Bringing Health Support Closer to Home: Walmart Plans Six-Month Rural Health Ambassador Pilot

Sept. 15, 2026

4 min read

Health & Wellness

A new proof of concept will explore how dedicated pharmacists can help rural customers navigate individual health goals, clinical services, nutrition resources and digital tools, building on Walmart's broader work to make care more accessible and convenient. 

Health is part of the foundation that allows people to work, care for their families and pursue opportunity, and it is shaped by the choices and actions woven into everyday life: refilling a prescription, planning nutritious meals, shopping for groceries, asking a question about a new medication, scheduling a screening or seeking support between appointments. But for customers living in rural communities facing healthcare provider shortages, even those routine steps can become harder to take.

Walmart has a unique opportunity to help make that support more practical, personal and connected to the way people already live. Approximately 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart store or club, and 4,000 Walmart stores are located in medically underserved areas. That proximity, combined with the relationships Walmart pharmacists have built in the communities they serve, creates an opportunity to help connect customers with health and wellness resources where they already live and shop.

Over the next six months, Walmart will pilot a new Health Ambassador associate role at stores serving rural communities, including: Lexington, TN; Caro, MI; Franklin, VA; Fort Scott, KS; and Searcy, AR.

"Health does not happen in one place, and it rarely fits neatly into a single appointment," said Emily Aaronson, M.D., M.P.H., chief medical officer, Walmart U.S. "Customers already turn to Walmart for affordable food and everyday essentials, convenient services and pharmacists they know and trust. By giving pharmacists dedicated time to listen, coach and connect customers with relevant support, this pilot will help us learn how a familiar, trusted setting can make health resources more accessible, practical and actionable for people living in rural communities." 

At each store, a trained Walmart pharmacist who knows the community will serve as a Health Ambassador. Walmart Health Ambassadors will have dedicated time to support customers beyond the pharmacy counter - understand their health goals and help connect them with relevant services and resources. By pairing pharmacists' clinical expertise with the relationships they have built in their communities, the pilot will explore how more personalized, ongoing support can make it easier for rural customers to take the next step in their health journey.

A familiar guide with dedicated time

Health Ambassadors will meet customers in a familiar place where they already shop and help make the next step clearer. Through in-person conversations and tailored coaching, they can help customers consider practical actions related to nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management. 

They can also help customers navigate Walmart's broader offerings. Depending on a customer's needs, that may include pharmacy clinical services, immunizations, screenings, vision care, medication support, virtual care through Walmart's Better Care Services telehealth marketplace, nutrition resources, pharmacy delivery, Walmart+ and other digital tools. 

This dedicated role is designed to create greater continuity across all the health and wellness touchpoints Walmart offers. A Health Ambassador might begin with a conversation in the aisles, meet with a customer for a scheduled or walk in health coaching session, walk through relevant healthier choices and grocery list planning, discuss over-the-counter options and help arrange an appropriate next step. Dedicated community engagement time will also allow Health Ambassadors to support educational classes, local events and stronger connections with organizations serving rural residents.

Connecting the pieces of a health journey

The pilot will initially focus on three health journeys that affect millions of American families: diabetes, weight management and maternal health.  The goal is to put the customer at the center of Walmart's vast ecosystem of support and help customers see how different forms of support can work together, while connecting them to useful community resources.

As an example, for someone managing diabetes or working toward a healthy weight, progress may involve exploring healthier food swaps, movement, health monitoring, medication and regular encouragement along the way. A new or expectant mother may be looking for nutrition support, food recommendations, self-care products or preventive services. The Health Ambassador can help customers make sense of those different needs, identify relevant Walmart services and community resources and connect them with an appropriate next step based on their goals. Rather than leaving customers to navigate each piece on their own, the Health Ambassador serves as a familiar guide across the experience.

By bringing more personalized support closer to where rural customers already live and shop, Walmart aims to bridge gaps in care, improve health outcomes and help people live better. This six-month pilot will help Walmart learn what works, where customers need additional support and how a dedicated Health Ambassador can help connect the pieces of a person's health journey. These learnings will inform how we continue building more accessible, connected health and wellness experiences for the communities we serve.

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