Office of the President

Dear MCPHS Community,

We hope you are energized and eager for what lies ahead. It is a time of tremendous opportunity for our University, and we should all be very proud as we look forward to our collective growth and success.

As a leader in health and life sciences education, we continue to adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of these burgeoning fields. At a time when health and wellbeing have become integral to an individual’s overall quality of life, we are elevating integrative health across our University. We recognize the importance of a multifaceted approach to promoting wellness and are actively embedding these principles into our academic programs.

At the forefront of this effort is the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. NESA, which is currently located on our Worcester campus, is opening an Acupuncture Treatment Center, including a Chinese Herbal Dispensary on our Boston campus. The NESA students and faculty will continue to share their expertise while promoting healing across our entire Community.

Our newest Center for Health and Wellbeing is another important initiative, providing resources to improve the mental, physical, and emotional health of our students, faculty, and staff. We encourage you to engage with all 7 of our Centers for Excellence. They each provide unique opportunities for like-minded individuals to engage with each other while pursuing their passions. We look forward to the expanded programming, events, and activities from these Centers.

Student Success continues to be our primary focus, and we are proud to report that all of our programs requiring accreditation are fully accredited by their respective agencies. We are also passionately committed to ensuring our students have the tools to succeed academically and professionally. A new state-of-the-art space on the third floor of the Boston Matricaria building now houses our University-wide Career Development Center and the Center for Academic Success and Enrichment. There has also been great progress across all campuses in expanding access to resources and personalized services to guide students on their path to success.

Our Program, Planning, and Development Team is also working tirelessly, in collaboration with our Academic leaders, to ensure our programs are aligned with the ever-evolving needs of the healthcare and life sciences workforce. In addition, we are also adding many new degrees, certificates, and learning opportunities on all of our campuses while continuing to diversify our offerings in healthcare, business, technology, and most recently, engineering through our collaboration with Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Our School of Professional Studies is also experiencing tremendous growth with approximately 4,500 students taking classes annually. It continues to expand its academic offerings with certificates, executive education, short courses, workshops, and the development of a new online Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences.

Building on the momentum from previous years, our University Advancement team is engaging more alumni than ever, including our Worcester alumni, who are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of that campus. The new Alumni & Friends website keeps our alumni Community connected by showcasing the latest news, highlighting upcoming events, providing career resources, and encouraging alumni to get involved and help the next generation of MCPHS graduates.

Our University has never been stronger or better positioned to capitalize on the multitude of opportunities that continue to present themselves. We are steadfast in our commitment to our Core Values while recognizing the undeniable importance of fostering a supportive, compassionate, kind, and respectful environment where all Community members are welcome.

We look forward to another year of achievement and discovery together.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Lessard, President