John O. Agwunobi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Agwunobi
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| Assistant Secretary for Health | |
| In office January 4, 2006 – September 4, 2007 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Cristina Beato (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Joxel García |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dundee, Scotland, UK |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relatives | Andrew Agwunobi (brother) |
| Education | University of Jos (BS, MD) Johns Hopkins University (MPH) Georgetown University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  U.S. Public Health Service |
| Years of service | 2006–2007 |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands | United States Public Health Service |
| Awards |  Public Health Service Regular Corps Ribbon |
John O. Agwunobi is a doctor who was born in Scotland. He has held important jobs in public health and in big companies like Walmart and Herbalife Nutrition.
He was a senior leader at Walmart, where he managed their health and wellness services from 2007 to 2014. Before that, he worked for the U.S. government as an Assistant Secretary for Health. He also served as Florida's top health official from 2000 to 2005.
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Early Life and Education
John Agwunobi was born in Dundee, Scotland. His father was a doctor from Nigeria, and his mother was Scottish. When John was a teenager, his family moved to Nigeria.
He went to high school and university there. He studied medicine at the University of Jos, where his father was a professor. His brother, Andrew Agwunobi, is also a leader in healthcare.
Advanced Studies and Medical Training
John Agwunobi continued his education in the United States. He earned a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. He also received a master's degree in business from Georgetown University.
He completed his training to become a pediatrician (a doctor for children) at Howard University Hospital. This training included working at Children's National Medical Center.
Public Service Career
Before working for the U.S. government, Agwunobi was Florida's Secretary of Health. He held this important role from 2000 to 2005. He worked under Governor Jeb Bush.
Leading Health in Florida
As Florida's health secretary, he managed the state's response to several major hurricanes in 2004. He also led the health department's efforts after the nation's first anthrax attack. He helped Florida prepare for and respond to possible bioterrorism threats.
Serving the U.S. Government
From 2006 to 2007, Agwunobi served as the 12th Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. government. The Senate approved him for this position. In this role, he oversaw several important health agencies. These included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also oversaw the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
He was a member of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. This is a uniformed service for health professionals. He held the high rank of a four-star admiral. He also represented the U.S. on the World Health Organization's executive board.
Corporate Leadership Roles
After his time in public service, John Agwunobi moved into the business world. He worked for large companies in healthcare and wellness.
Walmart's Health Initiatives
In 2007, Agwunobi joined Walmart. He became their top medical professional. His job was to help Walmart grow its healthcare and wellness businesses. He led a large team of over 65,000 employees. This team worked in Walmart's pharmacies, vision centers, and healthcare clinics.
He later became a senior vice-president at Walmart. He helped lower the costs of prescription medications for customers. He left Walmart in 2014.
Leadership at Herbalife Nutrition
In 2016, Agwunobi joined Herbalife Nutrition. This company sells health and nutrition products. He started as their chief health and nutrition officer. In 2018, he became co-president.
In March 2020, he was named the chief executive officer (CEO) and executive chairman. He focused the company's efforts on products for weight management and sports performance. Dr. John Agwunobi left Herbalife Nutrition in October 2022.
