A New Chapter in Patient Care: BIFMC Opens Its First Dispensing Pharmacy October 16, 2025

“I am truly excited to step into the role of Pharmacist in Charge at Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic. It’s an honor to lead our pharmacy efforts and work alongside such dedicated staff and volunteers. I look forward to contributing in meaningful ways to support our growing patient community.” – Mary Kunitzer, PharmD

Since 2013, Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic has held a non-dispensing pharmacy license, allowing providers to prescribe and track medications for patients. In 2023 alone, the Clinic’s patients received prescriptions with an in-kind value of more than $3 million. But as patient numbers continued to grow and medical needs became more complex, leadership recognized that it was time to take a new step forward: transitioning to a dispensing pharmacy license. The Clinic formally hired Dr. Mary Kunitzer, PharmD, as the Clinic’s newly appointed Pharmacist in Charge in August.

Until recently, patients were often required to travel to outside pharmacies to pick up their medications, posing challenges such as transportation barriers, time away from work, or the financial strain of covering certain prescriptions. By converting to a dispensing pharmacy, the Clinic can now provide medications directly on-site, ensuring that patients leave their appointment with their treatment plan in hand – completely free of cost.

“Having a pharmacist on-site allows us to deliver a higher quality of care,” explains Melissa Frank, Executive Director at BIFMC. “[Kunitzer] can meet with patients one-on-one to explain their medications, check for interactions, and provide counseling. That kind of education improves adherence, reduces risks, and ultimately supports better health outcomes.”

Enhancing Care and Expanding Access

The new pharmacy program will bring immediate benefits, including:

• On-site dispensing: Patients can begin treatment right away, without additional trips or delays.
  
• Personalized counseling: Kunitzer will provide education and answer questions for patients starting new prescriptions.
  
• Safety and collaboration: Every prescription will be reviewed for potential interactions, with Kunitzer working closely alongside providers using evidence-based best practices.
  
• Future growth: The Clinic plans to expand both its medication inventory and its vaccine offerings, further protecting patients’ long-term health.
  

Meet Mary Kunitzer, PharmD

Kunitzer brings more than a decade of experience to her new role. After earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 2012, she worked in both retail and specialty pharmacy before joining the Clinic in 2025. She also continues to serve the Charleston community through her part-time role at Dottie’s Pharmacy.

Her family has supported the Clinic for years, and when the opportunity arose to lead its new pharmacy initiative, Kunitzer says it felt like a natural fit. “Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic represents everything I value in healthcare—compassion, quality, and access for all. To me, this work is about removing barriers so patients can focus on healing,” she explains.

As the Clinic’s patient population expands, Kunitzer anticipates the pharmacy program will need to increase both its formulary and funding to keep up with growing demand. “Expanding our inventory to include more chronic and specialty medications will be essential,” she notes, adding that she feels “deeply honored” to serve in this role for BIFMC. “It’s a privilege to support such a dedicated team and help build a healthier future for our community. I look forward to growing this program and ensuring that every patient has access to the medications and preventive care they deserve.”

With this important milestone, Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is ushering in a new era of comprehensive, patient-centered care; one in which every patient leaves not only with a diagnosis and a treatment plan, but with the medications and knowledge they need to take charge of their health.

Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is a free clinic in Charleston, SC, that provides free medical care to eligible patients, just like any family practitioner or internist. The Free Clinic serves uninsured adults living at or below 299% of the federal poverty level who live or work across Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester counties. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.