Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy Redefines Pharmacy Services in Mobile, Alabama

At a time when policy changes are expected to push uninsured rates higher, Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies adapt in practical, creative ways. As Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy celebrates its 25th anniversary, Executive Director Shearie Archer highlighted how innovation and resilience are assuring continued access to valuable health and social services.

Ms. Archer has served as the Executive Director since 2008 and overseen the organization's development. Just in the last year, Ozanam has moved into a new facility, strengthened partnerships, and expanded programs.

A New Facility Designed for the Work

Ozanam's new building during final renovation phases.

In April of 2025, Ozanam moved into a new 4,600-square-foot facility designed specifically for pharmacy operations and patient services. Shearie described the new space as “a far cry from where we were years ago,” and it’s easy to see why.

The layout reflects how the organization actually works day to day. Staff now have dedicated workspaces (“somewhere to put their purse”), and shared areas were designed to be flexible rather than decorative. A conference room with breakaway tables doubles as space for vaccine clinics, staff training, and community meetings, allowing the pharmacy to make full use of every square foot.

Location has also made a difference. Ozanam is now on a medical campus alongside a university hospital, the Stanton Road Clinic, and Accordia Health, which provides primary care and behavioral health services for uninsured patients. Co-location with other health providers has reduced transportation barriers for patients and made collaboration across organizations much easier.

Growing the Team to Meet Real Needs

As the organization has grown, so has the staff. Since 1998, Ozanam Pharmacy has provided thousands patients with millions of dollars of life-sustaining medication. The staff now reflects 14 employees and 14 volunteers. This allows the pharmacy to manage complex programs while still responding quickly when new needs emerge.

One recent addition is an Outreach Coordinator based in rural Bayou La Batre and surrounding communities that lost services after a hospital-based outreach program closed. Accordia Health provides office space and salary support for the position, and the coordinator — who is from the community — helps residents enroll in programs, complete certifications, and receive their medications.

For the roughly 200 people in that area who rely on Ozanam, the position has made the difference between services existing on paper and services actually reaching patients.

State Advocacy That Changed the Equation

One of the biggest recent shifts for Ozanam came through advocacy at the state level. The Alabama Association of Free and Charitable Clinics successfully secured $3 million in state general funds for its members in 2025, and those funds are being distributed across the network, including to Ozanam. Unlike many grants, these dollars are flexible. That flexibility has allowed Ozanam to invest in infrastructure, manage cash-flow gaps, and continue looking for ways to expand services.

Layering Services Around the Pharmacy

Ozanam's new front desk.

Charitable Pharmacies all focus on reducing cost barriers to medication, and like many charitable organizations, Ozanam is redefining the boundaries of pharmacy services.

Through a behavioral health grant, the pharmacy conducts screenings and connects patients to local providers who agree to offer no-cost counseling sessions. The arrangement keeps Ozanam focused on pharmacy services while reducing patient barriers and expanding access to mental health care.

Transportation is another ongoing challenge, especially for patients who are unhoused or live far from Mobile. Ozanam uses Uber Health to help patients get to appointments and pick up medications, ensuring that the medication and the patients reach each other.

Ozanam also runs a Nutrition Rx program that provides fresh produce to patients with chronic conditions and shelf-stable food bags for patients without reliable housing. Having previously worked for a food bank, Ms. Archer has unique insight into the connection between food, nutrition, medication and health and the challenges of maintaining health on low income. Ozanam recognizes that some medications cannot be taken safely on an empty stomach and providing healthy food to patients is the only way to assure medication adherence. Staff also help when they can with basics like shoes and other necessities, filling gaps that fall outside traditional health care but still affect health outcomes.

What Others Can Take From Ozanam’s Experience

Archbishop Thomas John Rodi visits Ozanam.

MaryCatherine Jones Consulting congratulates Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy for its continued innovation of pharmacy services to meet local needs. The last year has been a banner year for the organization, and we're sure that 2026 will similarly showcase its progress and opportunities.

It’s about steady progress years in the making -  building the right partnerships, advocating at the state level, investing in staff, and staying focused on what patients actually need. Those lessons apply far beyond Mobile, and they are a good reminder that growth, innovation, and even joy thrive where Free and Charitable Clinics are.

Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies continue to be a bright light for patients and communities, even in a difficult policy and funding environment.

Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy is a proud member of the Alabama Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Charitable Pharmacies of America, and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.