GuardCare delivers free health care to Southeast Ohio residents

GuardCare 2026 provided a record amount of free medical, dental and vision care to Southeast Ohio residents, delivering 3,092 services to 491 patients during a three-day clinic at Ohio University's Heritage Hall.

Held July 31 through Aug. 2, the annual Ohio National Guard outreach event brought together approximately 250 Guard personnel and 18 staff members from the Athens City-County Health Department. The services, valued at $231,118, were offered free to all Ohio residents regardless of income or insurance status.

Patients received a wide range of care, including dental treatment, vision exams, vaccinations, laboratory testing, women's health services, hearing screenings and mental health consultations. The clinic distributed 179 pairs of eyeglasses, conducted 196 medical visits, completed 180 blood labs, administered 163 vaccinations and provided 47 women's health visits.

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For Erika Norvell of Jackson, the timing of GuardCare was perfect. She recently aged out of her parents' health insurance and immediately, along with her brother, took advantage of the free services.

"I think it's awesome," she said. "It's amazing, especially all the services they're able to offer to people.”

Ahnika Frogale of Gallipolis attended GuardCare because without insurance she hasn’t been able to access health care in more than a year.

"I haven't been able to go to the dentist. I haven't been able to keep up with my reproductive health," she said. "We don't make enough. We still need these resources that we can't get."

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Steven Dougan of Albany came seeking relief from a painful tooth. Although he has Medicaid coverage, he said finding nearby dental providers can be challenging.

"A lot of times you might have to go to Lancaster. You might have to go to Newark," Dougan said. "Transportation does become an issue."

GuardCare's dental services included X-rays and same-day tooth extractions. Approximately 5% of dental patients treated during the event had never seen a dentist before.

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Organizers said the event highlighted ongoing health care access challenges in rural Ohio, where cost, transportation and provider shortages can prevent residents from receiving needed services.

"At the end of the day, that really is the goal—that people who were struggling to find access to dental care or eyeglasses or women's reproductive health services are able to get care," said Jack Pepper, administrator of the Athens City-County Health Department.

Bringing GuardCare to Athens required years of planning after the community's original opportunity to host the event was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Pepper said.

For Danny Counts, director of Academic Facilities at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the event represented the culmination of 15 months of planning and collaboration.

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The clinic was the result of a partnership among the Ohio National Guard, Ohio Department of Health, Athens City-County Health Department and numerous community organizations, including HAPCAP which transported attendees traveling from local libraries. Memorial Health System provided laboratory services at no cost. Several Ohio University units supported the effort, including the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Health Sciences and Professions, Housing and Residence Life, and Culinary Services. 

"GuardCare was a powerful reminder of what can happen when organizations and individuals come together with a common purpose," Counts said. "These services made a meaningful difference for hundreds of people in our community, many of whom may otherwise have faced significant barriers to receiving care. I am incredibly proud that the Heritage College was able to be part of this effort."

For members of the Ohio National Guard, the clinic also provided an opportunity to gain hands-on medical experience while serving local residents.

"It's the Army's way and the Air Force's way of giving back as members of the community that we serve," said Sgt. Nicholas Stuard, a health care specialist with the Ohio Army National Guard. “I feel like everybody who serves always says they want to give back to their community, and this is my opportunity to do that in a very tangible, real sense. To come out here and put this on for the community that I live in. It’s very cool. Very rewarding."

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Master Sgt. Katy Wade, a medic who helped organize the clinic, said the yearlong planning process underscored the importance of community partnerships.

"I get to walk away and really see the impact that it has on this community," Wade said. "We built relationships with these people, and we were able to touch the heartbeat, the pulse of why they do this in their counties and how much they care for their neighbors."

Ken Johnson, D.O., Ohio University's vice president for Health Affairs and senior strategist for health partnerships, said the event's success reflected the commitment of the many organizations, volunteers and providers involved.

"This success belongs to many," said Johnson. “When organizations unite to reduce barriers to care, lives are changed.”

Disclaimer: It is not the intent of Ohio University to imply an endorsement by any service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.