2025 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year

The Charitable Healthcare Network is proud to honor Joshua Pearson, PharmD, RPh, as the 2025 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year. As Director of Pharmacy Services and Clinical Pharmacist at Health Partners Free Clinic in Troy, Ohio, Josh ensures patients receive the medications and care they depend on, providing essential prescriptions for many who have no other option.

Founded in 1998, Health Partners Free Clinic provides high-quality care to uninsured and underserved residents of Miami County and surrounding counties. The clinic offers a wide range of services, including physician and nursing visits, prescription assistance, medication reviews, and diagnostic testing. With the support of volunteers and the local community, Health Partners Free Clinic works to ensure that everyone has access to essential healthcare, regardless of background or circumstance.

Josh’s commitment to pharmacy and serving underserved populations spans across his entire career. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Cedarville University School of Pharmacy, completed his PGY1 residency at Health Partners Free Clinic, and has practiced across diverse pharmacy models in six states and four Indian reservations. He holds more than eight state and national practice certifications and is frequently invited to speak nationally on topics such as law, ethics, and serving vulnerable populations.

“I started volunteering as an undergraduate student and was inspired by the incredible work the staff were doing for people in the community who had truly run out of options for their healthcare,” Josh shared. “Later, as a pharmacy resident, I witnessed an uninsured patient working two jobs who could not afford their essential heart medication, even though its wholesale cost was less than three dollars. I decided in that moment that I wanted to stop being part of the problem in pharmacy and start being part of the solution.”

At Health Partners Free Clinic, Josh oversees every aspect from inventory management to patient counseling. Over the past year, he has managed and dispensed more than 13,000 prescriptions, serving over 700 patients, all at no cost. His leadership has reduced medication waste, and improved access for chronic disease care, including diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions. Under his direction, the clinic successfully integrated new technologies such as signature pads and digital scanning systems, streamlining consent and verification processes while maintaining compliance with state and federal standards.

“As Executive Director of Health Partners Free Clinic, I have had the privilege of working closely with Josh for the past several years,” said Deborah Miller. “He approaches his work with humility and compassion, seeing each patient as a partner in care. His leadership has elevated our pharmacy operations to a model of excellence within Ohio’s charitable healthcare network.”

Josh’s impact goes far beyond managing pharmacy operations. He takes time with each patient, explaining medications in clear, straightforward language and ensuring they feel heard and respected. Many patients say this approach helps them feel safer, more confident, and more in control of their health. He also enjoys mentoring pharmacy students and residents, sharing what he’s learned with peer clinics and helping build practical, sustainable systems that improve medication safety.

“Professionally, working at the clinic has enabled me to work at the top of my license as a pharmacist; engaging collaborative practice agreements, administering long-acting injectables, and instructing graduate students,” he shared. “Personally, it has allowed my inner desire to ‘get ‘er done’ a pathway to manifest . . . I go home every night knowing that I was given the space and permission to do my best to make this world a better place for myself and my community.”

Stories like Josh’s highlight the dedication of free clinic professionals, those who combine expertise, compassion, and a commitment to ensure quality care is available to all. Each year during Free Clinic Appreciation Month, the Charitable Healthcare Network honors individuals whose service strengthens Ohio’s healthcare safety net.

Please join us in congratulating Joshua Pearson, PharmD, RPh, as the 2025 Free Clinic Pharmacist of the Year. All of this year’s honorees will be celebrated at the Free Clinic Appreciation Awards Reception on April 29, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.charitablehealthcarenetwork.org/who-we-are/what-we-do/free-clinic-appreciation-month.html