ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio National Guard medical personnel joined state and community partners to provide no-cost healthcare and support services to Athens County residents and other Ohioans during GuardCare, conducted Aug. 1-2, at Ohio University.
The annual event was held at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Heritage Hall and offered medical, dental, vision and preventive health services without income or insurance requirements. GuardCare also provided Ohio National Guard and other medical personnel with an opportunity to train and maintain clinical skills, while serving communities in the Athens area.
During the two-day event, GuardCare provided care to about 481 patients, with 22 healthcare providers completing about 2,530 medical procedures, valued at more than $192,900.
Optometry teams conducted about 306 vision visits, distributed more than 132 pairs of eyeglasses and provided more than $42,000 in vision care and eyewear to patients.
“During GuardCare, the Ohio National Guard provides free healthcare to Athens and the surrounding communities, while providing our members with medical training to advance their skills,” said Maj. Gen. Matthew Woodruff, the adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard. “This event helps to ensure that we continue to be Always Ready, Always There for Ohio’s communities."
The Ohio Department of Health coordinated the event with the Ohio National Guard, Athens City-County Health Department, Ohio University and local community organizations.
Services included medical examinations, dental exams, vision screenings, hearing screenings, immunizations, laboratory testing, blood sugar screenings, physicals, mammograms, Pap tests and mental and behavioral health screenings.
Dental providers completed more than 110 procedures during GuardCare 2026, including tooth extractions, fillings and other treatments, helping address immediate oral health needs for patients throughout the two-day clinic.
Safety and prevention services, including car seat education, bicycle helmet use and crib safety, also were available. An onsite resource fair connected visitors with local healthcare providers and community programs.
Master Sgt. Katy Wade, an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 178th Medical Group and the noncommissioned officer in charge of GuardCare 2026, said a no-cost healthcare services event like GuardCare can be valuable in traditionally medically underserved communities.
Wade said dental and optometry services are typically among the most requested services at GuardCare events. Dental personnel were available to perform examinations and X-rays, while optometry staff provided vision exams and other services. A participating community health organization also provided free eyeglass frames onsite for qualifying patients.
Women’s health services included Pap tests conducted through an Ohio University mobile medical unit. Wade said the mobile unit enabled a provider and a nurse to deliver important preventive care in a private clinical setting.
The state’s Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities mobile services team also supported the event. Staff discussed employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, conducted vision screenings and made referrals to Prevent Blindness Ohio for qualifying visitors. A smaller opening session also was held before the main event for individuals with developmental disabilities. Wade said the reduced attendance created more space for wheelchair users and limited stimulation for participants with sensory consideration needs.
The Ohio Department of Health has helped coordinate GuardCare since the program's creation in 1995. Each event is held in a different Ohio community each year.
“I have attended these events, and it is remarkable to see the wide variety of services that are provided,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “GuardCare is a wonderful program and an opportunity to serve Ohioans who may not otherwise receive this care, and we are proud to be a partner in such an important effort.”
Ohio Army and Air National Guard members provided much of the event’s medical workforce, with additional support from the State Defense Force, state and local agencies and community organizations.
Sgt. Nicholas Stuard, a medic assigned to the Ohio Army National Guard’s 684th Medical Company, worked in the optometry section.
“GuardCare is a way for the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard for the state of Ohio to go to underprivileged communities and really give back,” Stuard said.
Stuard previously participated in a GuardCare event in Bucyrus, where he displayed an Army ambulance and explained the duties of a military medic to community members. He said GuardCare allows service members to use their military training, while directly supporting the communities where they live and work.
“It means everything,” Stuard said. “It’s really cool to live and work in the community and have that opportunity to give back.”
Wade said planning for the Athens event began more than a year in advance and included meetings with the Athens City-County Health Department, Ohio University and other participating organizations. The planning process helped Guard members understand the community’s health needs and build relationships with local agencies, she said.
“We were able to catch the heartbeat and the pulse of why they do this in their counties and how much they care for their neighbors,” Wade said.
Wade previously supported GuardCare events by performing laboratory work and administering immunizations. Serving as the event’s noncommissioned officer in charge allowed her to see how participating organizations combined their resources to support the community.
“I get to walk away and really see the impact that it has on this community, especially getting to partner with our community partners and seeing how much it meant to them,” Wade said.