerships, MCPHS offers both clinical and STEM-focused rotations, clerkships, internships, and other experiences in settings ranging from rural health clinics to industrial pharmaceutical laboratories. Our esteemed faculty know that interprofessional practice and education are key to MCPHS graduates’ success in the healthcare workforce. Building a healthier world calls for a team-based approach, one in which health and life sciences professionals from different specialties pool their expertise to develop comprehensive solutions. To this end, our Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education organizes activities that give students practice working across disciplines. With students engaged in more than 100 educational programs in a variety of health and life sciences fields, MCPHS is the ideal setting for training the next generation of collaborative healthcare leaders.
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A WORLD OF CAREER PATHWAYS 12
At MCPHS, all roads lead to a fulfilling career. The University, along with its partner institutions worldwide, offers a variety of career pathways to prepare students for jobs, including entry-level roles, in health and life sciences organizations that are eager for qualified candidates. Today, MCPHS graduates are working around the globe to do their part to serve patients, communities, and society. They own and manage pharmacies; launch startup companies; teach as university professors; advance scientific discovery as researchers; provide direct patient care as doctors, nurses, therapists, and healthcare professionals; serve as chief executives and hospital system directors; craft global health policy; and employ on-the-ground solutions with nongovernmental organizations. They are today’s health and life sciences leaders.
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
They share a dream that is worth crossing continents.
Every year, more than 1,000 international students converge on MCPHS with a single goal in mind: to learn how to do their part to build a healthier future. These are three of their stories:
Zeyuan Li
Shrey Shah
BS IN MEDICAL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ‘24
PHD IN PHARMACEUTICS ‘25
After spending his first year studying from his native China during the COVID-19 pandemic, Zeyuan Li stepped foot on the MCPHS campus in Boston during his sophomore year and hasn’t looked back since. Zeyuan and his faculty mentor conduct research involving potential treatments for atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries. As a result of the research, the team now hopes to collaborate with a biology lab outside MCPHS and publish a patent. “I tell alumni from my high school that our school’s location in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston is the best,” Zeyuan said. “Once we develop an interest in a certain research area, we can find a researcher in a nearby hospital doing the same research. It’s a great pleasure to have those experiences.” As a peer assistant leader, Zeyuan tutors fellow students on campus. He is also a research trainee in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dahyeon Jeagarl PHARMD ‘25
Growing up, Dahyeon watched her uncle battle Crohn’s disease. The experience inspired her to pursue a career in pharmacy not only to help people like her uncle heal but also to change the standard for treating autoimmune conditions. “I’m fascinated by pharmacists,” she said. “They can invent medications to help millions of people.” Dahyeon grew up in South Korea before attending an international school in Shanghai, China. She broadened her horizons even further by choosing MCPHS. She was intrigued by the University’s size—it’s easy to navigate—and ample opportunities for international students to get involved. Dahyeon is an International Student Guide, which involves forming strong bonds with other international students and encouraging collaboration between students of different backgrounds and cultures. She is also a peer tutor, providing academic support for students in organic chemistry and physiology courses. Dahyeon is preparing for an exciting career at a pharmaceutical company in regulatory affairs.
Shrey Shah found out about MCPHS at an event held by the University in Ahmedabad, India. Interested in getting his master’s degree in the United States, he decided he’d study at MCPHS if admitted because of the University’s location and the plentiful research opportunities. While studying pharmaceutics, he met his mentor, Professor Gerard D’Souza. “How he explained fundamental concepts blew my mind,” Shrey said. “I said, if anyone can give me direction, it’ll be him.” Shrey decided to stay at MCPHS and pursue a PhD under D’Souza. Now, he is a course instructor and works on developing 3D in vitro tumor models and drug delivery systems that could target cancer. He enjoys the intellectual atmosphere at MCPHS, finding value in connecting with other graduate students in the common lab space. Eventually, Shrey wants to found his own life sciences company in India.
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It’s never been clearer:
The world needs motivated health and life sciences leaders with an ambitious vision to improve healthcare—for everyone. At MCPHS, we take a global approach to health and life
fields, set graduates up for success in the global healthcare
sciences education. Our vibrant international cohort
workforce. With our unique focus on health and life
of students, faculty, alumni, and partner institutions
sciences and our worldwide network of opportunities,
form a diverse community where all perspectives are
MCPHS is the academic institution of choice for the
valued. Our experiential learning model prepares
next generation of healthcare innovators. Let’s build
students to work in the collaborative, interprofessional
a healthier, more equitable world, together.
healthcare teams of the future. Our numerous degree programs in sought-after specialties, including STEM
Visit mcphs.edu to begin your journey.
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