Collaboration is a powerful tool. Collaboration can move mountains, build bridges and defeat disease. Quite appropriately, those are both metaphorical and literal goals of the annual six-mile, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Yet, MCPHS University took collaboration to a new level this past fall when more than 100 pharmacy students and faculty from two remote campuses in Worcester and Manchester, NH, convened as one team in Boston to support the 2014 “Making Strides” event.

As student enrollment grows and diversifies, collaborative activities of this type not only unite campuses, but also help fulfill the University’s commitment to its mission and core values that foster community engagement and the education of caring, compassionate healthcare providers.

The team was led by Robert Campbell, PhD, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, who has coordinated event participation for the past four years. Dr. Campbell notes, “I teach Dosage Formulation and Design to P1s, and as part of one of my lectures, I post a slide about the walk and a video from the walk from the previous year on Blackboard, along with a signup list. I also discuss it in more detail with students in my Experimental Cancer Research course. As a result, many students have shared their personal stories. Through these channels and word of mouth, students are inspired to join the cause.”

Candace Heath, a first year PharmD student enrolled at the Manchester campus, shared what the walk means to her. “I know the impact breast cancer has primarily on women. In my family, I have had many individuals die from different types of cancer, and I understand that this walk is a step towards possibly finding the most effective treatment. As a woman, I know that it's my duty to support a cause that is affecting so many like myself.”

For next year’s event, Dr. Campbell plans to advance faculty and student collaboration on all three MCPHS campuses by registering one team, providing coordinated apparel, establishing a single online depository for charitable contributions and, possibly, seeking corporate sponsorship. Campbell concludes, “It was a good time for all involved. May we continue to support the struggle and fight against breast cancer.”

MCPHS University was one among 895 teams that fielded a cumulative 8,496 participants who contributed more than $1.5 million towards making many more birthdays possible!

To witness collaboration in action, view the slideshow of this inspiring walk provided by Dr. Campbell.