DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease, today announced its former Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Charles J. McAllister, M.D. will retire effective April 1, 2008. Dr. McAllister stepped down as CMO in July 2007, and has since served as CMO emeritus in the Office of the CMO.

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"Charlie has provided 30 years of incredible service to kidney care patients and the broader kidney care community, as a practicing nephrologist, as a hospital chief of staff and as DaVita's chief medical officer," said DaVita CEO Kent Thiry. "The combination of his energy, his intellect, his sense of humor and his warm bedside manner is amazing."

Dr. McAllister served as CMO for DaVita® since 2000. During that time, his dedication to continuous improvement in the areas of physician performance management, national clinical measurement development, product evaluation and testing, and clinical compliance program implementation, among others, helped DaVita become a national leader in clinical outcomes. Dr. McAllister's efforts also helped shaped DaVita's community-like work environment, which has been broadly written about and is taught at many major business schools.

"Dr. McAllister really represents the life-force of the Physician Council at DaVita, serving as DaVita's physician beacon of outstanding and compassionate care for our most vulnerable patients," said John Robertson, M.D. "All of the physicians remaining with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer will continue to aspire to the same level of professionalism and integrity that Charlie single handedly inspired since the day he joined with DaVita."

Prior to serving as CMO for DaVita, Dr. McAllister served as vice president of medical affairs for Gambro and Vivra, respectively. He also spent more than 20 years as medical director of dialysis facilities in the Tampa Bay area, where as one of the first practicing local nephrologists, he created dialysis programs serving a community of more than one million people.

"Of my major accomplishments, I'm especially proud of being given the honor to work with many colleagues, nurses, dieticians and others -- I was able to learn from them all," said Dr. McAllister. "As I retire from my executive career, I plan on working in the not-for-profit sector with the disadvantaged and underserved. I'm actually looking forward to putting back on my white coat and stethoscope."

Dr. McAllister has accepted a part-time position as medical director with Bay Area Treatment Center in Pinellas Park, Fla., where he will work with individuals suffering from substance dependence.

The Office of the CMO replaced the position of DaVita CMO on July 1, 2007. Membership comprises John Robertson, M.D., David Van Wyck, M.D. and Robert Provenzano, M.D.; and Allen Nissenson, M.D. serves as Special Advisor to the Office of the CMO.

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 over 1,300 outpatient facilities and acute units in over 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 107,000 patients. For more information, please visit http://www.davita.com/.

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SOURCE: DaVita Inc.