Kaiser Permanente Ranked No. 1 in Diversity Leadership for Second Consecutive Year

Diversity MBA Magazine names Kaiser Permanente Top Company for Diverse Managers

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Apr 09, 2010, 12:00 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente's tradition of fostering diversity, inclusion, innovation and advocacy has again been recognized by Diversity MBA Magazine. For the second year in a row, the health care organization was ranked No. 1 in the publication's fifth annual "50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership: Best Places for Diverse Managers to Work."

"Kaiser Permanente's ranking in Diversity MBA Magazine is a reflection of our overall commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization," said George Halvorson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente. "Our company embraces inclusion as a core organizational value and we have integrated principles of diversity into the basic fabric of our business operations. We have developed an increasingly sophisticated diversity strategy that is blended into our business functionality and value set to help drive inclusion, growth and success. We are honored to again be recognized for what we are trying to achieve."

Diversity MBA Magazine, which is published quarterly, aims to serve the needs of multicultural professionals in corporate America, business students and entrepreneurs. In selecting the 2010 "50 Out Front Companies," the publication's selection team evaluated organizations by looking at representation, retention, inclusion practices, recruitment strategies, succession strategies, and accountability. Additionally, the magazine looked at external diversity programs for women and people of color. Representation and board diversity also played a role in determining this year's top 50 companies.

Kaiser Permanente's commitment to a National Diversity Agenda is actively supported by leadership, including its board of directors. Often times cited as having the most diverse board of directors of any major corporation in America, its composition is 36 percent women and 50 percent people of color. Also compelling is that women and people of color comprise 73 percent and 57 percent of the total Kaiser Permanente workforce, respectively.

Over the past year, Kaiser Permanente has been recognized for corporate diversity leadership by several organizations and publications, including:

DiversityInc – Top 50 Companies for Diversity
Black Collegian Magazine – Top 100 Employers for the Class of 2010
Human Rights Campaign – Corporate Equality Index
LATINA Style Magazine – 2009 Company of the Year
Hispanic College Fund – 2009 Corporation of the Year
Filipina Women's Network – Corporate Award
Asian Enterprise Magazine – The Best Companies for Asian Pacific Americans
National Committee for Quality Assurance – Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care
Black EOE Journal – Top Diversity Employer
Springboard Consulting, LLC – Disability Matters – Diversity Award

The May 2010 issue of Diversity MBA Magazine will feature the "50 Out Front for Diversity Leadership: Best Places for Diverse Managers to Work."

Kaiser Permanente will accept this award at a gala in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 10, 2010.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente