Spotlight: Craig DePriester of the KCA’s Board of Directors

Craig DePriester serves as the Vice Chair of the KCA’s Board of Directors and currently works as the General Manager and Vice President of Operations at HealthCare Partners, A DaVita Medical Group.

We spoke with Craig about what motivated him to join our Board of Directors and enter the medical field. 

What motivated you to get involved with the Kidney Cancer Association?
I wanted to work with a patient advocacy organization and networked with the KCA while at the Kellogg School of Management. I was impressed by the KCA’s track record of success in fulfilling its core mission, but also self-awareness on the need to continue evolving to better serve the broader kidney cancer community.

How long have you worked with the KCA?
Nine years – got involved as a Board Fellow in 2010 and became a full board member in 2012.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?
Mexico City – it’s the greatest food city in the world and filled with all kinds of cultural treasures. The anthropology museum, art, and architecture are also incredible.

What do you like to do in your free time?
With my wife and her business partner, I am a co-founder of Sweet Laurel, a grain-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free bakery in Los Angeles that helps provide delicious options for people with significant dietary restrictions (diabetics, auto-immune, etc.). We opened our first brick and mortar store last year.

What is one thing most people do not know about you?
 I am a die-hard pro basketball and Lakers fan. When I have time, I sometimes blog about the Lakers, who have had a tough few years!

What prompted/inspired you to go into the medical field? 
I have always wanted to help patients navigating our increasingly complex system of healthcare and it was just a question of where I’d end up. After dabbling in medical devices, biotech, and pharma, I now work for a full-risk medical group in Southern California. We have incentives to provide integrated care that have aligned patient outcomes with our financials – I spend most of my time collaborating with clinicians on how to keep our patients healthy and out of the hospital through preventative care, chronic condition management, and care coordination.