Value retailer is expanding its health care offerings

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General Corp. has named a chief medical officer and intends to position its stores as health and wellness destinations by adding an expanded assortment of products and services.

“At Dollar General, we are always looking for new ways to serve, and our customers have told us that they would like to see increased access to affordable healthcare products and services in their communities,” Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos said on Wednesday. “Our goal is to build and enhance affordable healthcare offerings for our customers, especially in the rural communities we serve.”

The retailer said it will expand the assortment of cough and cold, dental, nutritional, medical, health aids and feminine hygiene products available across many of its Dollar General stores.

Dollar General also announced the appointment of Albert Wu, M.D. to the newly created position of vice president and chief medical officer. In this role, Dr. Wu will help to develop DG’s new health care services efforts by establishing and strengthening relationships with current and prospective healthcare product and service providers to build a comprehensive network of affordable services for DG customers.

“We’re excited to welcome Albert to our team and to put a greater emphasis on wellness in the communities we serve,” Vasos said. “His impressive experience brings a unique perspective to our operations and will be critical as we look to develop our health care services offering.”

Dr. Wu joins Dollar General from McKinsey & Company, where he has worked since 2016. During that time, he led a team to create a total cost of care model for 250,000 rural healthcare patients; oversaw multiple hospital provider turnarounds totaling $2-5 billion in revenue; designed a digitally-driven healthcare insurance product offering; and provided guidance to analysts modeling ventilation and pharmaceutical needs to support pandemic relief efforts. Prior to that, Dr. Wu was an anesthesiology resident, delivering direct care to patients in a variety of care settings.

Dr. Wu joined Dollar General on Tuesday and reports to chief operating officer Jeff Owen.