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 2009.  From 2005 to 2007, Ms. Arway served as the president of American Express International, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Australia region, a global payment services and travel company.  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.  Prior to her retirement in October 2008, she also served as advisor to the American Express Company’s chairman and chief executive officer through October 2008.  Ms. Arway is an experienced business leader, with extensive management experience.

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.  From January 2007 to April 2009, Mr. Berg was 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.  Mr. Berg is an experienced business leader with significant experience in the healthcare industry and brings an understanding of the operational, financial and regulatory aspects of our industry and business.

Willard W. Brittain, Jr.

Willard W. Brittain, Jr. 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 serves on the boards of Convergys Corporation, Tutor Perini Corporation and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and previously served on the board of Analysts International Corporation. Mr. Brittain is an experienced business leader and brings significant financial and operations expertise as well as strategic insight.

Carol Anthony (John) Davidson

Mr. Davidson has been one of our directors since December 2, 2010. Mr. Davidson is the Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Tyco International Ltd., a diversified global provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, and valves and controls. Mr. Davidson joined Tyco in January 2004. Prior to joining Tyco in January 2004, he spent six years at Dell where he held various leadership roles, including Vice President, Audit, Risk and Compliance, and Vice President, Corporate Controller. In addition, he previously spent 16 years at Eastman Kodak Company in a variety of accounting and financial leadership roles. Mr. Davidson is a CPA with more than 30 years of leadership experience across multiple industries. Mr. Davidson brings a strong track record of building and leading global teams and implementing governance and controls processes.

Paul J. Diaz

Paul J. 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 healthcare 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. In January 2000, Mariner Health Group, Inc. voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Mr. Diaz serves on the board of Kindred and the board of visitors of Georgetown University Law Center and previously served on the board of PharMerica Corporation. Mr. Diaz is an experienced business leader with significant experience in the healthcare industry and brings an understanding of the operational, financial and regulatory aspects of our industry and business.

Peter T. Grauer

Peter T. 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. Mr. Grauer has significant experience as a business leader and brings a deep understanding of our business and industry through his over 15 years of service as a member of the Board of Directors.

John M. Nehra

John M. Nehra has been one of our directors since November 2000. Mr. Nehra has been affiliated with New Enterprise Associates (NEA), 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. Mr. Nehra serves on the boards of a number of NEA’s portfolio companies. Mr. Nehra is an experienced business leader with approximately 20 years experience in investment banking, research and capital markets and he brings a deep understanding of our business and industry through his almost 10 years of service as a member of the Board of Directors as well as significant experience in the healthcare industry through his involvement with NEA’s healthcare-related portfolio companies.

William L. Roper 

William L. Roper has been one of our directors since May 2001. Dr. Roper has been chief executive officer of the University of North Carolina (“UNC”) 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 and of social medicine 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 the National Quality Forum. Dr. Roper serves on the board of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Dr. Roper brings substantial expertise in the medical field, an in-depth understanding of the regulatory aspects of our business as well as clinical, financial and operational experience.

Kent J. Thiry

Kent J. Thiry became our chairman of the Board of Directors 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. Mr. Thiry previously served on the board of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. As a member of management, Mr. Thiry provides significant industry-specific experience and unique expertise regarding the company’s business and operations as well as executive leadership and management experience.

Roger J. Valine

Roger J. 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 boards of SureWest Communications and American Specialty Health Incorporated. Mr. Valine is an experienced business leader with significant experience in the healthcare industry and brings an understanding of the operational, financial and regulatory aspects of our business as well as extensive management experience.