MCPHS to Host Student Research Conference April 11 in Boston

Daylong event will highlight student research across healthcare disciplines under the theme “From Curiosity to Care.”

The Center for Research and Discovery (CRD) at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) will host its seventh annual Student Research Conference on April 11 on the Boston campus.

The daylong conference brings together undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from all MCPHS campuses to present research across a range of disciplines. This year’s theme, “From Curiosity to Care: Building Pathways into Healthcare Careers,” focuses on students’ transition from academic study and research mentorship to roles in the healthcare workforce. The keynote speaker is to be announced.

Students will deliver poster and oral presentations in categories such as behavioral science, public health, healthcare policy, and applications of AI in healthcare. Additional areas include natural sciences, social justice and health equity, and young adult mental health. Projects may stem from capstones, directed studies, internships, independent research assignments, literature reviews, and other academic work. Awards will be presented for selected posters and oral presentations. Winners will have the opportunity to have their work cataloged in the University's Institutional Repository.

Another highlight at this year’s research conference is a “Shark Tank”-style pitch event showcasing the University’s inaugural Hack the Health Gap Innovation Hackathon, developed in partnership with the Massachusetts eHealth Institute. The competition brings together 25 students from 16 academic programs to design, test, and present scalable digital health solutions focused on enhancing care delivery and the patient experience.

Abstracts for the Boston conference are due by March 20. An informational Zoom session about the submission process will be held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on February 23.

The CRD will hold its Worcester Research & Scholarship Day from 4:20 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on April 9 at the Lincoln Ballroom on the Worcester campus. The theme is "The Science of Care: Research Elevating Healthcare," and the deadline for abstracts is March 15.

The Manchester campus previously held a student research showcase on November 20. Topics included occupational therapy’s role in menstrual support, the impact of pharmacy closures, and treatments for student anxiety.

Founded in 2018, the Center for Research and Discovery is one of MCPHS’s seven Centers for Excellence and supports faculty-student research partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, project funding, and a speaker series.

Nearly 400 people attended last year’s Boston conference, which featured 180 presentations, making it the biggest conference to date.