EVOLUTION WITH VISION
IT TAKES HEARTFELT DEDICATION to change the world for the better. Every person and every possibility must be considered. MCPHS—now an established leader in health and life sciences education with global impact— expanded over many decades as Community members identified new ways to serve patients, communities, and society.
Throughout the 19th century, the founders of this institution and their trainees worked to systematize and standardize the practice of pharmacy. By embracing the role of change agents willing to challenge norms to shape a better future, they created a blueprint for success. School leaders maintained momentum in the 20th century, positioning the University to succeed in the modern era.
As the 20th century dawned, research and advances— such as the discovery of modern antibiotics—began to set the stage for a major disruption in healthcare. Scientists started to unravel the mysteries of the body, and outdated ideas about disease were replaced by a better understanding of how people could be treated. The more scientists learned, the more knowledge the school was able to pass on to students.
The pace of innovation increased exponentially in the second half of the century, beginning with key breakthroughs such as the discovery of DNA and the first organ transplant in the 1950s. As a result, healthcare grew increasingly complex and a wide range of new specialties emerged, creating a need for more training and collaboration.
In response, the school embraced sustainable expansion and diversification of people, programs, and opportunities within the health and life sciences fields. Initiatives such as continuing education programs began to emerge.
In 1979, the name of the institution was changed to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, and the University was awarded additional degree-granting authority. The shape of things to come took on a new level of meaning when the Boston campus became residential in the mid-1990s.
Inspired by former President Charles Monahan’s mantra, “You have to grow,” the University’s expansion
accelerated, coinciding with another name change to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 1999. A period of breathtaking growth followed, transforming MCPHS into one of the most comprehensive independent health and life sciences universities in the world.
As programs were added in fields ranging from dental hygiene to optometry to acupuncture, the University was also able to create unique interprofessional practice and education (IPE) experiences for students. Team-based care was becoming industry best practice, and MCPHS was on the forefront of preparing healthcare professionals to thrive in a collaborative environment.
MCPHS has completed the transformation from a regional pharmacy college into a nationally ranked, world-class university with three campuses and more than 100 degree and certificate programs in the health and life sciences. Online offerings expand its reach, bringing virtual training to individuals living around the country and the world.
The Community will continue to embrace advances, monitor trends, and anticipate needs, finding new and better ways to evolve and meet whatever healthcare challenges the next 200 years bring.
How can we live longer, happier, healthier lives? Faculty members share their perspectives in this podcast series, part of the MCPHS Bicentennial web experience. Check it out and explore additional stories: www.mcphs/bicentennial/podcast
Collaboration is key. MCPHS has always recognized the power of bringing people together to learn, exchange ideas, and innovate.
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FUTURE FOCUSED
THE MCPHS RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IS TO LOOK AHEAD AND EMBRACE CHANGE.
MCPHS didn’t get to be 200 by staying the same. University leaders routinely speak with executives and managers in hospitals, clinics, biopharmaceutical companies, and other healthcare settings that rely on talent to do what they do best. MCPHS representatives ask what they need—now and in the future—and make predictions. Anticipating change and preparing students for tomorrow’s opportunities by adjusting our programming is essential to maintaining momentum.
MCPHS faculty and staff pride themselves in producing “job-ready” graduates who get hired and contribute meaningfully to organizations. Consistently ranked as one of the most transformative institutions of higher learning in the country, the University prioritizes student success. This includes training students for roles that will exist in the real world when they complete their studies.
Community members are also instrumental in shaping our strategy and building a culture that fosters a sense of belonging. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni were heavily involved in the development of an MCPHS Strategic Plan and will continue to influence how this institution evolves. They have deep expertise on a wide range of topics and invaluable lived experience. To this end, the University recently invited feedback through an employee satisfaction survey, an inclusive climate survey, and a research and scholarship survey.
MCPHS will continue to practice deep listening and adapt to meet emerging needs. The results of a reputation survey that focused on prospective students and their parents provide actionable insights on how we are perceived. The University is well-positioned to sustain its position as a global leader in health and life sciences education, grounded by its core purpose of leading with vision, educating with passion, and serving with care. M
A Force for Change. The five MCPHS Centers for Excellence are key to the University’s vision of creating a healthier, more equitable world. They have a shared purpose to promote collaboration across disciplines that will lead to new scientific and humanistic insights in the health and life sciences. The latest center to launch is focused on developing a life sciences workforce of the future, including by giving students the knowledge and skills to succeed in biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and biomanufacturing jobs that focus on discovering and delivering new medicines. The newly renamed Center for Research and Discovery is complementary, providing students across the University with opportunities for scholarship and challenging them to pursue interesting questions and bold ideas.
/ COVER STORY CONT’D /
4 | MCPHS | President’s Newsletter
FACULTY DAY 2023
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY OF 2019, all members of the full-time faculty gathered on May 1 in Worcester for a stimulating day of presentations and discussion. Morning sessions focused on the activities and priorities of the University’s Centers for Excellence. After lunch, a full faculty meeting was held. Leaders presented updates and progress on key initiatives for the 2022-23 academic year, and individual faculty members were recognized for promotion in rank, outstanding teaching, scholarship, and exemplary service to the University. The day concluded with a research showcase and awards ceremony. M
SCHOOL OF HEALTHCARE BUSINESS GETS NEW NAME
The Board of Trustees has approved renaming the School of Healthcare Business to the School of Healthcare Business and Technology. This new name reflects the University’s commitment to the future of the health and life sciences, as technology is an important tool connecting interprofessional teams delivering care, discovering new therapies, managing organizations, and more. This name also aligns with future workforce demands and better represents the development and implementation of new degree programs. M
Michael Spooner, Dean, School of Healthcare Business & Technology
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD
The School of Professional Studies received the 2023 Award for Strategic Innovation in Online Education from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association for its self-paced prerequisite courses. The School now offers a suite of 22 courses and has helped more than 5,000 students to balance personal and professional obligations while stepping toward a desired degree. M
STUDENT SUCCESS HUB GROWS
This summer, more departments across the University will be added to the Student Success Hub, an accessible digital platform that delivers a variety of resources to students in an equitable manner. The Center for Academic Success and Enrichment, as well as undergraduate students in Boston, are now using the Hub for scheduling and meetings. M
/ UNIVERSITY NEWS /
Director of Program Operations
Amber Palmer accepts the award.
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4TH ANNUAL STUDENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE DRAWS A CROWD
CENTER FOR HEALTH HUMANITIES HOSTS VISITING SCHOLAR
FEDERAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE TAPS MCPHS FACULTY MEMBER FOR GENOMICS EXPERTISE
Brianna Cordeiro, Premedical Health Studies ’23, presented her research during the event along with more than 100 additional students.
THE CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY hosted the 4th Annual Student Research Conference in Boston on April 1. Students presented more than 130 projects to fellow students, faculty, staff, family, and friends. It marked the first in-person conference since its inception in 2019.
The theme of the event was A Healthcare Mosaic: The Importance of Diversity in Healthcare. The conference featured guest speakers Dr. Laura Baecher-Lind from Tufts University School of Medicine and Erin Ryan Heyneman, a disability advocate. Both spoke about the importance of taking conscious action to promote diversity and inclusion. M
LEADERSHIP AWARDS BANQUET
THE CENTER FOR HEALTH
HUMANITIES recently welcomed Visiting Scholar Dr. Chinmay Murali, who is an Assistant Professor of English at Sanatana Dharma College in Alappuzha, India. Dr. Murali worked in-residence at MCPHS Boston to further his research in graphic medicine. He also presented his work in “gynographics,” a term he coined to describe a subgenre of graphic medicine where artists autobiographically externalize their complex emotions and experiences associated with reproduction, fertility, and motherhood. M
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHARMACY
PRACTICE
Roseann Gammal, PharmD, BCPS, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Pharmacogenomics Project Group of a committee within the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) that’s focused on genomics education for healthcare professionals. NHGRI is part of the National Institutes of Health. M
THE LEADERSHIP AWARDS BANQUET was held in April to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and achievements of students, faculty, and staff as well as Boston-campus clubs and professional organizations. Honors included the Emerging Leader Award, Helping Hands Award, Collaboration Award, Provost’s Cup, President’s Cup, Students’ Choice Award, and others. More than 20 individuals and organizations received special recognition. In addition, Campus Life thanked clubs and professional organizations in Boston for cumulatively hosting 696 meetings, programs, and events and checking in 7,654 students over the course of the academic year. The work of these groups strengthens the fabric of the MCPHS Community, spurring personal and professional growth and inspiring connections that can last a lifetime. M
Dr. Chinmay Murali
Dr. Roseann Gammal
/ ACADEMICS & SCHOLARSHIP /
/ EVENTS / 6 | MCPHS | President’s Newsletter
FOUNDERS DAY
MEMBERS OF THE MCPHS COMMUNITY gathered in December to celebrate the Bicentennial. Attendees received University merchandise and cupcakes, wrote their names and well wishes on a commemorative banner, and were even treated to an appearance from Red. It was a time to reflect on the past, build excitement for the future, and enjoy the company of peers and friends. M
REED CONFERENCE
THE ANNUAL REED CONFERENCE for Pharmacy made its return to in-person programming this March at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The event facilitates networking and continuing education opportunities for pharmacy professionals. Attendees heard a regulatory update from MCPHS faculty and had the opportunity to attend sessions covering topics such as interprofessional practice, treating ADHD in children and adults, and pharmacotherapy for diabetes. M
CLAMBQ
THE ANNUAL CLAMBQ took place at Gore Place in Waltham April 15. The theme of this year’s event was “Under the Sea,” and more than a few SpongeBob shirts and sea creature hats could be spotted in the crowd. It was an opportunity for the Community to relax, savor good food, and enjoy fun activities, including bounce houses and mini golf. Some students even tried lobster for the first time at the event. The weather cooperated and attendees had a chance to take a break before buckling down for finals. M
/ UPCOMING EVENTS / COMMENCEMENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON MAY 11
COMMENCEMENT
The alumni speaker at the morning ceremony will be Michael Ku, PharmD ’96, BS ’94, Head of Global Clinical Supply in Pfizer’s Worldwide Research, Development and Medical division. Jideobi Ezeonu, MBA ’20, MS ’18, will speak at the afternoon ceremony and share his experience working as an occupational therapist at the New York City Department of Education. Student speakers will also address the graduates and their loved ones during the exercises—Sarah Das, PharmD ’23, in the morning and Ellie Solitro, PharmD ’23, in the afternoon. M
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Dr. Michael Ku Jideobi Ezeonu
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