Friday, Aug. 31, 2001

Pharmacy school convocation emphasizes God's hand in healing

The prayers of her friends and colleagues played an important role in treating the breast cancer that Suzan Maddox was diagnosed with in 1990. Maddox is the wife of Ronald Maddox, dean of the Campbell University School of Pharmacy. She spoke at the 16th annual Pharmacy School Convocation on Aug. 29, which focused on the role of spirituality in healing.

Adding a clinical perspective to the subject was Michael W. Krucoff, senior cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center and co-author of a study on the power of prayer in healing

"You may be wondering why a cardiologist would be standing up here talking to you about prayer, but if you've ever experienced a crushing pain in your chest and been forced to surrender your life to medical professionals, you realize how important a compassionate, spiritually inclined caregiver can be," Krucoff said.

Krucoff and his assistant, Suzanne Crater, a certified nurse practitioner, conducted a feasibility study on the power of prayer in healing titled the MANTRA Project, Phase I. Out of 150 patients, the ones who received intercessory prayer interventions as part of their treatment plan had a greater number of positive outcomes than those who did not.

Krucoff and Crater are currently working on MANTRA, Phase II, a study involving 1,500 patients.

Maddox, who was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago, added a personal perspective to Krucoff's comments.

"I learned a lot about what it's like to be on the other side of the syringe," she said. "I had an aggressive kind of cancer, and my prognosis wasn't great."

A stay-at-home mother of four who had never experienced a catastrophic illness, Maddox said her diagnosis was a total shock. But while she endured a ravaging round of treatments, including two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, Maddox received more than 200 "get well" cards that contained messages indicating prayer had been offered for her.

"It made all the difference in my health and in my attitude," Maddox said. "Both my husband and I were literally uplifted by these prayers."

Later Maddox decided to start her own business, Maddox Oncology Products, Inc., which manufactures attractive head coverings and other products for cancer patients. The company also makes prayer quilts to comfort and support patients who are fighting the disease.

The Campbell University School of Pharmacy reported the highest enrollment numbers this semester since its establishment in 1986, including 373 students in the doctor of pharmacy program; 43 in the bachelor of pharmaceutical sciences program; nine in the new master of pharmaceutical sciences program; 10 in the bachelor of clinical research program; and 86 in the master of clinical research program.

The school posted a 100 percent passage rate on the 2000 National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Exam, the fourth time the Pharmacy School has achieved a perfect score on the national exam. The school has an average passage rate since the school's charter class in 1990 of 98.8 percent.

The national passage rate on the exam is 92 percent.

The Campbell Pharmacy School also maintains a passage rate average of 98.3 percent on the state board exam.

(EDITOR'S NOTE - Welch is a writer for Campbell University's public information office.)

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