Toccoa Falls, Ga. (September 27, 2023) — Devoted to biblical truth, academic excellence, transformative community, and intentional spiritual formation, Toccoa Falls College prepares students to serve in the Kingdom of God both personally and professionally. With intention, God creates each individual with a special purpose and calling on his/her life. Although this path looks different for everyone, TFC finds joy in preparing Christian leaders and professionals to make an impact wherever God sends them. For Michael Guthrie, a senior at TFC, this place is pharmacy school. 

Michael began his love for science at an early age, and the influence of his high school biology teacher, who was also a retired pharmacist. He opened his eyes to the beauty of a pharmacy career. Pursuing a faith-based Christian education was a main priority when choosing TFC four years ago, and in his time as a student, Michael has also taken on the role of teammate and Treasurer of the TriBeta Society. These opportunities taught him the importance of working with others, making decisions under pressure, and developing skills in communication and leadership.

Michael shared about his time at TFC,

“As a preprofessional biology major, I was able to take all the prerequisite courses necessary to be accepted into any pharmacy school in the country… My advisor, Dr. Peek, reviewed the prerequisites for all the schools I wanted to apply to and helped me to plan my schedules to ensure that I took all the required courses for pharmacy school admission as well as graduation from TFC. The small class sizes at TFC allowed for greater access to my professors, who are always willing to help. Dr. Peek also secured a position for me last semester shadowing three pharmacists at a local pharmacy…Being part of the TFC community has helped me to grow in my faith while preparing me for the next chapters in both my spiritual and academic journeys.”

Through his admittance in to pharmacy school, Michael is excited to continue his Christ-centered education. His goal in pursuing pharmacy school is to serve God by serving others, and for him, this means finding ways to heal the sick. He knows that medical decisions are often influenced by beliefs and can already see how God could use him to reduce anxiety of patients and build trust between providers and patients. Michael had always dreamt of working with underserved populations by opening a pharmacy in a small town and has since also discovered the potential of pursuing an additional degree in Global Public Health, which could allow him to serve an even greater number of people. In everything, Michael remembers Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Toccoa Falls College congratulates Michael Guthrie on his acceptance into pharmacy school and we look forward to seeing his impact on the medical field and the Kingdom of God.