DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., one of the nation’s largest and most innovative health care communities, announced Thursday that Joe Mello is returning to DaVita HealthCare Partners to be chief operating officer (COO) of HealthCare Partners effective Jan. 1. Current HealthCare Partners COO Dennis Kogod will become president of HCP.

Mello served as DaVita’s COO from 2000 to 2008 and afterward served in a series of part-time senior roles until 2012. Mello also held senior operating roles in large multi-specialty medical groups and has extensive experience in global capitation, including serving as COO at Friendly Hills Medical Group in southern California prior to his time at DaVita.

Kogod joined DaVita in 2005 as a part of DaVita’s acquisition of Gambro Healthcare, Inc., and succeeded Mello as DaVita’s COO in 2008. He became HCP COO in March of 2014 and will continue leading DaVita HealthCare Partner’s International Operations as CEO.

“Having both Dennis and Joe as my partners is like a dream,” said Kent Thiry, co-chairman and CEO of DaVita HealthCare Partners. “They are and will be peers in every sense of the word in their new roles. We will all work closely on the opportunities at HealthCare Partners along with Chief Medical Officer Tyler Jung, M.D., and Chief Clinical Officer Chan Chuang, M.D.”

“Joe has played a foundational role in DaVita’s journey,” said Kogod. “I look forward once again to working with him as he brings his innovative approach to business operations to HCP.”

“I am thrilled to return to DaVita and specifically its HealthCare Partners community,” said Mello. “My time at DaVita was the most fulfilling professional experience in my career, and the opportunity to transform health care in America is something I’m excited to be a part of.”

About HealthCare Partners

HealthCare Partners, LLC, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners, manages and operates HealthCare Partners Medical Group along with organizations in Nevada, Florida, Arizona, and New Mexico. HealthCare Partners Medical Group has been named a top-performer by the Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA), and has been recognized by health plans and business groups for medical leadership, the high quality of medical care delivered, operational effectiveness, and high rates of patient satisfaction. The organization includes more than 1,800 employed and affiliated primary care physicians and more than 4,500 employed and contracted specialists. In California, HealthCare Partners cares for patients in Los Angeles, Long Beach, South Bay, the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area, the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys, and Orange County. In addition to primary care doctors’ offices, HealthCare Partners provides medical services through urgent care centers, and offers a wide variety of support programs such as 24-hour telephone support, electronic medical records, free or low-cost health education classes, and special programs for chronic conditions. For more information, please visit www.healthcarepartners.com