She was Walgreens' chief medical officer from 2010 to 2013

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has named Dr. Cheryl Pegus executive vice president of Health & Wellness. When she assumes the role on December 21, Dr. Pegus will be in charge of further shaping the strategy of a retailer on a mission to make quality health care more readily available and less costly for American consumers.

Dr. Cheryl Pegus

“I am humbled to be joining the Walmart organization and for the opportunity to partner internally and externally to build upon existing initiatives for accessible and affordable care for associates and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Pegus, who will report to Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner.

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Pegus to the Walmart family to advance our efforts to continue exploring healthcare solutions for customers and associates, and helping Americans live better – and healthier,” Furner said. “She is an exceptional leader who will help us deliver care of the highest quality that people can receive at the right time, regardless of insurance coverage. This has never been more important as it is now, while the pandemic continues to put a strain on our healthcare system.”

Dr. Pegus most recently served as president of consumer health solutions and chief medical officer at Cambia Health Solutions, where she was also focused on increasing consumer access to cost-effective, affordable care. After working in private practice for several years as a cardiologist, Dr. Pegus joined Pfizer where she focused on the development of clinical protocols and early disease management programs. She also served at Aetna, where her work supported a focus on wellness, women’s health, health equity initiatives and predictive analytics. Dr. Pegus also served as Walgreen Co.’s first chief medical officer, a post she held from 2010 to 2013. Dr. Pegus is co-founder of A New Beat, an organization dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health and careers of women and underrepresented minorities. She sits on the board of the American Heart Association and is the immediate past board chair for the Association of Black Cardiologists.

At Walmart Dr. Pegus will be responsible for leading an operation with more than 4,700 pharmacies, more than 3,400 Vision Centers, and a small-but-growing number of Walmart Health centers. The retailer has also provided more than four million free health screenings through its quarterly wellness days, has reduced drug prices via its $4 generic drug price program, and recently launched has a licensed insurance brokerage, Walmart Insurance Services, that sells Medicare plans.