Sacred Heart Bay pharmacist reflects on Togo mission work and his passion for helping others

For Panama City, Florida Ascension Sacred Heart Bay pharmacy manager Zachary Brent, the opportunity to serve others has been a calling decades in the making.

Recently returning from a mission trip to Togo, West Africa, Brent shared his experiences and reflections on the life-changing work he has been a part of since his first trip in 2007. His journey with medical missions began after he was accepted into the early-entry pharmacy program at the University of Mississippi. 

While attending North Oxford Baptist Church, Brent’s connection to Togo was initiated through a partnership with a Togolese pastor, Kokou Loko, who had returned to his homeland after completing seminary in the United States. Over the years, Brent and his church team have made several trips to Togo, each time bringing essential medical care to underserved communities.

“We would set up clinics in different villages and churches, serving hundreds of people needing medical care,” Brent recalled. “It was a unique and often challenging experience, but it opened my eyes to the importance of giving back.”

Beyond the mission work, Brent’s dedication to healthcare continues as a pharmacist for Ascension. At Ascension, Brent plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of pharmacy logistics, something he says directly ties into his mission work.

“The collaboration between the disciplines in a hospital setting is something I love. Whether I’m on a mission trip or at Bay, it’s about working as a team to deliver the best care,” Brent explained. “I hope to take some of the skills I’ve developed here and apply them to future mission trips, possibly even bringing other associates who are interested in medical missions.”

In 2011, the team broke ground on a hospital serving as a cornerstone for their medical mission efforts. Brent returned for another mission trip in 2022, where they conducted their clinics inside the newly completed hospital for the first time. “Seeing the hospital finally functioning and offering care within its walls was incredibly rewarding,” he said.

This year’s trip was different in many ways. The team faced logistical challenges after Peggy Sneed, a long-time organizer of the mission trips, passed away. Despite the hurdles, Brent’s passion for the work remained strong. One of the highlights of the most recent mission was implementing sickle cell testing, a project led by Loko, who has lived with the disease since he was a child. The team brought 1,000 sickle cell test kits to the hospital, where they provided critical testing to the local population.

“It’s incredible to see how much impact we can have,” Brent said. “We saw an average of 500 patients a day and dispensed thousands of prescriptions. It’s not just about the medications; it’s about hope and care.”

Brent is excited about the future possibilities of continuing his work at Sacred Heart Bay and abroad. As he reflects on his experiences, he acknowledges the power of faith and teamwork in his personal and professional journey. “God knows more than we do. We think we're the ones who haven't figured it out, but he's really the one always going before us and figuring out all of our steps before we even get there.”