From Dream to Reality with Project Oasis

Two years ago, we launched Project Oasis to help bring pharmacy access to under-resourced communities, an initiative that provides an expedited path to independent pharmacy ownership for a licensed pharmacist with a passion for their profession and desire to build strong ties with the local community they will serve. The program was created to address a growing challenge across the U.S. known as pharmacy deserts, where access to pharmacy services is limited or nonexistent. The first to take that step was Dr. Emmanuel “Manny” Ayanjoke, owner and lead pharmacist at Altev Community Pharmacy in Avondale, Ohio.

We first introduced Dr. Manny when Altev became the inaugural Project Oasis pharmacy. We recently caught up with him to reflect on the experience and its impact on his community.

What inspired you to become a pharmacist?
Growing up, I spent countless hours working at my father’s pharmacy in Nigeria. There were few pharmacies in my small town, so my father’s pharmacy was essential to the community. People were grateful not just because he solved their problems, but because he showed genuine care. Seeing that impact made me realize this was the work I wanted to do.

How has the community embraced you since Altev opened in Avondale?
The support has been incredible. People come in just to tell me they’re proud of what we’re doing, and that means everything to me. Those moments are precious to me, and I am thankful to have such a supportive community.

What decisions did you make that you feel contributed to your success?
Before Project Oasis, I worked in several independent pharmacies, which gave me valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t. Writing the business plan was also critical and became the foundation for everything we do. I took time to clearly define my vision and goals, and I still reference it when talking to pharmacy technicians and interns about our vision.

How would you describe the collaboration with the McKesson team throughout the process of opening Altev Community Pharmacy?
I was skeptical at first, but once I interacted with individuals at McKesson, I realized how genuine everyone was. It went beyond their job. They took extra steps to help make sure I could succeed, all the way up to CEO Brian Tyler. He attended the grand opening, and that gesture spoke volumes.

Can you share a story from Oasis 1.0 where collaboration across functions, partners or communities unlocked progress that wouldn’t have been possible in a traditional model?
McKesson built connections with the Avondale community through constant dialogue. Without that early engagement, the progress we made wouldn’t have been possible. That groundwork made a significant difference in how the community responded.

If you had to describe this experience in three words, what would they be?
Purposeful. Challenging. Impactful.

This work has become my life’s purpose. It isn’t easy, but seeing the impact and watching the vision come to life makes it worth it.

If you could speak directly to a future Oasis 2.0 owner, what business advice would you share?
Don’t get overwhelmed by the technical aspects. Learn from them, but stay focused on understanding your community’s needs. You also can’t do this alone. Build a team that shares your passion and treats patients the way you would want to be treated.

I’m grateful for this experience, and I know the next participant will benefit greatly from Project Oasis. People invested in me, and I want to do the same for others. If I can help future owners or serve as a sounding board, I’m always willing.

What’s Next for Project Oasis

Building on our longstanding support of community pharmacies, we are working on the next installment of Project Oasis in Syracuse, New York, which is currently a pharmacy desert. We used community assessment criteria consisting of a series of standard metrics to determine the overall community need compared to the available resources in that area. Some of the criteria included pharmacy access gaps, aggregated measures that account for health, socioeconomic status and barriers to care, community investment and real estate, among others. We look forward to sharing more about our next location soon.