DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services, has been honored for the 5th straight year by Training Magazine as one of the Top 125 ranked companies of employee-sponsored workforce training and development. DaVita, the only nationwide healthcare company to receive the recognition for five consecutive years, has 110,000 patients and 1,400 dialysis centers across the United States.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO)

The recognition is awarded to organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to learning and development excellence.

"DaVita is proud of our dedication to our teammate orientation and leadership development," said Bill Shannon, Chief Wisdom Officer at DaVita®. "We have spent countless hours developing an education curriculum that emphasizes the importance of both personal and professional development. We believe each of our teammates (employees) has the potential to become a leader, and our job is to empower them with the appropriate tools to succeed."

This is the eighth year that Training Magazine has announced the awards, determined by utilizing quantitative and qualitative research that takes into consideration the following criteria: organization size, training tied to business objectives, leadership development and number of trainers.

Hailed previously by Training Magazine as one of the best US for-profit healthcare companies, DaVita continued its commitment to creating a supportive and rewarding environment, launching and sustaining numerous programs dedicated to building healthy, caring communities for its patients, teammates and the world.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, providing dialysis services and education for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita manages more than 1,400 outpatient facilities and acute units in more than 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 110,000 patients. As part of DaVita's commitment to building a healthy, caring community, DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment. For more information about DaVita, its kidney education and its community programs, please visit www.davita.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: LeAnne.Zumwalt@davita.com

SOURCE: DaVita Inc.