Walgreens names doctor to board of directors

DEERFIELD – Walgreen Co. today announced that David J. Brailer, MD, Ph.D., Chairman of Health Evolution Partners, has been elected to its board of directors. Brailer, who joins the board as an independent director, becomes the board's 11th member.

“David's expertise in advancing health care technology on a national level, as well as his experience in supporting companies through investments that promote major change in the health system will provide us with valuable insight, said Walgreens Chairman Alan G. McNally. “This will be extremely important in the years ahead as technology plays an even greater role in the delivery of quality, affordable and accessible health care.

Brailer has served as Chairman of Health Evolution Partners since 2006. Before joining Health Evolution Partners, he was appointed by the Bush Administration as the first National Health Information Technology Coordinator in 2004. In this role, Brailer was the architect of the nation's effort to bring the health care system into the information age, leading a bipartisan effort that moved the U.S. health care system toward transparency, quality and efficiency.

Before his appointment, Brailer was a senior fellow at the Health Technology Center in San Francisco, a nonprofit research and education organization that provides strategic information and resources to health care organizations about the future impact of technology in health care delivery. At the Center, he advised a variety of regional and national data sharing projects.

In 1992, Brailer founded CareScience, Inc., as a spinoff from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Over the 10 years he was with the company, Brailer led CareScience through several financings, strategic partnerships, an IPO and a strategic sale. Under his leadership, CareScience established itself as an early leader in the use of the Internet to share health information and to improve the quality of care across the United States.

Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson said, “David will be a tremendous resource to our board and our company as we help patients and payers lower health care costs while improving quality, outcomes and transparency through our pharmacy, health and wellness solutions.