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Worcester Campus Holds Commencement for 190 Nursing & Pharmacy Graduates
A record 190 students received Doctor of Pharmacy and Nursing degrees at the MCPHS-Worcester/Manchester Commencement exercises on May 18 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. For the first time, the College held one ceremony for graduates of the School of Pharmacy Worcester/Manchester and the Worcester School of Nursing, which graduated its second class. This year's graduates hail from eight different countries, including Canada, Greece, Iran, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, and Tawain. Thirty-three of the pharmacy graduates are from the College's Manchester, NH campus.
Student addresses were given by Sara J. Burton, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Jared A. McCrorie, Doctor of Pharmacy. Burton, who was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, moved to Boston in 1997 and received her Bachelor of Science from UMass-Boston in 2000. She then worked at Brigham and Women's hospital in an immunology research lab and then at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the volunteer department. Burton also served as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow during the past academic year. In her remarks, she encouraged her fellow nursing graduates to be become leaders in their respective fields. Quoting Dr. Schweitzer, she said, "Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing."
McCrorie came to MCPHS from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he received his bachelor's degree in biology from Brown University in 1997. Prior to seeking his Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Jared worked for Bayer Health Care in the Medical Diagnostics Division. He is a member of both the Phi Lamda Sigma Leadership Society and the Rho Chi Honor Society, for which he served as President this past year. McCrorie urged the Class of 2008 to reflect back on their rotation work when helping to better the community.
David L. Maher, Chairman of the MCPHS Board of Trustees, delivered the Commencement address. Maher is retiring from the board after 15 years of service, seven as Chairman. Maher is the founder, chairman and general partner for DMM Enterprises LLP, an asset management company located in Beverly, Mass. Maher, who also delivered the Boston Commencement address on May 16, was recognized after his speech as Chair Emeritus by President Charles F. Monahan Jr.
Incoming Board Chairman Jay Bikofsky presented the 2008 Trustees' Award for Teaching Excellence to Alice J.A. Gardner, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, for her outstanding work with students in the fields of pharmacology and toxicology.
Presiding over the presentation of degree candidates were Michelle Kalis, Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost and Jean Joyce-Brady, Dean of Students. Serving as College Marshals were: Joyce-Brady, Carolyn J. Friel, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Tammy L. Stuart, Assistant Professor, Nursing; and Lily Hsu, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs.
For complete Worcester Commencement photos, visit www.eventproofs.com (name: MCPHS)
Alice Gardner, Recipient of Trustees' Award for Teaching Excellence, Graduation Speech
All Photos Courtesy of Suzi Camarata / Camarata Photography
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