DaVita Names Chief Medical Officer for Saudi Operations

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- DaVita Kidney Care, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced it has named Dr. Abdulkareem Alsuwaida, FRCPC, MSc, as chief medical officer for its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"Clinical excellence defines Dr. Alsuwaida's distinctive nephrology career," said Dennis Kogod, president of DaVita Kidney Care International. "He's devoted his professional life to improving the quality of care for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This aligns wonderfully with DaVita's commitment to provide world-class, comprehensive care in our long-term partnership with the Kingdom's Ministry of Health. We're honored to have him on board."

Dr. Alsuwaida is currently a professor of medicine and director of postgraduate education at King Saud University in Riyadh. He is also a consultant in the Division of Nephrology at the King Khalid University Hospital. Dr. Alsuwaida earned a medical degree from King Abdulaziz University and completed postgraduate medical education in internal medicine and nephrology at the University of Toronto. Additionally, he earned a master's degree in clinical epidemiology from the University of Toronto. A past president of the Saudi Society of Nephrology, Dr. Alsuwaida's research is focused on dialysis, glumerulonephritis and lupus nephritis. He has published more than 40 papers on these topics.

"Providing world-class care is a top priority, not only for the Ministry of Health, but also for the thousands of Saudi men and women affected by CKD and their families," said Alsuwaida. "In the United States as well as in other countries, DaVita has played a significant role in elevating the standard of care.  DaVita's presence in the Kingdom represents a long-term commitment to improving the overall health of Saudi citizens."

In February 2014, DaVita signed a major tender from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health in which it will deliver care to 5,000 dialysis patients currently under the ministry's care.

"These patients will ultimately benefit from Dr. Alsuwaida joining the DaVita team in the Kingdom," said Abdulrahman Al Haidari, country manager for DaVita in Saudi Arabia.

DaVita and DaVita HealthCare Partners are trademarks or registered trademarks of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc.

About DaVita Kidney Care
DaVita Kidney Care is a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company that, through its operating divisions, provides a variety of health care services to patient populations throughout the United States and abroad. A leading provider of dialysis services in the United States, DaVita Kidney Care treats patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita Kidney Care strives to improve patients' quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of March 31, 2014, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,098 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 165,000 patients. The company also operated 75 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. DaVita Kidney Care supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company's leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit DaVita.com.

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SOURCE DaVita Kidney Care