Trent University Establishes New Doctor of Pharmacy, Optometry Pathways with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Graduates of Trent’s Medical Professional Stream now eligible for direct admission, guaranteed interview, scholarships at MCPHS
Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Optometry degrees are now more accessible to Medical Professional Stream (MPS) students at Trent University through a new agreement offering direct pathways into these programs at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS).
“We know how competitive the admissions process is for undergraduate students to gain entry into professional medicine programs both in Canada and abroad. Just a few years ago, the success rate for entry was about ten percent,” said Dr. Michael Khan, provost and vice president Academic at Trent University. “With this agreement, and a few others like it at Trent, we are making it easier for high-performing and high-potential students in Trent’s unique MPS program to pursue their dreams of becoming a health professional in their desired specialty and, ultimately, help increase access to medicine and care for people in Canada and the United States.”
The new agreement between Trent University and MCPHS streamlines the admission process for Trent’s MPS graduates applying to MCPHS’s Doctor of Optometry (four-year), Doctor of Pharmacy (four-year), or Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy (three-years) programs at the College’s campuses in Boston, Worcester, and Manchester.
MPS graduates will receive a range of benefits through this partnership, including a guaranteed interview, preferential admission review, and financial support. The agreement will also establish several student awards, including renewable merit scholarships, a one-time tuition award, and a housing award ranging from US$15,000 to $32,000, depending on campus and program.
“We are especially excited with this affiliation and thrilled to have the Medical Professional Stream students from Trent University matriculate into our doctoral programs. We feel the knowledge, confidence and preparedness of these students are particularly well suited to enter our university which, for over 200 years, has been training students for careers in health and life sciences,” said Dr. Stephen Kerr, professor and associate provost of Academic and International Affairs at MCPHS University. “MCPHS has thousands of Canadian alumni and the vast majority return and practice in Canada. This agreement certainly helps sustain our vision of empowering our community to create a healthier and more equitable world, and I’m confident will immensely benefit both of our institutions and countries.”
“I am a proud alumna of Trent and look back fondly on my experiences there. I was fortunate enough to participate in Trent’s Thailand Year Abroad Program, and this experience has had lasting effects, both personally and professionally. It was this immersive, applied learning experience that made me want to dedicate my 25+ year career to higher education, specifically in the internationalization and global engagement areas,” said Krista LaVack, associate director of International at MCPHS, who helped initiate the articulation agreement between the two institutions.
“I’m so pleased to see our articulation agreement come to fruition. We look forward to witnessing Trent student success in our professional degree programs in the very near future. We’re confident they will come with the right academic foundation to succeed in our curriculum and in their chosen professions down the road.”
Applications for the 2025 intake at MCPHS are now open to eligible students currently enrolled in Trent’s Medical Professional Stream. MCPHS will be hosting an information session at Trent in January 2025 for MPS students who are interested in learning more about the pathway. Students may also email mps@trentu.ca for information about pathways to professional medical programs.
MCPHS is an accredited school with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), allowing graduates who complete these pathway programs the opportunity to return and practice back in Canada.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.
About MCPHS
Established in 1823, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is the oldest institution of higher education in Boston, home to many of the world's top universities and healthcare institutions. MCPHS is one of the largest and most highly-ranked schools for health- and life science, and alumni and faculty continually distinguish themselves in healthcare settings around the globe. MCPHS has over 7,000 students and more than 100 degree and certificate programs across campuses in Boston's Longwood Medical Area, downtown Worcester, MA, and downtown Manchester, NH, as well as online programs. Hands-on learning is central to the MCPHS experience that has been carefully shaped. For those who attend classes on campus, in-house clinics and treatment centers provide opportunities to interact with patients in a real-world setting. Students further hone their skills through activities with strategic partners, which include hundreds of universities, medical centers, community health organizations, and industry partners around the globe. Students are the epicenter of all activity at MCPHS. These future healthcare leaders are gaining valuable insights from groundbreaking Centers for Excellence, which convene important conversations and promote scholarship to address some of the most pressing current issues. The MCPHS vision is to empower Community to create a healthier, more equitable world, through Core Values of integrity, community, inclusion, collaboration, support, and innovation.
Celia Grimbly, Manager, Communications, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6240 or celiagrimbly@trentu.ca