<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-08-055770
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20080930
<FILING-DATE>20081002
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081002
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DAVITA INC
<CIK>0000927066
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8090
<IRS-NUMBER>510354549
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 HAWAII STREET
<CITY>EL SEGUNDO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90245
<PHONE>3105362400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>601 HAWAII STREET
<CITY>EL SEGUNDO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>90245
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>TOTAL RENAL CARE HOLDINGS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19950524
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>TOTAL RENAL CARE INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19940719
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DIAZ PAUL J
<CIK>0001194247
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14106
<FILM-NUMBER>081104809
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O KINDRED HEALTHCARE INC
<STREET2>680 SOUTH FOURTH STREET
<CITY>LOUISVILLE
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>40202
<PHONE>5025967300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd220056.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PAUL DIAZ'S FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927066</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DAVITA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DIAZ PAUL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 HAWAII ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>561</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of Restricted Stock Units, pursuant to the 2002 Equity Compensation Plan, which are issuable on 9/30/09.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Corinna B. Polk Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>rrd196999_222157.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>
rrd196999_222157.html
</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<PRE>



</PRE>
</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
