News

Chief Inclusion Officer Clara Reynolds invites alumni to join us as speakers, panelists, facilitators, and mentors to advance DEI efforts across the university.

 

President Richard Lessard and Provost Caroline Zeind share exciting updates and welcome students, faculty, staff, and alumni to the 2023-2024 academic year.

Commencement speakers encouraged graduates to forge their own paths and be proud of their accomplishments, now and in the future.

Sheik Faye, MPAS ’18, MBA ’21, followed his dreams to take an active role to give back to his community.

Bisni Narayanan, PharmD '15, MS, full-time pharmacist and mother of two young children needed a flexible schedule to fulfill her PharmD degree, which is why she was attracted to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Congratulations to the Classes of December 2021 through September 2022! Welcome to the MCPHS alumni community.

Elijah Carrier, BS ’13, is now the Manager of Transformation Operations for a bioengineering company called Ginkgo Bioworks in the Seaport District.

Three years ago, PA student Ryland Roderick suffered cardiac arrest. Now, he is considering specializing in cardiac medicine.

Chan Harjivan, BSP ’95, on how big data and telehealth have arrived in the world of healthcare.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 and welcome to the MCPHS alumni community!

In a career that has taken him extraordinary places, Chan Harjivan, BSP ’95, finds himself helping guide the nation’s COVID-19 response.

With perspective gained from an occupational therapy internship in Kenya, Ashley Sullivan, BS (Health Psychology) ’21, takes a thoughtful approach in treating patients of all cultures and backgrounds.

After a lifetime of serving the country, Rear Admiral Lawrence credits all success to his mentors.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Duc La BS '19 got redeployed to support Brigham and Women’s clinical care operations.

Almost every small town and neighborhood has a local character; someone whose encyclopedic knowledge of their community is rivaled only by their colorful personality. Harry German BSP ’49 was one such character, a man who, in his lifetime, became nearly synonymous with the Massachusetts city of Chelsea.

As we bring another week of social distancing to a close, we’d like to share another story from MCPHS University’s archives, this one a partial glimpse into the life of an alum we wish we knew more about: Bhaktavatsal Chitharanjan MS ‘47.

Esteemed ethnobotanist Judith Sumner recently uncovered a fascinating corner of history while planning her meticulously researched book Plants Go To War: A Botanical History of World War II: a medicinal garden, planted as a joint effort between the faculty of then-Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and the staff of the Arnold Arboretum. We joined her in conversation to learn more.

Midwestern transplant Noah Westphal cites his grandfather’s influence in his choice to pursue a pharmacy degree, but it’s scholarships funded by generous MCPHS donors that have helped make his journey possible. We sat down with him to learn more.

Anne Davies, MEd, BSEE, RT MRI, is Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics (SMIT). Davies received her bachelor of science in electrical engineering from UMass, her postbaccalaureate certification in MRI from MCPHS University, and her master’s in education from Post University.

Ernest P. Gates Jr. BSP ’67, RPH, FASCP, FIACP, FACA, President and CEO of Gates Healthcare Associates, doesn’t see himself as an outlier at MCPHS: “I’m only one person out of thousands that has been able to use my MCPHS education to build a career in business,” reports the entrepreneur.

If you’re in need of a bit of distraction from the day’s news, you’re in luck: MCPHS has been clearing out its old press clipping files. Today we’re sharing a fascinating story from the 1920’s about an alum who carved out a unique path for himself and found success, adventure, and heartbreak enough to fuel a sweeping biopic (no, really, there’s a movie)—all without ever becoming a pharmacist.

“I'm blessed to call my customers my neighbors,” says Minh Do PharmD ’05, the gregarious pharmacist behind the counter at the Boylston Street CVS next to Fenway Park. A passionate booster of both Boston sports and face-to-face retail pharmacy, it’s clear Do has found the perfect niche for his blend of talents. We sat down with him to learn more.

How much do you remember about your last year of college? If you’re like most MCPHS students, the final months leading up to graduation are a blur of studying, exams, and (perhaps the most stressful of all) job search. The pressure to narrow down choices between various career paths can be especially overwhelming for those students whose non-license degrees (such as biology, health psychology, or public health) qualify them to pursue many possible openings. How can an undergraduate with limited career experience determine which careers will mesh well with their strengths, interests, and goals?

After four years of classes, lectures, and clinical rotations, sisters Abby and Paige Small graduated from MCPHS’s Doctor of Optometry (OD) program—but their interest in protecting patients’ vision began long before they ever stepped onto the University’s Worcester campus.

Hason Khan BS ’17 discovered his passion for public health while at MCPHS. Now a Health Systems Implementation Specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Khan continues to work towards better global health through Kali2Kali, the nonprofit he co-founded as an MCPHS sophomore with friend Erick Flores. Kali2Kali has partnered with communities in both Rwanda and Pakistan, taking on challenges ranging from the reconstruction of a village school and implementation of a school nutritional program to the installation of water tanks and vegetable gardens.

Joanne Clancy DH ’75, RDH, MPA, recently reached a new career milestone; the longtime dental hygiene educator retired from her full-time faculty position at Bristol Community College, but will continue to bring decades of experience to a new, lower-stress schedule as a part-time adjunct. “The best part of retiring is never again having to go through accreditation as a full-time faculty member,” quips the former President of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association, who experienced multiple accreditation visits and many changes to dental hygiene education during her 40+ years in the classroom.

Michael Ku BSP ’94, PharmD ’96, MBA, charted an ambitious path through hospital, retail, and clinical pharmacy before becoming involved in the complex global clinical supply chain—he is now Vice President of Global Clinical Supply (GCS) at Pfizer.

A David Lewis, Ph.D., Instructor of Healthcare Business and MHS Program Coordinator at MCPHS University, has formed a non-profit organization, Comics for Youth Refugees Incorporated Collective (CYRIC), in response to the massive trauma of the Syrian civil war. Lewis’s work specifically focuses on refugee children; “I wanted to give them their stories back,” he says. The result is Haawiyat, a 48-page, full-color comic anthology of Syrian folk tales, currently being distributed to around one thousand Syrian children in border refugee camps. We sat down with Lewis to learn more.

The graduating class was gleeful, giddy—and a little bit chilly—on December 18^th at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts. But the cold weather didn’t douse any spirits: the joyful occasion brought in nearly 2700 friends and family to celebrate the accomplishment of 330 graduates of the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, the School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics, the School of Nursing, and the School of Physician Assistant Studies.

Every year, pharmacists from all around the New England area gather to visit and learn, not only from the speakers but also from each other; this is the Stoklosa Symposium, now in its 10th year. Here is the write up with photos of this year’s symposium for those who attended; below, for those who’ve never been, are some excerpts to give you the flavor of the day.

On September 24, Senator Michael O. Moore (D, Millbury) welcomed staff and students from the Worcester campus’s Pharmacy Outreach Program to the Massachusetts State House. Senator Moore sponsored an open event to provide legislators and their staff with information about the services of the outreach program. Paula Evans, director, along with Colleen Massey, director of operations, and Debra Montville, case manager, presented information about how the Pharmacy Outreach Program helps the public with their medication-related concerns. Pharmacy students in attendance included Emine Rexhaj PharmD '20, Petrika Fecami PharmD '20, and Blenkell Baah-Williams PharmD '20.

The School of Healthcare Business recently named its Executive in Residence—Helen Figge BSP ’85 PharmD ’87, MBA, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, Chief Strategy Officer of MedicaSoft. An experienced leader within the healthcare Information Technology field, Figge has helped multiple technology firms (including start-ups, non-profits, and three Fortune 500 companies) define their strategy and succeed in a crowded marketplace. At the School of Healthcare Business, she has given several guest lectures focusing on the soft skills that are crucial to career success. We sat down with her to learn more.

MCPHS University announced this week that Elizabeth Chen, the Secretary of Elder Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will address the University’s graduates at its 15th December Commencement at the DCU Center in Worcester on December 12. More than 360 students from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, the School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics, the School of Nursing, and the School of Physician Assistant Studies will participate in the ceremonies, and more than 1,000 family members and friends are expected to attend.

Beth Geralds, MPAS, PA-C, is an assistant professor in the School of Physician Assistant Studies, and in just a few years has become an integral member of the MCPHS community. Recently, she was recognized by the DEA for her contributions and volunteer activities in the area of drug abuse prevention. We sat down with her to learn more.

“Open your mouth and say ‘ah’.” It’s one of the most familiar refrains in all of medicine. But this deceptively simple instruction is actually part of one of the most complex and crucial diagnostic sequences that a physician can run. The HEENT exam (or Head, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat exam), when performed carefully, can reveal vast amounts of information about a patient’s current condition, allowing an observant healthcare provider to catch anything from an incipient stroke to a dangerous drug interaction. On November 21, Padmastuti Akella, MD and Mohamed Hassan, MD, two residents from nearby Saint Vincent Hospital, visited the Worcester campus to engage in an interprofessional learning session with the pharmacy faculty and students. “The goal here is for our students to learn exam techniques from the medical residents, and for the medical residents to learn about drug-induced toxicities of the eyes and ears from the pharmacy faculty and students,” said Karyn Sullivan, PharmD, MPH, RPh, Director of Interprofessional Education and Professor of Pharmacy Practice on the Worcester campus. Together with Linda Spooner, PharmD, RPh, BCPS, FASHP, FCCP, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Sullivan co-facilitated the meeting, which was joined by Manchester pharmacy students via livestream.

Ann Charrette, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, NCS, Professor of Physical Therapy, recently took a sabbatical that might surprise you. Instead of retreating to a quiet writing nook or a lab, the adventurous professor took seven Physical Therapy students, along with Nicole Dettmann, DSc, MPH, PA-C, Associate Program Director, Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Education, to Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, on a service trip designed to help some of the country’s poorest patients. The students offered their services at an outpatient rehabilitation clinic; at a school, where they performed over a hundred screenings for gross and fine motor delays; and on a series of home visits to disabled patients of the rehab clinic. Along the way, they absorbed valuable lessons about providing culturally sensitive care; working across language barriers; and providing creative care to patients when resources are limited. Below, you’ll find a selection of photos taken by Charrette, Dettmann, and their students, along with some of the reflections captured on the students’ anonymous surveys after the trip.

MCPHS alumni Peter I. Shostak BSP ’48 worked as a pharmacist, but left behind a musical legacy. A journey through the then-Massachusetts College of Pharmacy’s historical press clippings file reveals a profile of Shostak, originally published in the July 17, 1957 Bridgeport Telegram. “Regular customers at Peter’s Pharmacy, a neighborhood store at North and Lexington avenues, are never surprised when they find a batch of original music spread on the prescription counter and the proprietor busy with composition,” reported William Lamale, a regular writer for the paper. He went on to describe Shostak as, charmingly, a “genial pharmacist, a stocky man with an expressive face and arms that are always gesticulating.” As Shostak worked, he also wrote songs, scouring the conversations around him for overheard snippets that could form the nuclei of new lyrics. A stray comment from a customer could send him scrambling for a pencil and paper. But Shostak was not just a gifted hobbyist—his work made it to the hotbed of musical innovation known, at the time, as Tin Pan Alley.

The Academy 2019 Orlando and 3rd World Congress of Optometry held October 23-27 at the Orange County Convention Center included many opportunities for the nation’s eye health experts to update their skills and gain new knowledge. But for MCPHS alumni, the annual gathering offered a hidden bonus: the chance to reconnect with classmates and professors in a joyful, reunion-like atmosphere. More than 60 alumni, faculty, and current students attended the informal gathering, including the school’s very first valedictorian, Capt. Burke Manning OD ‘16 MPH ‘16, USAF, BSC, Operational Optometry Chief (and subject of an upcoming Alumni Spotlight—stay tuned!) A good time was had by all, and plans were discussed to hold a similar get-together next year, when the world congress will gather in Nashville, TN. Count us in! 

The Schwartz Rounds, at first glance, look like a pretty standard academic gathering: three panelists sit at a table in front of a packed auditorium at MCPHS University. But the Schwartz Rounds are different. “The goal here is to feel and relate to stories, not to absorb a lecture,” says Tim Maher, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies for the School of Pharmacy—Boston, to the audience filling Stoklosa Hall on October 24, 2019. The audience doesn’t take notes; there won’t be a quiz later. The goal is simply to hear about the perspectives of others, and to think about what it might mean to provide care to a patient whose life experience is profoundly different from your own. Each semester, the topic of the Schwartz Rounds changes. The goal—to gain compassion—remains the same.

“I’m just so inspired by all of these young women and what they are doing.” Keri Griffin PhD, MPH, MPA, MCHES, Associate Professor of Public Health, and Director of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program, looks out over a steadily gathering crowd of MCPHS students on the 6th floor of the University’s Richard E. Griffin Academic Center. “When I was their age, I wasn’t anywhere near where they are. I am so impressed by our students, and by what they’ve accomplished.” During her time at MCPHS, Dr. Griffin has already proven herself to be a champion of the undergraduate experience: she is the founder of the Center for Undergraduate Research, a clearinghouse of faculty research interests designed to connect MCPHS students to research projects and mentors within their area of academic focus. Now, Griffin has turned her attention to another crucial aspect of student development: networking.

Patients who experience chronic pain find themselves at an unenviable intersection: balanced between the risk of opioid dependency and undertreated pain, both they and their healthcare providers often struggle to find the best and safest long-term strategies for pain management. With the opioid crisis making daily headlines, many providers have begun to seek alternatives to opioids. On October 23rd , the LDN Research Trust visited the MCPHS—Boston campus (and Worcester and Manchester, via livestream) to lead a seminar on one such potential alternative, low- and ultra-low-dose naltrexone.

You’ve heard of charity 5Ks and turkey trots, rallies and relays and even the Ice Bucket Challenge. But have you ever heard of a jet pull? You’ll need three things: a rope. A Boeing 757F FedEx Express Jet (total weight: 144,000 pounds). And a team of determined physical therapy students from MCPHS-Worcester who are ready to haul with all their might to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Check out the video for more details!

Dien Ho, PhD, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Healthcare Ethics and Director of the Center for Health Humanities, has made a habit of thinking differently about healthcare. His new book, A Philosopher Goes to the Doctor: A Critical Look at Philosophical Assumptions in Medicine, has just been published by Routledge.

Robin Harvan, EdD, EdM, FACE, FIAMSE, Professor of Health Sciences, Director of Health Sciences Programs, and Co-Chair of the Boston Interprofessional Education Task Force, takes a broad view of the future of health sciences education. She is particularly passionate about the potential of interprofessional education to transform healthcare. “Thirty years ago, the interprofessional education and collaborative practice movement was only a dream,” she reports. “I have had the privilege to see a dream become a reality.” We sat down with her to talk more about the progress that has been made, and the work still to be done.

Patricia Folcarelli MA, PhD, Vice President for Health Care Quality at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, opens her talk with a question. “How would you feel about making a serious medical error?” she asks the gathered crowd of nursing students in the 6^th floor of the University’s Richard E. Griffin Academic Center. The question is far from hypothetical; in the late 1990s, a study revealed that the number of patients harmed by medical errors in the United States was akin to a fully loaded passenger jet crashing—every single day. In fact, medical errors constitute the third leading cause of death in the United States (after heart disease and cancer), according to a recent study conducted by John Hopkins.

The Board of Trustees recently welcomed new member Marie Dyer BSN ‘96 to their number. At the New England Baptist Hospital, where she spent her career, Dyer distinguished herself by continuously seeking new opportunities not only to grow as a nurse, but to enhance patient care throughout her organization. “My programs of interest will always be nursing and public health,” Dyer says. “I am very passionate about those essential programs, which are crucial to both prevention and health maintenance.” Dyer’s mark on NEBH has been indelible: implementing the usage of the Code Green signal for patient emergency within NEBH; precepting for multiple students (including several from MCPHS); serving on the hospital’s Team Award Recognition, Wound Care, and Diversity committees; serving as Infection Control Liaison and working in dialysis support; and pioneering the development and growth of the Ambulatory Services Unit were only a few of her contributions to the life of the hospital. 

Fran Kirley BSP ’73 recalls his years at Hampden College, studying under professors like Marguerite “Peg” Johnson, as a master class in the art of entrepreneurship. The President and CEO of Nexion Health, which operates 39 healthcare facilities spanning multiple states, Kirley pioneered a rehab hospital model built on a skilled nursing platform, which proved a winning formula in an increasingly complex field. Even in the midst of growth, Kirley has managed to keep his focus firmly on patient outcomes. “I am proud to say to everyone that I am a pharmacist,” says Kirley. “It’s kept me clinically focused while working in the healthcare business.”

Kallie Harrier OD ’19 has had an eventful year: the Wisconsin native moved through four different states during her clinical rotations before deciding to return home to DeForest, Wisconsin, to join Essential Family Vision Care. Her choice to begin her optometry practice in her rural hometown has come with some surprising opportunities. We sat down with her to learn more.

Every year, alumni and friends of MCPHS University come together for a special reunion: the gathering of golfers. This year’s MCPHS Golf Tournament was held on September 23, 2019, at the Vesper Country Club in Tyngsborough, MA. All proceeds from the tournament go to support the MCPHS Golf Tournament Scholarship Fund, which benefits students on all three campuses. 

Ed Polen BSP ’65 didn’t intend to go into the chemical distribution industry. A chance encounter pulled the recent graduate away from retail pharmacy work: now, almost fifty years later, he is the founder and president of EMCO Chemical Distributors, Incorporated, the 11th-largest chemical distributor in the United States. We sat down with Polen to learn how his career took shape.

Susan Bodie PharmD ’05 has carved out a role for herself in the ever-changing world of clinical studies. Beginning with a position at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Bodie has worn many hats throughout her career; now, as Director of Clinical Research at Translate Bio, she says that the field offers “enormous diversity” to those who are finding their paths within pharmacy. We sat down with her to learn more

Every year, a special group of dedicated people gather in Westborough, Mass. to learn, network, and be recognized for their contribution to the future of pharmacy. At Preceptor Appreciation Day, MCPHS University says “thank you” to the pharmacy preceptors who guide PGY1 and PGY2 preceptees on their way to becoming practicing professionals. 

MCPHS University announced today that Charles F. Monahan, Jr., its president since 1997, will retire effective January 15, 2020. Richard E. Griffin, MCPHS University Board of Trustees chair, wrote in a letter to the University community that “as the University approaches its 200th anniversary in 2023, the president believes this is the right time to choose the next president who will guide the University into its third century as a preeminent institution for health care education.”

Frank Bullock BSP ’58, MA, PhD, blazed his own trail through the world of pharmaceutical research and development. As a researcher at Arthur D. Little, Abbott Laboratories, and Schering Plough, Bullock’s career touched on some of the most exciting biotech developments of the last century. We sat down with him to learn more.

Every year, MCPHS University’s Boston campus kicks off the fall semester with an evening welcoming the students who have come the farthest to attend Boston’s oldest university. International students from all years and programs shake off their jet lag and come to White Hall for an evening of food, fun, and the chance to get their picture taken with Red T. Cardinal (among others).

Ryan Costantino PharmD ‘12, MS, BCPS, BCGP began preparing for a life of leadership early: as SGA president at MCPHS-Boston, Costantino honed his planning, speaking, and problem-solving skills to a high degree. All that work paid off when, after graduation, Costantino joined the Army. As director of Pharmacy Clinical Decision Support for the Defense Health Agency, he now puts his skills to work using data to improve pharmaceutical care and demonstrate the value of pharmacy.

"We're here to celebrate the naming of NESA's Chinese herbal dispensary in recognition of the generous support of KPC Herbs," proclaimed Sue Gorman, MBA, Executive Director for Academic Affairs–Worcester/Manchester, speaking to a full house of faculty, students, alumni, and staff on July 24 at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science’s New England School of Acupuncture, site of the newly named KPC Herbs Dispensary. KPC Herbs representatives Rosemary Tsai and Dr. Christine Chang also joined in the festivities. The two toured the brand new educational and clinical facilities, and learned how KPC products are used at the oldest school of acupuncture in the United States.

Someday, if you’re walking along Longwood Avenue, peek inside the cafeteria that MassArt and MCPHS students share. Future pharmacists rub elbows with future sonographers; dental hygiene students eat lunch alongside up-and-coming PAs. At MCPHS, knowledge-sharing is second nature; the SURF program aims to make interprofessional research as common as cafeteria conversation. 
The SURF program, or the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program, matches up MCPHS undergraduates from all programs with faculty members conducting scholarly research. Students produce a project description and budget in collaboration with their faculty mentors, who then provide guidance as students conduct the planned research and develop written reports, oral presentations, and poster presentations for display at the end of the summer. SURF students gain valuable research experience, as well as the confidence to contribute to their profession’s body of knowledge through scholarly presentation. This summer, Gunja Shah Premedical and Health Sciences ’19 teamed up with Lisa Conboy, MA, MS, ScD, Director of Research at New England School of Acupuncture, to develop a research project spanning multiple health modalities. “When I first talked to [Dr. Conboy], I was not involved with SURF at all,” says Shah. “I just asked her what she was working on, and talked about […] my own research interests. In the future, as a Doctor of Osteopathy, I’ll be focusing on […] using preventative medicine on diabetes, and she got really excited about it too. She’s currently trying to get a grant to study diabetes prevention.” 

“We’re here to ask for your support! That means advocating for MCPHS PA students, taking them on rotations, and keeping the program informed about what is going on in your workplaces! We are asking you to mentor pre-PA students and help current students thrive. Help your program get better by giving it your most precious resource—your time.” These remarks, delivered by Chris Cooper, MPAS, PA-C, Program Director of the School of Physician Assistant Studies–Boston, concluded to a rousing round of applause. PA-Boston faculty, students, and alumni had gathered to share pre-game snacks and beverages at the Baseball Tavern, just outside Fenway Park, on Thursday, August 1 before heading to the Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays game later that evening.

Sue Wang, Ed.M, recently joined the MCPHS Center for Professional Career Development (CPCD) as Assistant Director. A lifelong student of the human condition, Wang has spent a career focusing on the intersection of education and wellness, experience that makes her uniquely qualified to relate to  healthcare-focused students. We sat down with her to learn more.

 

“The true meaning of interprofessional education is that we are learning with, from, and about each other,” says Lisa Heard, MSN, RN, CGRN, CPHQ, Associate Dean of the MCPHS School of Nursing–Boston. With access to deep cross-registration possibilities through the Colleges of the Fenway consortium, MCPHS and Wentworth Institute of Technology students have plenty of opportunities to meet students from outside their own degree tracks. However, when exams loom and schedules fill, many students discover that tunnel vision sets in. “We say we want collaboration, but in reality, we’re often siloed,” says Monique Fuchs, Associate Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Wentworth. “Nurses are in their nursing programs while architects in their architecture programs, and the groups aren’t always talking to each other.”

 

A special group of faculty, staff, and students assembled to recognize and celebrate students who went above and beyond their studies to contribute in a meaningful and lasting way to the school community. 

This year’s Opioid Symposium featured a Who’s Who among local leaders in the fight against the opioid tidal wave: key speakers included Allison Burns PharmD ’16, CEO of End Mass Overdose; Ashley Felix, Opioid Overdose Prevention Manager for the Boston Public Health Commission; and, from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, Catherine Madden and Sandy Alexander.

Alexander Eddo PharmD ’17 distinguished himself during his MCPHS career by becoming a published author; he published his first book, The Peace Seeker, in 2016. We caught up with Eddo two years after graduation.

Martin Cohen BSP ’59, JD, carved out a unique career path by adding a law degree to his pharmacy education. A born storyteller, Cohen happily shares the long and winding road that led him from Longwood Avenue to the military, to Washington DC, New York, and beyond. We sat down to learn more about his life in the law.

For the past 15 years, Advanced Practice Management students in the School of Pharmacy have undertaken a daunting trial: split into purposefully unwieldy groups of eight, collaborate as an entrepreneurial team, find a niche in the crowded healthcare product and services market, and devise a business plan for a product or service to exploit the opportunity. 

As part of this ongoing exploration of the human side of medicine, Diane Shader Smith visited MCPHS on April 11 to read from her daughter Mallory’s book, Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life, and to share lessons from her life with an audience of students and faculty.

Gillette Stadium can comfortably hold more than 65,000 spectators and host indoor events for more than 1,000 guests. However, this accommodating venue could never contain the enthusiasm of 1,600 graduates and more than 16,000 friends and family who flooded the stadium on May 4 to celebrate the 151st Commencement Exercises of MCPHS University. 

Annmarie Arvanites BSP ’85 is vice-president of Prescription Compounding Specialists of Rhode Island, a compounding pharmacy specializing in veterinary medicine. Her successful career has included ten years working with The Upjohn Company, six years of service with the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy, and 21 years working as an independent pharmacist. We sat down with Arvanites to learn more about what drives her.

Every year, students in the Advanced Practice Management Capstone Business Plan Competition face a daunting challenge: they must boil down a complex business and marketing plan onto a single posterboard, then deliver their team’s message in a single “elevator pitch” to a series of rotating judges. In 2019, almost 40 teams competed for the grand prize: $1,200, plus trophies. Below, you’ll find a glimpse of 20 teams that participated.

Michael Ku BSP ’94, PharmD ’96, MBA, vice president of Global Clinical Supply (GCS) at Pfizer, jokes that he “must have been deprived of letters as a child with my short last name, so the only way to add letters was to get more degrees!” This lifelong learner charted an ambitious path through hospital, retail, and clinical pharmacy before becoming involved in the complex global clinical supply chain. A devoted alum of MCPHS, Ku stays involved in multiple ways: he is the Director of the Pfizer/MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Fellowship Program, as well as an adjunct assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice and a member of the MCPHS University Corporation.  We sat down to learn more from this highly accomplished alum.

For fifteen years, some of the most dedicated MCPHS alumni and friends have returned to campus for a special night: to attend the Scholarship Recognition Reception and Dinner. Old friends catch up with one another and new connections are made, especially between scholarship donors and award winning students. On April 3, the event hit a new milestone: fifteen years of celebrations, this year with more than 200 guests, making this the largest ever such event.

As the School of Nursing’s Distinguished Lecturer for the spring semester, Siegal visited MCPHS on April 4 to share insights she has gleaned from years of statistical risk analysis—plus three decades of nursing experience. 

MCPHS has hosted the Schwartz Rounds® program for ten years. Fittingly, this year the university celebrated the milestone by not only delivering the typical Schwartz Rounds® panel discussion, but also dispensing a little of the compassionate care that the program encourages. During the free period surrounding lunch on March 19, student and staff representatives of MCPHS clubs, organizations and offices gathered to share information and services with busy students.

In February, 2019 the Offices of the President and Provost, announced that Dr. Keri Griffin, Director of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program, received a funding award from the Davis Educational Foundation to be used towards the creation of the Center for Undergraduate Research at MCPHS University. The initiative is designed to advance the University’s goal of supporting high-impact learning practices.

Amber Palmer, MEd, is the director of program operations for the newly created MCPHS School of Professional Studies. This dynamic and accomplished higher education professional is a lifelong learner, a credential that gives her a unique perspective on the needs of part-time students. We sat down with her to learn more.

The President’s Donor Appreciation Celebration, held on March 2, commemorated the growing MCPHS international presence, a presence that annually attracts in excess of 1,000 students from more than 74 countries on six continents, and includes more than 100 international collaborations with schools, hospitals, health systems, government agencies, and private employers.

The annual Reed Educational Conference held on March 14 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA, brought together more than 650 pharmacists, many of them MCPHS alumni, for a full day of learning and lively reconnection with friends and colleagues.

It is a frigid March morning, and the campus is quiet because of spring break, but that hasn’t slowed the festivities: all morning, recently published authors of the MCPHS–Manchester campus trickle in to enjoy coffee and conversation. Their publications reflect a staggering breadth of interests and areas of expertise.

MCPHS faculty and students enjoyed an unusual treat during their lunch break on February 28: a chance to learn about pharmacy education on the other side of the globe. That chance came courtesy of a group of students from Kobe Pharmaceutical University in Kobe, Japan.

Gary Rice BSP ’80, MS ’84, MSP, has carved a unique career path within specialty pharmacy. The executive vice president of operations at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy in Flint, MI, Rice is involved with nearly every aspect of the delivery of highly specialized drugs to patients with complex conditions. A proud alum of MCPHS, Rice is responsible for two separate scholarship funds at MCPHS, the Linda B. and Gary K. Rice Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Chester E. and Carole N. Babineau Scholarship Fund. We sat down with him to learn more about how his career has inspired him to give back. 

Mitchell Fairbrother PharmD ’19 recently returned to the United States from the adventure of a lifetime: a pharmacy rotation in Cape Town, South Africa. During his international rotation, Fairbrother kept a blog about his experience, documenting not only the differences between pharmacy practice in the United States and South Africa, but also the stunning beauty of his surroundings. We sat down with Fairbrother to learn more.

Robert Curtis BSP ’77, MBA, PharmD, has worked in a dizzying variety of companies and organizations; from the hospital setting, to a major pharmaceutical company (Pfizer Inc.), to biopharmaceutical companies like HistoRx, Inc. and CombiChem,Inc., and nonprofits like the Trudeau Institute and the Regional Technology Development Corporation of Cape Cod. Curtis has brought a distinctly bold and entrepreneurial vision to all his projects. We sat down with him to learn more.

The fourth and final gathering in the MCPHS series of interprofessional care conferences drew a Who’s Who of healthcare providers and educators from VA Boston, University of Massachusetts-Boston, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Northeastern University School of Nursing, and Lowell General Hospital to the MCPHS campus on February 13.

The “More Than You Really Need to Know” series features deep dives into the kind of arcane knowledge you can only discover deep in the archives of MCPHS University. As such, they are good for one thing, and one thing only: helping you win at pub trivia. 

In the 1968 science fiction classic “2001: A Space Odyssey,” a spaceship’s computer system known as HAL, a Heuristic ALgorithmic  computer, manifests both the potential and the menace that artificial intelligence (AI) could pose. A half century later, while AI is still in its technological infancy, most of the high technology depicted as pure fantasy in the epic film is now part of our day-today reality. Moreover, the rate of technology’s integration into virtually every aspect of human existence is only accelerating. Two of the most promising new frontiers for that integration? Healthcare and higher education.

Assistant professor of occupational therapy Denise Finch, OTR/L, OTD, CHT, FAOTA, recently received a notable honor: induction as a fellow into the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), one of the profession’s highest honors. We sat down with Dr. Finch to learn more about what drives this dynamic faculty member. 

Allison Borek BSN ’19 has taken her passion for biology to a fascinating place: the canvas. The Buffalo, NY native was recently honored with a juror’s prize at the 15th annual ArtsWorcester College Show on Friday, Feb. 1st in Worcester.

Perhaps you remember your undergraduate days as a whirlwind of exams, studying, and pressure—many of us do! But, how many remember taking time out to focus on mental health? As schools across the country increasingly focus on the mental and emotional well-being of students, MCPHS leads the way with Fresh Check Day, an event that provided an opportunity for students to take a few moments to relax and learn about mental health. 

Hiroshi Hasegawa, PhD, is suffering from the world’s worst jet lag. His home base, Japan’s Kobe Pharmaceutical University, is 16 hours away by commercial plane, and his brief visit to the United States has a jam-packed itinerary, including stops at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Newton Wellesley Hospital, and local pharmacies all around Boston. But right now, at MCPHS, Dr. Hasagawa can relax: he is playing to a home audience.

Rudy Dajie PharmD ’03 had a good 2018 and is looking forward to an even better 2019. Dajie, president and CEO of Apothecare Pharmacy, recently announced construction of a $5 million, 23,000- square foot facility in Brockton, MA. The new facility, which is scheduled to open in early 2019, is expected to allow the business, which employs 166 people, to expand its workforce by 25 percent. 

We recently sat down with Dr. Dajie to discuss the expansion, his decision to locate the business in Brockton, the role of independent pharmacies, and his time at MCPHS. 

In the depths of winter, MCPHS students were treated to a bright blaze of fashion at the Intercultural Student Advocates’ show “It’s More Than Just a Pretty Dress”, a student runway show featuring cultural fashion from around the world.

Carol-Ann Farkas, PhD, associate professor of English and director of writing programs, is MCPHS’s in-house expert on psychosomatic illness, and more broadly, the distance between provider and patient. The editor of the recently published anthology Reading the Psychosomatic in Medical and Popular Culture: Something. Nothing. Everything., Dr. Farkas is profoundly interested in how healthcare providers can make better connections with patients across the divide of gender, background, and experience. We sat down to talk with her about how providers can improve their practice. 

Lindsay Tallon, PhD, MSPH, CPH, is an instructor in Public Health for the School of Arts and Sciences. Her research area—air pollution and its effects on health—gives her unique perspective on the vaping trend, which has recently gained popularity among young consumers, many who believe it to be a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. We sat down with Tallon to learn more. 

The arrival of fall ushers in many new beginnings including the new school year and preparations for the approaching holidays. Fall is also the time of year when the MCPHS University Office of Continuing Education delivers its most ambitious schedule of CE events. Fall 2018 proved to be no exception.

In late December, the 14th MCPHS Winter Commencement took place at the DCU, honoring 324 new graduates from the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics, School of Nursing, and School of Physician Assistant Studies. The excitement among the graduates and more than 1,000 family members and friends easily exceeded the energy of a sold-out concert.

Brandon Fusaro PharmD ’18 had only been a Walgreens pharmacist for a short time when he had a career-defining encounter: by administering Naloxone (also known as Narcan) to an overdose victim found in his own pharmacy’s parking lot, the Worcester native was able to save a life. 

The world scientific community was thrown into uproar when, on November 26, 2018, Chinese researcher He Jiankui posted a series of YouTube videos claiming (at time of writing, these claims have not been verified) to have created the first set of “gene-edited” babies using the CRISPR technique. The announcement has drawn swift and heated condemnation from the world’s scientific community, but many questions remain unanswered. To help unravel the many complex ethical questions inherent to the CRISPR baby controversy, we sat down with Dien Ho, PhD, associate professor of philosophy and healthcare ethics and director of the Center for Health Humanities at MCPHS. 

A nun, a motorcycle enthusiast, a grocery worker, and a teenager walk into a classroom... 

It sounds like the beginning of a joke—but today, in the School of Physical Therapy, these folks are here to lend invaluable perspective to a new crop of students in assistant professor of Physical Therapy Bruce Elliott’s and adjunct faculty member Timothy Curran’s Prosthetics and Orthotics classes. “By far, this is the highlight of the semester,” says Curran. “When you get into practice and see patients with limb loss, you’re not going to have the chance to ask open-ended questions.” 

Every year, the MCPHS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program wraps up with an elaborate poster presentation and awards banquet. We visited the poster presentation to sample the fascinating dialogue happening around each poster, and have excerpted the student researchers’ explanations of their original research.

The MCPHS Schwartz Center Educational Rounds always challenge the MCPHS community to expand its view of the world of healthcare along a new and compassionate axis: the latest iteration of the Rounds brought a new dimension to that goal. In a program entitled “How Do Compassion and Integrative Medicine Connect?”, three guest speakers shared their perspectives on the intersection of differing healthcare modalities.

The second Interprofessional Case Conference took place at MCPHS this fall; the event focused on diabetes, a disease with far-reaching effects on all aspects of a patient’s life and healthcare. Fourth-year pharmacy students were joined by students from the Northeastern University School of Nursing and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, plus guest faculty from both schools.

Lisa Heard, MSN, RN, CGRN, CPHQ, recently joined the School of Nursing–Boston as an associate dean and associate professor. Her extensive nursing experience has led her to study issues of interprofessional education and teamwork: naturally, she fits right in at MCPHS. We sat down with her to learn more.

Michael Farah, MS Ed, RT(R), (CT) recently joined MCPHS as program director for radiography within the School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics. Farah’s 19 years of experience teaching the radiologic sciences, along with his time working in hospital trauma centers, has informed his view on the complex practice of radiography; we sat down with him to learn more about what it takes to be an X-ray technologist.

Major Brooke van Eeghen PharmD ’06 is carrying on a family tradition of trailblazing. The Air Force veteran, who recently opened van Eeghen’s Pharmacy in Cranston, RI, has a grandmother who was also a healthcare provider in the armed services. During WWII, Clotilda van Eeghen (previously Dabrowska) served as a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. Clotilda’s portrait photograph overlooks the interior of newly renovated retail space which is owned by, and leased from, a retired independent pharmacy operator. We sat down with van Eeghen to learn more about her journey towards starting her own independent pharmacy business.

“On the first day of the adaptive clinic, I worked with a young refugee who had lost both of his arms in a bombing. We went out in the tandem kayak, where we had set up a system to allow him to pilot the kayak with me. It was his first time ever kayaking. He said he felt so free; it was just smiles the whole time.” --Kalee Kareemo DPT ’20. We sat down with Camp No Limits volunteers and a camper to learn more.

In early October, MCPHS brought together faculty members and thought leaders from a veritable Who’s Who of Boston-area healthcare organizations with one goal: to model interprofessional discussion and team-based collaborative care in the first Interprofessional Case Conference. In small group discussions, participating students from MCPHS, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Northeastern University not only observed what interprofessionalism looks like in action—they dove in, joining the conversation and opening new lines of interdisciplinary communication. 

Laura Ekstrand MPAS ‘12, PA-C, assistant professor in the School of Physician Assistant Studies, has experience far beyond the classroom: the former Olympian explored pathways in professional sports, coaching, and exercise pathophysiology before executing a career change to become a physician assistant with a focus on geropsychiatry. We sat down with her to learn more. 

Brian C. Train, PhD joins the MCPHS School of Pharmacy–Boston as assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology. A lively instructor with an interest in new teaching techniques, Train recently moved to Boston from West Virginia. We sat down with him to talk about pharmacology, culture shock, and what’s really going on with biosimilars.

Zheying Li has a particularly compelling story: the fourth-year pre-medical and health sciences major picked a small regional hospital in a remote rural region of Tanzania for her life-changing study abroad experience, which was funded by the reunion class of 2012. We sat down with her to learn more.

Nicholas Comeau BSN ’13 MSN, RN, CCRN, TCRN, CPN has been busy since he graduated: besides accumulating an impressive number of credentials and certifications, Comeau has practiced in critical pediatric care and worked as an adjunct faculty member with a focus on acute pediatric care. After spending time in North Carolina, Comeau returns to MCPHS as an assistant professor of nursing in Manchester. We sat down with him to learn more. 

Visiting scholar Elisabeth Punzi, PhD, is an associate professor and leader for heritage and well-being at the Center for Critical Heritage Studies at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, specializes in neuropsychology and clinical psychology. 

Janelle Herren PharmD ’16, MSE, RPh, recently joined the MCPHS faculty as assistant professor of pharmacy practice. Besides working in academia, Dr. Herren has worked in retail pharmacy and in biomedical engineering. We sat down with her to learn more. 

Joseph Stamm, OD, FAAO, recently joined the MCPHS–Worcester School of Optometry as an associate professor. An experienced clinician and teacher, Dr. Stamm possesses wide-ranging curiosity and enthusiasm that support his extensive professional experience. We sat down with Dr. Stamm to learn more. 

Amanda Kentner, PhD, has had an exciting year—besides receiving the Gail P. and Edward A. Bucher Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Faculty-Student Research Collaboration, the charismatic associate professor of psychology has landed a substantial grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the intersections among prenatal inflammatory response, environment, and stress. We sat down with her to learn more.

Mikal Gaines, PhD, MA, recently joined the School of Arts and Sciences as assistant professor of English. A curious and wide-ranging scholar, Dr. Gaines is as fascinated by “Black Panther” as he is by public health. We sat down with him to learn more. 

Devan Hawkins recently joined the School of Arts and Sciences faculty as an instructor in Public Health. While working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Hawkins developed a deep interest in the data that he gleaned from an unexpected and somewhat morbid source: death certificates. We sat down with Hawkins to learn more.

Carolyn Arnish PharmD ’14 has two careers; one as a staff pharmacist at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, and another as the pharmacy manager at Dedham Pharmacy and Medical Supply, an independent pharmacy owned by alum Leanne (Galante) Jasset BSP ’78. This multi-talented pharmacist describes how thinking outside the box enhances both of her chosen career paths.

Designed by an interprofessional team (including professor and director of clinical education, Janna Kucharski-Howard, PT, DPT, MSM, and assistant professor and academic coordinator of Clinical Education Cheryl J. Babin, PT, DHS, MHA, CAGS, from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and assistant professor Joanna Bachour, MSN, RN, and assistant professor Gayle McGinty, MSN, RN from the School of Nursing–Worcester/Manchester) the simulation offers students the experience of communicating with other members of a healthcare team to coordinate patient care. 

For the sixth year in the last seven, MCPHS students enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program have earned a notable honor from the Marquette Challenge, an annual fundraising effort sponsored by the Foundation for Physical Therapy. Carried out entirely by physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students across the country, the challenge raises funds to support new investigators in physical therapy research. Last year, more than $340,000 was raised nationwide for physical therapy research through the Marquette Challenge.

Boston’s City Hall Plaza is in the spotlight following the recent announcement of a $60 million plan to redesign the unpopular space into a more welcoming and flexible event venue. (The news came concurrently with the cancellation of the annual Winter Festival, an event that had been held in the controversial space.)  MCPHS resident expert on all things City Hall—Brian Sirman, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of History, has literally written the book on the building and its surrounding space. We asked him to shed light on the Plaza.

Leanne Galante Jasset BSP ’78 recently celebrated a significant milestone: the one-year anniversary of her business, Dedham Pharmacy & Medical Supply. We sat down to talk about her lifelong engagement with the pharmaceutical profession, her passion for her community, and what it takes to launch a business into a crowded landscape.

The White House recently unveiled a series of television ads aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic. Called “Know the Truth, Spread the Truth,” the campaign is attention-getting—but does it offer more than shock value? We sat down with Francis Melaragni, associate professor of pharmacy practice, to discuss how the new campaign fits into the larger fight against the opioid epidemic.

Priscilla Menzies DH ’42 is a force of nature. The 95-year old alumna opened her interview with a mischievous smile and a statement guaranteed to shock: “I think we live too long. It’s awful when you aren’t able to continue doing the things you love, like playing golf. We should all be done around eighty-five.” Our discussion revealed a woman whose zest for life knows no bounds.

In 2012, the Shaker Hills Country Club in Harvard, MA underwent a transformational renovation designed to improve this previously ranked #1 public golf course in Massachusetts and the #2 best new course in America. Six years later, the redesigned and challenging 6,900-yard, par-72 course hosted an event undergoing its own transformation—the MCPHS Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Arianna Harris OT ’19 is already finding ways to give back: every summer since her freshman year of high school, the New Hampshire native has traveled to El Salvador to volunteer in a single village, San Jose Villanueva. We sat down with Harris to learn how her experiences have shaped her outlook. 

Recently, Beatrize Zayco BS '20 undertook a voyage of professional and personal discovery, returning for the first time in twelve years to the nation of her birth, the Philippines, as a volunteer with the medical charity organization Operation Smile. We sat down with Zayco to discuss her experience. 

Kelly McGuire BSN ‘18, Ritti Oommen BSN ‘18, Elizabeth Chase BSN ‘18, and Erwin Chavez BSN ‘18 share more than a common major. The four friends are officers in Nursing Students Without Borders (NSWB), and are passionate community volunteers, working with organizations and events as varied as Camp Sunshine, the MS Walk, and the “Be the Match” bone marrow drive. In August, all four will travel to Ecuador on a medical mission trip; closer to home, they recently kept busy with the Relay For Life. We sat down to learn more about what drives these dynamic students.

Mustakim Talukder MPAS ‘19 and Caleb Howard MPAS ’19 are two friends with a lot in common: besides their identical majors, both are New Hampshire natives who found second homes at MCPHS—and promptly became phenomenally busy. Talukder is the fundraising chair of the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA), while Howard is the director of external affairs for the same organization. Recently, both participated in an event of particular interest to health professionals.

Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene students provided care to the Worcester Public Schools Transition Program and the New Citizen Center Young Adults Program. Both programs are designed to assist special needs students in their final years of public school, and recent immigrants who have experienced significant gaps in schooling. 

Former mayor and Manchester icon Sylvio L. DuPuis ’11 (Hon.) opened the formal dedication ceremony of MCPHS’s newest achievement: an optometry clinic built with the Manchester Community Health Center, with funding from Northeast Delta Dental Foundation, the McIninch Foundation, and Catholic Medical Center.

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired recently honored MCPHS University at the Champions of Service Volunteer Appreciation Brunch.

Of all the accomplished graduates of MCPHS and its predecessors, Mary Brickson Hill holds a significant distinction; in 1921, she became one of the first black women to graduate from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. That was only the beginning of a trailblazing career, which took many unexpected detours, but which consistently pushed the boundaries of her era.