2026 Alumni Award Winners Shine at Reed Conference

2026 Alumni Award winners celebrated at Reed Conference.

Amid a day filled with camaraderie and inspiring professional lessons, four alumni of the School of Pharmacy were recognized for their accomplishments, leadership, and commitment to the profession and their alma mater. The honors are presented annually during the Reed Conference to alumni who embody the MCPHS values of integrity, respect, and collaboration.

Ernie Gates Jr. ’67—Distinguished Alumni Award, Boston

“I would do anything I could to help MCPHS,” says Ernie Gates. “None of my success could have happened without the education and foundation I received from MCPHS.”

As a pharmacist and entrepreneur, Gates built companies and pioneered specialized pharmacy services that connect traditional practice with emerging healthcare needs. He developed and patented the lozenge mold—a tool now commonly used in compounding pharmacies—and founded Gates Apothecary, one of the largest compounding pharmacies in the U.S., which later became Priority Health Care.

He has long-standing ties to the university, including serving as a corporate member, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and a Trustee Emeritus. His contributions to the pharmacy profession have earned him numerous awards, including the Bowl of Hygeia and the Honorary Fellowship Award from the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists.

Today, he is President and CEO of Gates Healthcare Associates in Middleton, MA, a national compliance consulting firm. He is sought after for his expertise both near and far and was recently appointed to a special commission by the Massachusetts Senate to study and address the public health and safety concerns related to the spread of xylazine as an additive to illicit drugs, including fentanyl.

Dr. Milka Njoroge, PharmD ’06—Distinguished Alumni Award, Worcester-Manchester

Early in her career as a cardiovascular clinical pharmacist at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Milka Njoroge noticed a pattern among many of the patients she treated: they would stabilize in the hospital, only to return weeks later with the same conditions. Recognizing that many patients struggled to manage complex health needs once home, she began exploring how care could better support patients beyond the hospital.

That insight ultimately led her to found Century Homecare LLC, which has grown into one of the leading minority-owned home health organizations in Massachusetts.

Drawing on her expertise in medication management and care coordination, Njoroge helped develop a model of care that supports patients—particularly those in underserved communities—in managing complex conditions at home. Today, Century Homecare clinicians complete approximately 2,000 home visits each week across the Bay State, addressing both medical needs and the social factors that influence health.

The work reflects her deep commitment to dignity, access, and compassion in healthcare, and highlights the important role pharmacists can play in shaping patient-centered care.

Her leadership has earned her numerous honors, including the Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty, Power 50, and the Champion of Health Care Award. She is also a dedicated mentor, board member, and leadership coach who actively supports the next generation of healthcare professionals through teaching, preceptorship, and community service.

“My education at MCPHS provided the clinical foundation and sense of purpose that continue to guide my work today,” she says. “Receiving this recognition is deeply meaningful to me, and I remain grateful for the mentors, colleagues, and teams who have been part of this journey.”

Dr. Jessica Marx, PharmD ’16—Graduate of the Last Decade Award, Worcester-Manchester

Since graduating, Dr. Jessica Marx has gained well-rounded experience in a variety of pharmacy practice settings, from community to the emergency department. A Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, she was an inpatient clinical staff pharmacist and an emergency medicine pharmacist before taking on her role today as the Clinical Pharmacy Manager and PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Director at Portsmouth Regional Hospital in New Hampshire. She also devotes time as a per diem pharmacist at nearby Exeter Hospital.

Marx was widely involved in activities and societies throughout her student days, and has carried that passion into her career. She had held leadership roles across the pharmacy industry, including with the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the New Hampshire Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She currently serves on the Women in Pharmacy Committee for the APhA Foundation, represents New Hampshire as a delegate to ASHP, and sits on the Member Relations Committee for NHSHP.

“I am both humbled and honored to receive this award. Thank you to my family, friends, past and current colleagues, and MCPHS faculty and staff for all of their support and guidance,” she says. “Special thanks to Keith Marciniak, a fellow MCPHS alum, for his continued support through the American Pharmacists Association since my time as a student. I am truly grateful to be a member of this profession!"

Dr. James Long DPH ’21—Graduate of the Last Decade Award, Boston

“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the GOLD Award,” shares Dr. James Long, who could not attend the Reed Conference due to prior commitments. “The training and education I received at MCPHS have been invaluable, enabling me to practice at the top of my license in various non-traditional pharmacy roles within both industry and consulting, particularly in the oncology and rare disease sectors.”

Long has built his career around a clear mission: bridging scientific expertise and system-level implementation to elevate standards of care and expand patient access to innovative oncology therapies. His efforts have expanded his influence beyond direct patient care and helped shape the profession.

In his role in medical affairs at Fennec Pharmaceuticals, he works with cross-functional teams to craft solutions to market access, using data-driven approaches to optimize coverage for innovative therapies. He also collaborates with professional associations and academic institutions to provide clinical education and increase awareness of specialized treatment management.

His scope of work extends to designing clinical trials, shaping patient journeys for payer policy analysis, revising NCCN guidelines to advance care for adolescents and young adults at risk for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, and creating a pharmacy rotation program for students pursuing industry fellowships. He also created a pharmacy-led ambulatory clinic that became a prototype for system-wide anticoagulation management, and developed a specialty pharmacy in collaboration with one of the nation’s largest oncology organizations.

Long thanks Dr. Grams for the clinical trial analysis and medical writing portion of his training, which allowed him many of these career opportunities.