Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
 | |
| Type | Private Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Established | December 8, 1823 |
| Endowment | US $578 million[1] |
| President | Charles F. Monahan, Jr. |
| Students | 7,074 |
| Location | , , United States 42°20′12.9″N 71°6′5.2″W / 42.336917°N 71.101444°W |
| Campus | Urban 9 acres (36,421.7 m2) |
| Colors | Cardinal and White |
| Affiliations | AICUM Colleges of the Fenway NEASC |
| Mascot | "Red" the Cardinal |
| Website | www.mcphs.edu |
 | |
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS University) is a private university focused on medical programs and located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts. The university provides traditional and accelerated programs of study focused on professional education in pharmacy and the health sciences. Since 2000, MCPHS University has expanded to include two additional campuses, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire.
History
Founded as the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1823 by fourteen Boston pharmacists, MCPHS University is the oldest institution of higher education in Boston. It is also the second-oldest and largest college of pharmacy in the United States, preceded only by the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (Now University of the Sciences in Philadelphia), which was founded in 1821. In 1825, the University published the First American Pharmaceutical Library Catalogue, detailing the effects of many pharmaceuticals. In 1852, the University received a charter from the Great Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to grant its first formal degree.[2]
In 1918, the University established the George Robert White Building in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, across from Harvard Medical School to serve as its main campus. In 1979, The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approved a change in the University's charter to allow degree granting authority in the allied health sciences, and the University officially changed its name to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.
The institution would later shorten its name to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). In 2000, MCPHS added a campus in Worcester, Massachusetts and in 2002 it added another campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. Also in 2002, MCPHS acquired the Forsyth School of Dental Hygienists and incorporated it into the University by adding a Dental Hygiene program. During this period, MCPHS grew to include a School of Pharmacy, a School of Physician Assistant Studies, a School of Optometry, a School of Physical Therapy, a School of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, a School of Dental Hygiene, and a School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics.[3]
To reflect this expansion and the diversity of programs it offers while preserving its acronym “MCPHS,” the institution legally changed its name to MCPHS University in the spring of 2013. As of April 1, 2016, New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) became part of MCPHS University.
In 2017, the school was dealing with overcrowding after a surge in enrollment.[4] In 2019 the school received an award for restoring the Duncan and Goodell Building at 34 Mechanic St.[5]
Campuses
Boston
MCPHS University's Boston campus is located at 179 Longwood Avenue in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. It is adjacent to The Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Harvard Medical School, and near health care institutions such as Children's Hospital Boston, The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The Boston campus is composed of three main buildings: the George Robert White Building, the Ronald A. Matricaria Academic and Student Center and the John Richard Fennell Building, which are all structurally interconnected to the student dormitories on campus.
A fourth, separate building, The Richard E. Griffin Academic Center, opened in January 2009 to house the University’s School of Nursing, School of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics, Center for Professional Career Development, and University Development. The six-story, triangular building contains nearly 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of classrooms, faculty and staff offices and patient assessment and clinical simulation teaching laboratories. The building also has a computer and technology center and a 230-seat auditorium.[6]
The research facilities at MCPHS University are equipped for each of the academic areas of specialization. There are such specialized facilities as a suite for radioisotope research, a product development laboratory equipped for pharmaceutical tableting, coating and encapsulation and a facility to manufacture liquids, ointments, and sterile cosmetic products. Instruments available include infrared, ultraviolet, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, gas chromatographs, and high-pressure liquid chromatographs. Computer and animal research facilities are also available. In addition, research instrument facilities, if not available on campus, are available at other institutions in the Greater Boston/Cambridge area through clinical and academic affiliations.[7]
Worcester
Located at 19, 25, 40 Foster Street, 28 Mechanics Street, 19 Norwich Street,[8] and 10 Lincoln Square[9] in Downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, MCPHS University's Worcester campus houses the institution's accelerated programs in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Doctor of Pharmacy as well as the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, two Master of Acupuncture programs, Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and the Doctor of Optometry program, for post-baccalaureate students.
MCPHS University-Worcester is composed of three main buildings that are known collectively as The Thomas Henry Borysek Living and Learning Center. The Thomas Henry Borysek Living and Learning Center houses administrative and faculty offices, conference rooms, classrooms, a technology center, patient assessment and clinical simulation laboratories, and six floors of suite-style student housing (all with private bedrooms). The basement provides comfortable group study/social (lounge) space for students. A portion of the ninth floor also houses a spacious room, the Fuller Conference Room, designed for conferences, board meetings, receptions and other University gatherings.[10]
On September 21, 2009, MCPHS University officially opened a new academic center in downtown Worcester, the Maher Academic Building at 40 Foster Street. The building houses 30,000 square feet of academic and student space. Two 250-seat auditoria and three "smart" classrooms feature interactive technology. The street-level multipurpose laboratory includes a model pharmacy that simulates community and institutional practice environments. There is also a student lounge, student meeting rooms, quiet study areas, and faculty offices.[10]
In mid-June 2010, MCPHS University acquired the property at 10 Lincoln Square (formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel). This 250,000-square-foot building offers furnished rooms, parking, a fitness center, dining hall, outdoor patio, and green space. It is also home to two clinics open to the public: the Eye and Vision Center and the Forsyth Dental Hygiene Clinic.[10]
The 28 Mechanic Street building is home to MCPHS Online, which was formed in 2011. This physical facility houses the MCPHS Online staff members charged with the development and oversight of MCPHS Online programs.[10]
The New England School of Acupuncture treatment center and programs are housed in the 19 Norwich Street building.[8]
Manchester
The MCPHS University Manchester, New Hampshire campus is located at 1260 Elm Street in downtown Manchester. In similar format to that of Worcester, the MCPHS University-Manchester campus offers accelerated programs in Nursing and Doctor of Pharmacy, as well as a Master of Occupational Therapy program and Master of Physician Assistant Studies for post-baccalaureate students. The 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) campus building holds the school's library, classrooms, laboratories, seminar rooms, administrative offices, and student space. Many of the Manchester classrooms are equipped for video conferencing with Worcester classrooms.
Academics
MCPHS University is composed of fourteen distinct schools:
- New England School of Acupuncture
- Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene
- School of Arts and Sciences
- School of Healthcare Business
- School of Medical Imaging and Therapeutics
- School of Nursing - Boston
- School of Nursing - Worcester/Manchester/Graduate
- School of Occupational Therapy
- School of Optometry
- School of Pharmacy – Boston
- School of Pharmacy – Worcester/Manchester
- School of Physical Therapy
- School of Physician Assistant Studies – Boston
- School of Physician Assistant Studies – Worcester/Manchester
In 2016, the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) combined with MCPHS University's Worcester campus. The NESA was established in 1974, making it the oldest acupuncture school in the United States.[11][12]
College relations
MCPHS University-Boston is a member of the Colleges of the Fenway, a collegiate consortium in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area. The association promotes collaboration between local schools, both academically and with buildings. The consortium includes MCPHS University, Emmanuel College, MassArt, Simmons, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Students are able to cross register between institutions and participate in shared social events planned by the Colleges of the Fenway and various groups throughout the campus. Students may also live at either their school of attendance, or in the campus dormitories of the other member schools. Collectively, the colleges represent more than 12,000 undergraduate students, comprising 16.2% of the total Boston population of undergraduates attending four-year colleges, or around 700 full-time faculty and 2,300 course offerings.[13]
MCPHS University-Worcester is a member of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, a collaboration of twelve academic institutions which work to further the individual missions of the member institutions while advancing higher education in the region.
MCPHS University has partnerships with a variety of medical institutions to supplement its educational programs in the Premedical and Health Studies. Educational instruction may be provided by institutions such as Ross University School of Medicine for general medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine for veterinary medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for Dental Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for Osteopathic Medicine, and A. T. Still University for Osteopathic Medicine.[14]
International relations
MCPHS University has expanded its international programs. At one point, there were 930 international students from 65 different countries on the university’s three campuses, representing 13% of overall enrollment. 37 full-time MCPHS faculty hold degrees from universities outside the United States, representing 25 different countries on 6 continents. Many faculty are engaged in international projects through the Center for International Studies and the International Center for Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy.
MCPHS University has affiliation agreements with universities and clinical sites in Belize, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominica, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Peru, St. Kitts, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Turkey that have produced faculty and student exchanges, international conferences and service learning opportunities.
The University’s Center for International Studies (CIS) is a network of individuals and departments that provides services to international students and to US students seeking educational and professional opportunities abroad. The Center focuses on student success and global engagement.
MCPHS University partners with the Colleges of the Fenway Global Education Opportunity Center (GEO Center) to provide students with opportunities to study and travel abroad.
References
- ^ "Facts MCPHS". Retrieved 02/16/16
- ^ "MCPHS: A History of Innovation". Accessed: 04/06/15
- ^ "MCPHS: A History of Innovation". Accessed: 04/06/15
- ^ "Struggles deepen at troubled Boston pharmacy school". The Boston Globe. August 7, 2017.
- ^ Cyrus Moulton (January 16, 2019). "Awards laud preservation of Worcester's architectural gems". The Telegram.
- ^ "Richard E. Griffin Academic Center".
- ^ Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Grad Profiles. Accessed: 04/06/15.
- ^ a b "NESA Acupuncture Treatment Center - MCPHS University". www.mcphs.edu.
- ^ College Of Pharmacy To Buy Crowne Plaza Property | Worcester Business Journal. Accessed: 04/06/15.
- ^ a b c d "Academic Spaces - Worcester - MCPHS University". www.mcphs.edu.
- ^ "New England School of Acupuncture". MCPHS. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ "New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) Joins MCPHS Community" (Press release). MCPHS University. 2016-09-01.
- ^ Colleges of the Fenway. Accessed 04/06/15.
- ^ "Premedical and Health Studies BS - MCPHS University".
External links
- Medical education in the United States
- Health in Massachusetts
- Educational institutions established in 1823
- Pharmacy schools in Massachusetts
- Universities and colleges in Boston
- Universities and colleges in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Universities and colleges in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
- 1823 establishments in Massachusetts
- MCPHS University alumni