DaVita Inc. , today announced that the 2005 "Leadership in Innovation" Award will be presented to Kent Thiry, Chairman and CEO of DaVita, by the Adaptive Business Leaders (ABL) Organization, on May 18th in Newport Beach, California, as ABL hosts its 7th Annual Innovations in Healthcare(SM) Awards and Event.

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The ABL award recognizes DaVita's innovative approach to building a culture of teamwork through a sense of emotional commitment and loyalty. Explains Thiry, "DaVita is not just a company, it's a community." The corporate culture is referred to as the DaVita Way and is expressed through the company's Core Values, professional and personal development programs, and innovative support programs such as the DaVita Village Network, which provides support to teammates in times of personal need.

The DaVita Way has been a success not only for teammates but also for doctors, patients, and investors. DaVita is a national leader in clinical outcomes and the company stock price has increased from low of approximately $2 in early 2000 to approximately $42 today. The company is positioned to become the nation's largest chain of dialysis centers pending the completion of their announced $3 billion acquisition of Gambro Inc.

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure with more than 650 affiliated dialysis facilities and more than 53,000 patients in the United States. DaVita has received the California Governor's "Exemplary Employer of Older Workers" award and the AARP award for best employer of workers over age 50. In February 2005 DaVita was selected as one of the Training Top 100, a list of companies who foster their people's learning, development and relationships within the company. Thiry has been a frequent speaker on creating a value-based culture.

ABL's Innovations in Healthcare showcases companies and products that were selected by ABL's Technology Advisory Board from an array of organizations nominated for their innovative medical products, systems, processes and services designed to improve healthcare outcomes, while reducing the cost of providing quality care. In 2004, Leonard Schaeffer, Chairman and CEO of WellPoint, received the first-ever "Leadership in Innovation" Award.

About Kent Thiry, Chairman and CEO of DaVita:

Kent Thiry has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of DaVita since October 1999. Prior to DaVita, Mr. Thiry was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivra Incorporated, a dialysis company which was sold to Gambro in 1997. From 1983 to 1991 Mr. Thiry was associated with Bain & Company, first as a consultant and then as Vice President. Mr. Thiry was also Non-Executive Chair of Oxford Health Plans, Inc. until it was sold to UnitedHealth Group in July 2004. Recently Mr. Thiry was elected Chairman of the Board of Kidney Care Partners (KCP). KCP is a broad based industry coalition, consisting of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, providers and suppliers.

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.