USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center Opens in South LA 'Pharmacy Desert'

New facility aims to address lack of convenient pharmacy access in the area.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The University of Southern California has opened a new community pharmacy and wellness center in South Los Angeles, an area that has seen a decline in pharmacy services from national chains. The new USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center will offer a full range of pharmacy-led services, including prescriptions, immunizations, medication therapy management, and preventive care.

Why it matters

Many urban neighborhoods across the U.S., including parts of Los Angeles, have become 'pharmacy deserts' as national pharmacy chains have closed locations, leaving residents without convenient access to essential pharmaceutical services. The new USC facility aims to address this issue and strengthen the local healthcare infrastructure in the South LA community.

The details

The USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center, located at 3232 W. Slauson Ave., will officially open to the public in April and be open six days a week. In addition to a full-service pharmacy, the center will offer screening services and other clinical services to meet the healthcare needs of the surrounding community.

  • The USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center will officially open to the public in April 2026.
  • USC celebrated the launch of the new facility on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Vassilios Papadopoulos

Dean of the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Andrew Guzman

USC Provost.

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What they’re saying

“We set out to address a serious, a very much growing issue, pharmacy deserts, which are growing across the country and in California and in LA.”

— Vassilios Papadopoulos, Dean of the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CBS News Los Angeles)

“By opening the USC pharmacy and wellness center, we're not just adding a retail pharmacy; we're strengthening the local healthcare infrastructure.”

— Andrew Guzman, USC Provost (CBS News Los Angeles)

What’s next

The USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center is scheduled to officially open to the public in April 2026, offering a range of pharmacy and healthcare services to the South LA community.

The takeaway

The opening of the new USC Pharmacy and Wellness Center in a South LA 'pharmacy desert' highlights the growing issue of limited access to essential pharmaceutical services in many urban neighborhoods across the country. This facility aims to address this problem and strengthen the local healthcare infrastructure by providing convenient, comprehensive care to residents.