Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors consists of nine independent directors and the CEO/Chairman. Our independent and non-independent directors have extensive leadership and governance experience relevant to carrying out their critical governance responsibilities, and are committed to DaVita's Mission and Core Values.

Pamela M. Arway

Ms. Arway has been one of our directors since May 27, 2009.  From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Arway served as the president of American Express International, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Australia region.  Ms. Arway joined the American Express Company in 1987 during which time she served in various capacities, including as chief executive officer of American Express Australia Limited from 2004 to 2005 and as executive vice president of Corporate Travel, North America from 2000 to 2004.  Upon her retirement, she also served as advisor to the American Express Company’s chairman and chief executive officer through October 2008.

Charles G. Berg

Mr. Berg has been one of our directors since March 2007.  Mr. Berg has served as executive chairman and as a member of the board of directors of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. ("WellCare"), a provider of managed care services for government-sponsored  health care programs, since January 2008.  Since January 2007, Mr. Berg has been a senior advisor to Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, a private equity firm. From April 1998 to July 2004, Mr. Berg held various executive positions with Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (“Oxford”) which included chief executive officer from November 2002 to July 2004 when Oxford was acquired by UnitedHealth Group, president and chief operating officer from March 2001 to November 2002 and executive vice president, medical delivery from April 1998 to March 2001. From July 2004 to September 2006, Mr. Berg served as an executive of UnitedHealth Group and was primarily responsible for integrating the Oxford business.

Willard W. Brittain, Jr.

Mr. Brittain has been one of our directors since March 2007.  Mr. Brittain has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Preod Corporation, an executive search and business advisory company since March 2003.  From September 2000 to October 2002, Mr. Brittain served as chief operating officer of PwC Consulting and from July 1995 to September 2000, Mr. Brittain served as chief operating officer of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Brittain was with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 28 years before his retirement. Mr. Brittain is also a director of Analysts International Corporation (through June 1, 2009), Convergys Corporation and Perini Corporation.

Paul J. Diaz

Mr. Diaz has been one of our directors since July 2007. Mr. Diaz is the president and chief executive officer of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. ("Kindred"), a provider of long-term health care services in the United States. Mr. Diaz joined Kindred in January 2002 as president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Kindred, Mr. Diaz was the managing member of Falcon Capital Partners, LLC, a private investment and consulting firm, and from 1996 to July 1998, Mr. Diaz served in various executive capacities with Mariner Health Group, Inc., including as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Mr. Diaz serves on the boards of Kindred, the Bloomberg School of Public Health at John Hopkins University and the Board of Visitors of Georgetown University Law Center.

Peter T. Grauer

Mr. Grauer has been one of our directors since August 1994 and our lead independent director since 2003. Mr. Grauer has been chairman of the board of Bloomberg, Inc. since April 2001, and its chief executive officer and treasurer since March 2002.  From November 2000 until March 2002, Mr. Grauer was a managing director of Credit Suisse First Boston. From September 1992 until November 2000, upon the merger of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette ("DLJ") into Credit Suisse First Boston, Mr. Grauer was a managing director and founding partner of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners.

John M. Nehra

Mr. Nehra has been one of our directors since November 2000. Mr. Nehra has been affiliated with New Enterprise Associates, a venture capital firm, since 1989, including, since 1993, as general partner of several of its affiliated venture capital limited partnerships. Mr. Nehra has also been managing general partner of Catalyst Ventures, a venture capital firm, since 1989.

William L. Roper, M.D.

Dr. Roper has been one of our directors since May 2001.  Dr. Roper has been chief executive officer of the University of North Carolina Health Care System, dean of the UNC School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs of UNC since March 2004.  Dr Roper also continues to serve as a professor of health policy and administration in the UNC School of Public Health and a professor of pediatrics in the UNC School of Medicine. From 1997 until March 2004, he was dean of the UNC School of Public Health. Before joining UNC in 1997, Dr. Roper served as senior vice president of Prudential Health Care. He also served as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 1990 to 1993, on the senior White House staff in 1989 and 1990 and as the administrator of CMS from 1986 to 1989. Dr. Roper is also chairman of the board of National Quality Forum, a trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a director of Medco Health Solutions, Inc., a pharmacy benefits manager.

Kent J. Thiry

Mr. Thiry became our chairman of the board and chief executive officer in October 1999. From June 1997 until he joined us, Mr. Thiry was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Vivra Holdings, Inc., which was formed to operate the non-dialysis business of Vivra Incorporated ("Vivra"), after Gambro AB acquired the dialysis services business of Vivra in June 1997. From September 1992 to June 1997, Mr. Thiry was the president and chief executive officer of Vivra, a provider of renal dialysis and other healthcare services. From April 1992 to August 1992, Mr. Thiry was president and co-chief executive officer of Vivra, and from September 1991 to March 1992, he was president and chief operating officer of Vivra. From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Thiry was associated with Bain & Company, first as a consultant, and then as vice president.

Roger J. Valine

Mr. Valine has been one of our directors since June 2006. From 1993 to his retirement in July 2006, Mr. Valine served as the chief executive officer of Vision Service Plan (“VSP”), the nation’s largest provider of eyecare wellness benefits. From January 1993 to February 2006, Mr. Valine served as both the president and chief executive officer of VSP. Upon his retirement, Mr. Valine had worked for VSP for 33 years and provided consulting services to VSP through January 2008.  Mr. Valine serves on the board of SureWest Communications and American Specialty Health Incorporated.

Richard C. Vaughan

Mr. Vaughan has been one of our directors since May 2005. Mr. Vaughan served as executive vice president of Lincoln Financial Group from 1995 until his retirement in April 2005 and served as its chief financial officer from June 1992 to April 2005. Mr. Vaughan is also a director of MBIA Inc.