EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) today announced that Gary Beil has been named Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. Richard Whitney, whose planned departure from the Company was announced in September 2003, will continue to provide consulting services to the company until a permanent CFO is named. Spencer Stuart is managing the CFO search, which is ongoing.

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

"We want to once again thank Rich Whitney for his many contributions to DaVita, and we wish him well in his new endeavors. DaVita is fortunate that Gary Beil has agreed to step in as CFO on an interim basis until a permanent successor is named. Gary was one of the first executives I brought to DaVita after I joined the Company. He knows DaVita well and he brings a wealth of financial experience to the job," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kent Thiry.

DaVita is a leading provider of dialysis services for patients suffering from chronic kidney failure. The Company operates and provides administrative services to kidney dialysis centers and home peritoneal dialysis programs domestically in 34 states, as well as Washington, D.C. As of December 31, 2003, DaVita operates or provides administrative services to 566 outpatient facilities serving 48,500 patients.

SOURCE  DaVita Inc.
    -0-                             02/10/2004
    /CONTACT:  investors, LeAnne Zumwalt of DaVita Inc., +1-310-536-2420/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840/
    /Web site:  http://www.davita.com /
    (DVA)

CO:  DaVita Inc.
ST:  California
IN:  HEA MTC
SU:  PER

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1748 02/10/2004 23:50 EST http://www.prnewswire.com