Walgreens Launches Pharmacy Patient Advisory Board to Strengthen Patient Collaboration

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens announced today it is launching the Walgreens Pharmacy Patient Advisory Board to ensure patient voices continue to shape how it delivers pharmacy services, especially for those managing chronic and/or complex conditions.

The Walgreens Pharmacy Patient Advisory Board is chaired by Rina Shah, senior vice president of enterprise specialty pharmacy at Walgreens. In addition to the patient members, the Board will also include Bob Stephen, vice president of health security programming at AARP and Elisa Weiss, Ph.D., senior vice president of education, services and outcomes research at Blood Cancer United. Angela Bower, senior director of health services at Walgreens, will serve as the vice chair.

In close partnerships with patients, caregivers and advocacy organizations, the Board will provide a structured, ongoing platform to collaborate, share insights, and strengthen trust between Walgreens and the communities we serve. This initiative reflects Walgreens’ commitment to listening consistently and thoughtfully to patients, driving meaningful improvements in how we provide care and support.

“Listening to our patients has always been at the heart of how we shape our pharmacy programs and services at Walgreens,” said Shah. “As a patient and cancer survivor, a working mom and a daughter caring for her parents, I know firsthand how complex and overwhelming navigating medications can be. This advisory board will help us better understand the real-life challenges our patients face, identify gaps in education and care and ensure we’re delivering a more connected, compassionate healthcare experience.”

The new Walgreens Pharmacy Patient Advisory Board will serve as an instrumental tool for understanding patient experiences, ensuring new initiatives and strategies are practical, accessible, and patient-centric. The Board will also supplement and enhance the company’s existing suite of patient engagement platforms, including Walgreens Insights consumer surveys, the Walgreens Clinical Trials Patient Advisory Board and the Walgreens Pharmacy Dean’s Advisory Council.

Patient members will serve a one-year term, and advocacy advisors will serve a two-year term, providing ongoing counsel and insights to shape Walgreens’ programs and offerings.

About Walgreens

Founded in 1901, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) proudly serves more than 9 million customers and patients each day across nearly 8,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Walgreens has approximately 211,000 team members, including roughly 85,000 healthcare service providers, and is committed to being the first choice for pharmacy, retail and health services, building trusted relationships that create healthier futures for customers, patients, team members and communities.