Campbell Grads Win Top Honors in Pharmacy Research

Mabrey Marcom and Josue Gomez-Ruiz are leaving Campbell University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences with more than diplomas. They're taking home their programs' highest academic honors and launching careers that could help thousands of patients.

Marcom, from Garner, North Carolina, earned the Clinical Research Outstanding Academic Performance Award for her four years of exceptional work in the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Research program. The award recognizes students who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA while showing outstanding character and commitment to service.

During her final semester, Marcom completed an internship at WakeMed's Clinical Research Institute, where she shadowed clinical research coordinators and gained real-world experience. She plans to work directly with patients as a clinical research coordinator, bringing studies from lab benches to bedsides.

Gomez-Ruiz, a Clayton native, received the Pharmaceutical Sciences Award for Academic Excellence by achieving the highest GPA in his entire Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. The prestigious award comes with an engraved plaque and cash prize.

While earning his degree, Gomez-Ruiz interned at Pfizer in the Cleaning Validation Department, gaining industry experience at one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. He's continuing in the pharmaceutical field after graduation, focusing on quality control laboratory work that ensures medications are safe and effective.

Why This Inspires

These students represent a generation choosing careers in healthcare not for the spotlight, but for the impact. Clinical research coordinators like Marcom help bring breakthrough treatments to patients who need them most. Quality control specialists like Gomez-Ruiz ensure every medication meets the highest safety standards before reaching pharmacy shelves.

Both graduates balanced rigorous academics with hands-on internships at major medical institutions, proving that excellence comes from both studying hard and rolling up your sleeves. Their success stories show what's possible when universities partner with healthcare organizations to give students real experience alongside their textbooks.

Campbell University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is preparing graduates who will shape the future of medicine through research, innovation, and unwavering commitment to patient care.