Wal-Mart hires top federal public health official

Retail juggernaut Wal-Mart has hired Dr. John Agwunobi, assistant secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services and an admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, to run its U.S. health and wellness division, including pharmacies, vision centers and walk-in health clinics. The retailer is planning to open as many as 2,000 clinics in the next five to seven years. He'll join the company Sept. 4.

As a senior vice president and president for Wal-Mart's Professional Services Division, Agwunobi, will report to Bill Simon, executive AP and CEO for Wal-Mart U.S.

He comes with a great recommendation from HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, who wrote: "His leadership, counsel and expertise have contributed greatly to increasing American's awareness and preparedness for pandemic influenza, encouraging adoption of healthier lifestyles and leading the renewal of the USPHS Commissioned Corps."

To learn more:
- Check out this story in The Morning News (Springdale, AR). Article
- Read this report from Modern Healthcare. Article

Related Articles:
Wal-Mart plans 2,000 retail clinics. Report
Retail clinics: Accepting the inevitable. Column
AMA members seek retail clinic ban. Report

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