Shaping Pharmacy Research With Purpose and Public Impact

Omolola (Lola) A. Adeoye-Olatunde, PharmD, MS, has dedicated her career to advancing health equity and community-centered care through research, leadership, and education. Adeoye-Olatunde holds several leadership positions at Purdue University College of Pharmacy in West Lafayette, Indiana. She is Darr-Chaney Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, director of community engagement and evaluation at the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation (CHEQI), and codirector at the Community Health Workforce Development Institute (CHWDI). Most recently she was appointed the Director of Community Health Partnerships at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI). She works at the intersection of pharmacy practice, public health, and policy. Her work emphasizes community-engaged research and implementation science to address upstream social determinants of health (SDOH) and reduce disparities in access to care.

Omolola (Lola) A. Adeoye-Olatunde, PharmD, MS.

Pharmacy Times^® interviewed Adeoye-Olatunde to learn more about her path into pharmacy research, the importance of collaborative partnerships, her role in shaping community health interventions, and the ongoing impact of her work in improving health outcomes for underserved populations.

Pharmacy Times: What brought you to research as a pharmacist, and how has research shaped your work in the field?

Omolola (Lola) A. Adeoye-Olatunde, PharmD, MS: My journey into research began during my PGY-1 community-based residency with Kroger Pharmacy and Purdue University. I fell in love with research while working on my residency project, and my mentor, Margie E. Snyder, PharmD, MPH, FCCP, FAPhA, encouraged me to pursue her Community Practice Research Fellowship. This experience refined my skills and deepened my enthusiasm for community health services research.

Inspired by my father’s journey, I developed a passion for serving underresourced communities and providing accessible, community-centered health care. Through research, I realized I could make a broader impact on public health, practice, and policy. Today, I am honored to serve as the founder and principal investigator of HER Lab, a “collaboratory” where we address health disparities through community-engaged research. My leadership roles at CHEQI, CHWDI, and the Indiana CTSI have further strengthened my ability to connect research with public health, practice, and policy.

Pharmacy Times: Traditionally, what is your role within the research team, and how often are you involved in pharmacist-led research?

Adeoye-Olatunde: I frequently serve as principal investigator or co–principal investigator, where I oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of research projects. I also serve as coinvestigator, supporting program development and evaluation efforts.

While much of my work is pharmacist-led, my focus goes beyond traditional pharmacy services. Using community-engaged research and implementation science, I examine upstream SDOH to address barriers impacting whether individuals and communities can readily access health services in ways that work for them.

Pharmacy Times: When getting involved with a research team, are you most frequently connected through your institution, or have associations or other groups provided opportunities for research collaboration?

Adeoye-Olatunde: Both. Institutional connections through CHWDI and CHEQI have been invaluable, while collaborations with state health departments and national pharmacy organizations such as the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy have broadened my network.

Strong collaborations lead to opportunities. When you are enjoyable to work with, reliable, organized, and do impactful work, your name often comes up in spaces where you’re not present, opening doors to new partnerships. It’s a cycle of trust and shared success, and I’ve been fortunate to benefit from and contribute to it.

Pharmacy Times: What are some of your greatest accomplishments as a pharmacy researcher?

Adeoye-Olatunde: Receiving [a grant from] the National Institutes of Health Disparities Loan Repayment Program is one of my greatest accomplishments. This program, totaling $100,000 over 2 years, supports alleviating educational debt so researchers can stay committed to reducing health disparities. The 2-year competitive renewal providing an additional $100,000 has been a blessing to me, my family, and [my] research career.

Pharmacy Times: What recent publication showcases research that you are proud of?

Adeoye-Olatunde: I’m particularly proud of our recent publication, Assessing the Reach of Health Access Resources in Indianapolis for Populations with Low Income, published in the Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement. This undergraduate-led project evaluated CHEQI’s Community Health Access Model Partnership (CHAMP) prediabetes screenings and Narcan education services.

The publication showcased not only the impact of CHAMP services but also the interdisciplinary growth and meaningful reflection of the students involved. It was a deeply rewarding experience as both a researcher and an educator.