OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente's corporate law department has been recognized by two distinguished legal organizations for its outstanding efforts in promoting diversity. Kaiser Permanente was named Employer of Choice by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) for its exceptional record in hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys. Additionally, the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) awarded Kaiser Permanente the John Essex & Guy Rounsaville In-House Counsel Diversity Award.
Steve R. Zatkin, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, leads 72 lawyers in the Legal and Government Relations Department. Of these, 25 percent are minority and 60 percent are women. "Diversity is very important to us as a health care organization," says Zatkin. "Our membership and the communities we serve are very diverse, as is our governing body, our leadership, and our workforce."
MCCA recognizes outstanding law departments that are helping to change the face of the legal profession. The organization spotlights industry leaders who have succeeded at creating and maintaining an inclusive corporate legal department. Employers of Choice demonstrate substantive training programs, metrics for accountability, compensation and incentives for senior management tied to diversity results, and formal programs that encourage mentoring, and skills development.
CMCP, which is composed of county bar associations, corporations and law firms, is organized to promote business opportunities for minority lawyers. At CMCP, Kaiser Permanente led the development of a minority recruitment program that recommends to CMCP members three minority-owned recruitment firms who specialize in diverse legal recruitment. The program is designed to increase the placement of minority attorneys not only at Kaiser Permanente but industry-wide.
Both organizations recognized Kaiser Permanente because of minority representation in its law department, a strong record of hiring diverse outside counsel, its work with CMCP, and an overall organizational culture that values diversity and gives back to the community. "We are fortunate to have a strong organizational commitment to diversity that supports our efforts within the legal department," says Zatkin.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of about 8.6 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 154,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and over 12,000 physicians representing all specialties.
CONTACT: Beverly Hayon of Kaiser Permanente National Media Relations, +1-510-271-6437, or Beverly.Hayon[at]kp.org/
Web site: http://www.kaiserpermanente.org