PharmD Student Attends GMHC Conference

Each year, Cedarville's School of Pharmacy faculty accompany Doctor of Pharmacy students to the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC), the world's largest healthcare missions conference. This transformative experience helps our pharmacy students get involved in missions opportunities and challenges them to witness to and serve others well, furthering Christ's Kingdom through their careers.

Ben Tarwater, a 2026 PharmD candidate, had this to say about his GMHC experiences:

"I have been privileged to attend the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) for the past two years, and I can honestly say that both experiences were incredibly rewarding. As a pharmacy student at a Christian university, I’ve often wondered how I can truly live out my faith and share the Gospel with those I’ll encounter in my future healthcare career. It turns out I wasn’t alone in these reflections; the conference brought together like-minded healthcare students and professionals who provided answers to my questions and more. The life experiences and stories shared by attendees were deeply encouraging, leaving me grateful for God and all He has done in my life.

One significant takeaway from the conference was the importance of prioritizing my faith in my career. I often struggled with the question of how I can spread the Gospel as a pharmacist. My plan was to focus on my studies and share my faith after graduating. However, GMHC helped me realize that my identity as a Christian must come first, guiding how I approach my future role in pharmacy. I now understand that I can use my profession as a tool to reach those in need, rather than simply fitting faith-sharing into my schedule.

If you’re in healthcare or know someone who is, and you desire to embody Matthew 28:18–20, I highly recommend attending GMHC 2024 from November 7–9. This experience not only strengthened my faith but also provided a sense of community. Life can be challenging and overwhelming, but I discovered I’m not alone in feeling burnt out or facing difficult situations. This is just a glimpse of what I gained from GMHC, and I truly hope you can attend and find the same encouragement I did."

Cedarville's Doctor of Pharmacy program trains students to become innovative healthcare providers who serve their patients with Christlike compassion for God's glory. Alongside their studies, each student has the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, conduct research, attend conferences, and engage with a vibrant community of fellow believers. To learn more about studying graduate-level pharmacy at Cedarville, visit cedarville.edu/pharmd.