MCPHS News: Our Top 10 Stories of 2025
Dana BarbutoExpert advice, student achievements and unforgettable campus moments, these stories resonated most with the MCPHS Community.
From plunging into icy water to biting into fiery peppers, and from the pinprick of an acupuncture needle to the buzz of Commencement, MCPHS News covered all the moments that turned heads in 2025.
Kicking off the year, our physical therapy faculty broke down the real science behind ice baths and offered up some smart, simple fixes for that annoying “tech neck” so many of us get from screens. We also took a spicy detour, digging into the University’s connection to Wilbur Scoville—the pharmacist and professor who figured out how to measure just how hot that hot sauce really is.
But it wasn’t just experts in the spotlight. We followed students through their big moments, like a deep-dive into what it’s really like for a PA student on their very first clinical rotation. We celebrated major milestones, too: Spring Commencement honored nearly 1,700 grads, and in the fall the University partnered with Worcester Polytechnic Institute to offer new programs and pathways. Plus, the New England School of Acupuncture hit the big 5-0 and cut the ribbon on its new Boston treatment center.
Now, with 2025 behind us, here are the 10 stories you clicked on most:
1. Ice Ice Maybe: MCPHS Physical Therapist Explains Why You Should Chill Out on Ice Baths
Professor Christopher Joyce broke down why people love ice baths—and why you might want to rethink them. Sure, ice helps with soreness and can clear your head, but don’t expect it to make you run faster or train harder.
2. Hot Date: The MCPHS Connection to International Hot & Spicy Food Day
Who knew history could be this spicy? Our look back at Wilbur Scoville, the MCPHS pharmacist who changed the way we measure heat, landed at No. 2. His legacy? Still sizzling more a century later.
3. ‘Choose Growth Over Fear’: MCPHS Celebrates the Class of 2025
Commencement always brings the feels, and our Spring 2025 celebration was no different. Nearly 1,700 grads walked across the stage, and we were there to capture every proud moment.
4. MCPHS 2025: A Year in Photos
If you want to see what campus life is all about, this photo feature nailed it. Connection, community, and celebration—one candid shot at a time.
5. NESA Treatment Center Opening at MCPHS Boston in September
The New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) capped off a banner year opening a brand new treatment center in Boston.
6. NESA Turns 50: A Legacy of Leadership, a Future of Innovation
NESA also celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades of leadership in acupuncture education.
7. Fast-Track to the Future: MCPHS and WPI Expand Academic Partnership
Sometimes, two is better than one. MCPHS and WPI launched new dual-degree and accelerated programs, giving students more options—and a quicker path to their dreams.
8. Diagnosis on Day One: Inside a PA Student’s Clinical Rotation Experience
PA student Emily Brenman took us through her first day on the job treating patients, providing an eye-opening look inside the internal medicine oncology floor.
9. MCPHS Student Minh Tran Recognized for Leadership and Innovation in PA Field
Minh Tran’s dedication inside and outside of the PA classroom landed her in the spotlight, as one of 15 students nationwide chosen for a prestigious fellowship.
10. Tech Neck Troubles: MCPHS Physical Therapy Professor Shares How to Straighten Up
We wrapped things up just like we started: with expert advice from our physical therapy team. Gina Powers, DPT, showed everyone how to beat “tech neck” with easy tips for better posture—no fancy equipment required.
Thanks for reading—and stay tuned, because there’s plenty more to come from MCPHS News in the year ahead.
More University News
Forsyth Dental Hygiene Students Provide Free Dental Care to Hundreds in Rhode Island
Students will volunteer again at the Massachusetts Mission of Mercy event in Worcester in November
MCPHS Worcester Marks a Quarter-Century of Care
Faculty, staff, and alumni gathered Sept. 4 at 25 Foster St. to celebrate the 25th anniversary of MCPHS Worcester. (Brian Malloy photo)
‘Never Settle’: David Gilmore Honored with Nuclear Medicine’s Top Award
The MCPHS program director’s 32-year career has shaped how technologists are trained—and how the profession itself is defined.
Healing Together: NESA Brings Community Acupuncture to the Boston Campus
Dean Dennis Moseman highlights the restorative power of community acupuncture.