PharmD students showcase La Clínica Latina project at OPA conference
PharmD students Nicole Kurtz, Class of 2027, and Briana Fitzgerald, Class of 2028, presented a poster at the 2026 Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) Annual Conference & Trade Show highlighting work conducted at La Clínica Latina. Titled "Operation OTC at La Clínica Latina," the poster detailed the students’ project completed under the guidance of preceptors Hanna Iarussi, PharmD, MBA, MS ’26, BCPS, and Isaac Schmiesing, PharmD, MS ’26, BCPS.
Located in Columbus, Ohio, La Clínica Latina is a student‑led nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care access for underserved residents in Central Ohio. Funding from the College of Pharmacy's 2024 Jay M. Mirtallo Pharmacy Practice Grant enabled the clinic to provide free over‑the‑counter medications and medication education to help reduce barriers to care.
The project focused on two primary goals: expanding access to over‑the‑counter medications and delivering education through multilingual resources and individualized counseling provided by student pharmacists. The students found that this approach helped address gaps in health care access while reinforcing the role of pharmacists in community‑based care.
