by Rachel Ward, Student Public Relations Writer
Amberly wandered through the Caring Partners International medical clinic in Guatemala, unaware that she had once been at the center of a life-or-death emergency there.
Guatemala clinic moment highlights emergency CPR and long-term impact
Cedarville University pharmacy student Thomas Bonifield, who was serving there on a medical mission trip, noticed Dr. Adam Reed, had tears in his eyes. Eight years earlier, Reed and his colleague, Dr. Lisa Ward, saved Amberly’s life through emergency CPR. Moments like that are why Bonifield plans to pursue medical missions full time after graduation, and Caring Partners has invited him to join the organization as a missions pharmacist once he earns his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May.
Caring Partners International equips churches with medical care in underserved communities
Caring Partners, a Christian medical missions organization, equips churches and Christian nonprofits to provide medical care to people in need. Bonifield, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Kettering, Ohio, has participated in three Caring Partners trips to Guatemala during his time at Cedarville.
Missions pharmacist role: managing medications, filling prescriptions and safety checks
“We take about 200 individual drug products, so there is a lot of setup and teardown for us as pharmacists,” said Bonifield. “We organize them, make sure nothing's expired and set everything up. Once we're ready, we fill prescriptions and double-check details for the doctor.”
After his most recent trip, Bonifield’s competence and adaptability in the field led Caring Partners to invite him to serve full time after his graduation in May.
“On my last trip, I wasn’t needed where I usually work, so I stayed close to the doctors,” said Bonifield. “They're experts at seeing patients, I'm the expert in selecting medication, and we worked together really well.”
Caring Partners is based in Franklin, Ohio, a short commute from Cedarville. In his new role, Bonifield will travel up to eight times a year to international locations as a clinical pharmacist, working at the Franklin warehouse between trips.
“I’m excited to go anywhere God wants to use me,” said Bonifield. “Caring Partners also sends trips to Belize and Thailand, and I’ll probably help with those. I might have the opportunity to lead some trips or help them expand into more countries.”
Cedarville faculty mentorship highlights mission-minded character and Gospel opportunities
As he nears graduation, Bonifield said his education at Cedarville helped prepare him for the work.
“Cedarville emphasizes critical thinking and digesting information,” said Bonifield.
Faculty members at Cedarville said Bonifield’s character distinguishes him as much as his professional ability.
“Thomas and I first met in a mentor-mentee relationship that has grown into a friendship,” said a visiting professor whose name is withheld for security concerns related to international work. “Thomas and his wife Adele both possess unique qualities of maturity, intentionality and a strong desire to steward their God-given gifts well. These character traits set them apart and will serve them well as they use pharmacy to open doors for Gospel-sharing opportunities.”
Bonifield will return to Guatemala and other countries multiple times each year, helping clinics prepare and dispense medications that can change outcomes in a single moment. For him, the girl in the clinic wasn’t just a story — she was a reminder that mission work can echo for years.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
