In October 2000, AHF opened its first on-site pharmacy in Downtown Los Angeles. This new endeavor made it easier for patients to pick up their prescriptions and stay on track with their health. The Downtown Los Angeles location marked the beginning of AHF’s effort to bring medical care and medication access together under one roof.
When Scott Carruthers, PharmD, Senior Manager Chief Pharmacy Officer, joined AHF in 2004, there were only four pharmacies in total. One operated part-time in San Francisco and another was tied to a Disease Management Clinic in Jacksonville. Growth picked up when AHF received the Pure Pharmacy grant through the Ryan White CARE Act, allowing AHF to open a new pharmacy in Liberty City, Florida. From that point, AHF began expanding steadily across the state – sometimes building new pharmacies, other times transforming existing ones.
Carruthers, working with then Southern Bureau Chief Michael Kahane, helped shape AHF’s presence throughout the South. The Board of Directors recognized that people living with HIV in the Deep South were not receiving enough attention and launched what became known as the “10 State Expansion Plan.” The effort began in Washington, D.C., where AHF opened a healthcare center and pharmacy side by side, a model that proved especially effective in keeping patients connected to care.
By 2023, AHF had grown to 56 pharmacies across 15 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. AHF’s pharmacists, technicians, and nurses at each location continue to build personal connections with patients through consistent communication, adherence support, and accessible prescription packaging.
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