Newtonian Society presents Swedes in STEM - Michael Ziegler '12

Dr. Michael Ziegler graduated from Bethany College in 2012 with a biology and chemistry degree. He also played baseball and was involved in Beta Beta Beta. 

During the first three years after Ziegler graduated from Bethany, he was a chemist at Hospira (Pfizer) in McPherson, Kan. In 2015, he began medical school at the University of Kansas in Salina. During medical school, he and his wife Jessica had two daughters. Ziegler graduated medical school in 2019 and started at Smoky Hill Family Medical Residency in Salina that summer. During residency, he and his wife had their third daughter. Ziegler will graduate from residency this summer and plans to start his family medicine career in Abilene, Kan., at Memorial Health Care in the fall.

Dr. Ziegler explains that Bethany taught him to surround himself with people who care about who he is and where he is heading. He credits Loranelle Lockyear, Professor of Chemistry, and Mark McDonald, Professor of Biology, for constantly steering in the right path because, as Michael explains, "Lord knows I needed the help."

One of Ziegler's most cherished memories of Bethany is coming off the mound for the last time, "It was a game that didn't matter, but I loved pitching and being around the guys on the team."

Dr. Ziegler's advice for current and future Bethany Science and Math Majors is to persevere. As he explains, "everyone knows they need to work hard and start early. But life isn't a stack of dominoes; one setback doesn't ruin your path. Get back up and try again."

Swedes in STEM was created by the Bethany College Newtonian Society (Math and Science Club) to spotlight Bethany Alumni with a Math/Science Degree. Our goal is to recognize our Alumni's achievements post-graduation, as well as provide a valuable resource to students currently pursuing a degree in STEM. A display is also located outside of Nelson Lecture Hall.