For Madison McGuire, PharmD '26, pharmacy has been a passion since she was 16 years old working as a cashier at an independent pharmacy in her hometown of Gainesville, Georgia.
鈥淚 quickly saw myself doing this for the rest of my life because of the closeness you get with the patients, as they become like family to you,鈥� she said.
As she prepares to walk across the Commencement stage on May 6 to receive her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from 黑料传送门 Georgia, she acknowledges the challenges she has faced to get to this point. During her first year of pharmacy school, McGuire welcomed her first child, a baby boy.
鈥淎s hard as it was, I knew I had to do this for my son. He is three now and thriving,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to set an example for him to not let anything stop him from chasing his dreams. It will take a lot of hard work and determination, but short-term sacrifices lead to long-term successes.鈥�
In 2022, when she visited campus on Accepted Students Day, she was struck by the noticeable effort pharmacy faculty made in wanting their students to succeed.
鈥淚 chose 黑料传送门 Georgia because of the closeness and intimacy offered with classmates and professors unlike other schools with hundreds of students per cohort,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thrive on building relationships and having contact with faculty whenever needed, and 黑料传送门 stood out because of that. I never felt alone in my journey over the last four years, and I owe that to 黑料传送门 and their amazing staff.鈥�
Throughout her time at 黑料传送门, McGuire participated in various student organizations, including the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), and American Pharmacists Association (APA). Her favorite was NCPA, as it further solidified her love for retail pharmacy.
With her degree in hand, her next goal is to become a pharmacy manager within her first year of practice.
Beyond her academic pursuits, she鈥檚 a self-described 鈥渙ld soul.鈥� An avid Elvis Presley fan, she often jokes about feeling born in the wrong era.
鈥淚'd give anything to live in the '50s鈥攖he fashion, the diners, the simplicity,鈥� she said. 鈥淣o cellphones, just being in the moment with others. That sounds like heaven to me!鈥�
As a healthcare provider, she wants to make a difference at every stage of illness and health for she believes that retail pharmacists are some of the most accessible healthcare professionals.
鈥淔rom a cancer diagnosis to a common cold, pharmacists are at the center of patient care,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen people come to the pharmacy, they're sick, and I aspire to be that smiling face and comfort regardless of where they are in their health journey.鈥�
Her message to her peers? 鈥淣ever hesitate to ask for help. Whether it's support from family and friends or assistance from classmates or professors, 鈥榶ou have not because you ask not鈥�. I am so grateful for the support I received from my friends and family, especially while I was having my baby. I couldn鈥檛 have done it without them.鈥�
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