This is MCPHS: ‘Everybody Here is Like a Family’

An accelerated PharmD student finds confidence, connection, and her place in Manchester.

Name: Mary Grossi
Degree: Doctor of Pharmacy-Accelerated '26

Hometown: Peterborough, NH

Newsworthy Now

Mary Grossi never had a rigid plan when she started out in pharmacy. She showed up curious, ready to see what might happen. Now she’s about to finish the accelerated PharmD program at MCPHS Manchester, and every step has taught her something new—what sparks her interest, what pushes her out of her comfort zone, and where she can see herself in a field packed with possibilities.

Key Facts

• Peer Tutor at MCPHS during the 2024–2025 school year
• Grossi is a Certified Nursing Assistant
• She interned at the NH Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
• Grossi is also a member of the Interprofessional Education Committee at MCPHS
• She’s been inducted into three honor societies: Phi Kappa Phi, Rho Chi, and Phi Lambda Sigma

Background

Before MCPHS, Grossi earned her undergraduate degree in forensic science from Saint Anselm College. She took a gap year after that, working as an EMT for Peterborough Fire and Rescue while she thought about her next step in healthcare. When MCPHS Manchester accepted her into its pharmacy program, she jumped at the chance. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse,” she says.

Showing up on campus, Grossi remembers how welcoming the place felt. It didn’t take long for her to find her people. “Everybody here is like a family now,” she says. Classes, interprofessional events, and just hanging out brought everyone closer—inside and outside the classroom.

Fun Fact

Outside of her studies, Grossi coached volleyball at her old high school, ConVal Regional, and she was on the dance team at Saint Anselm.

Notable Quote

“I have met two of my absolute best friends here and I feel like I am friends with everybody in my class. The community here is so welcoming.”

Candid Conversation: Reflections and Advice

What was your most meaningful educational experience at MCPHS?

“There’s a lot to learn from the clinical rotations [community, institutional, internal medicine, and emergency medicine]. The biggest thing for me is learning about all the new opportunities that there are, the different career options, certain things that I like and what I don’t like…and being able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to the real world.

What advice do you have for other students or your younger self?

“Enjoy it. It goes by super-fast. You’re not going to remember the grades you got on your exams, but you will remember the friends you made and the experiences you had and the funny jokes that you made right before you walked into an exam.”

What was your favorite thing about going to MCPHS Manchester?

“Being on campus, even as a commuter, you end up coming early just to hang out with friends. You’re here a lot—not just for class, but to spend time together and feel part of a community. Everyone’s super welcoming and nice, and there are tons of clubs where students from pharmacy, nursing, OT, and other programs all mix. It honestly just feels like home.”

What do you hope is your first job after graduation?

“I obviously want to be a pharmacist, but I am open to all opportunities…taking each rotation as an experience to learn more, meet new people, have new connections, and go from there.”

"This is MCPHS" is an ongoing series featuring future healthcare leaders from across the University’s 14 schools.