DaVita, Inc. announced today that Eric Berger, 39, has joined DaVita, Inc. as Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Communications.

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

Prior to joining DaVita, Mr. Berger served as Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy for US Oncology. Prior to joining US Oncology in December 1998, Eric was a member of the professional staff of the Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, with responsibility over health policy legislation. Prior to serving as a Congressional staffer, Mr. Berger served as the Legislative and Policy Director for Health and human Resources in the Administration of Virginia Governor George Allen. Mr. Berger earned a Masters of Arts degree in Public Administration at the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics at the University of Richmond.

Kent Thiry, DaVita Chairman and CEO stated, "Eric brings a wealth of healthcare policy experience to DaVita and we look forward to the contributions he will make to our efforts in Washington, D.C."

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. DaVita operates and provides administrative services to kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis programs domestically in 41 states, as well as Washington, D.C. As of October 1, 2005, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at approximately 1,200 outpatient centers serving approximately 94,000 patients.

SOURCE: DaVita, Inc.