Fresenius Medical Care Renal Therapies Group Announces Chief Medical Officer to Retire

Incoming CMO of company’s products business to assume position as of July 1, 2014

Fresenius Medical Care Renal Therapies Group (RTG) , the continent’s leading provider of kidney care products, announced today that Dr. Jose A. Diaz-Buxo, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, has decided to retire as of May 31. Dr. Robert Kossmann will assume this position beginning July 1.

Dr. Diaz-Buxo joined Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) in 1996 as president of the company’s Peritoneal Dialysis Services and was named RTG’s Chief Medical Officer in 2004. During his tenure he played a critical role in leading the development of devices and drugs designed to improve the quality of life and longevity of patients on dialysis. This included his invention of Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) and PD Plus Therapy, and his leadership and contributions to peritoneal kinetics. Dr. Diaz-Buxo has published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications on these and other important areas of dialysis.

RTG has named Dr. Robert Kossmann as its incoming Chief Medical Officer. He will assume this position following Dr. Diaz-Buxo’s retirement. Dr. Kossmann is a nephrologist in Santa Fe, N.M., a member of the volunteer clinical faculty at the University of New Mexico’s Department of Medicine, and has served extensively in the renal care field. His roles have included; President of the Renal Physicians Association, nephrology advisor to the American Medical Association’s Relative Value Scale Update Committee, founding member of the Nephrology Coverage Advocacy Program, and founder of the New Mexico Renal Disease Collaborative Group.

“Jose Diaz-Buxo has served as a trusted adviser and mentor to so many people at FMCNA and RTG. He will be missed and we wish him well as he embarks on a new chapter in his life,” said Mark Costanzo, President, Renal Therapies Group. “We are excited about the continuity of excellence that Rob Kossmann will bring to our Chief Medical Officer role. Rob has significant clinical experience and industry knowledge that will serve RTG well into the future.”

In his new role, Dr. Kossmann will have the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Frank Maddux, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President for Clinical and Scientific Affairs for FMCNA, as well as medical leaders of RTG's other renal care customers, in their commitment to continually improve therapy for patients.

About Fresenius Medical Care Renal Therapies Group

Fresenius Medical Care Renal Therapies Group (RTG) is North America’s top producer of dialysis equipment, dialyzers and related disposable products and a major supplier of renal pharmaceuticals. Renal Therapies Group is a division of Fresenius Medical Care North America, the continent’s leading provider of renal care. For more information about Renal Therapies Group and Fresenius Medical Care North America, visit www.fmcna.com.

Fresenius Medical CareJon Stone, 781-699-9704781-392-4680 (cell)[e-mail]