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Naomi Girma named as Kaiser Permanente’s first female sports ambassador to continue the joint commitment towards empowering women and youth through their San Diego Wave FC partnership.

SAN DIEGO – March 8, 2023 – Kaiser Permanente is proud to announce that San Diego Wave FC star defender Naomi Girma will serve as the health care provider’s first female ambassador in 2023. The addition of Girma complements the second year of Kaiser Permanente’s partnership with the San Diego Wave Fútbol Club as their Trusted Team Physicians and Official Health Care partner for the upcoming 2023 season.

As a First Founding Partner for the club last year, both organizations leveraged their work to support initiatives that would empower and improve women’s total health. The partnership will launch their first Wave of Wellness Fit Clinic presented by Kaiser Permanente on March 12. The clinic will provide advanced educational training for selected local affiliate soccer leagues where the youth will engage in fitness activities, nutrition workshops, mental wellness sessions, and additional wellness resources provided by the Kaiser Permanente care team.

“I am humbled and grateful to serve as the partnership’s first female ambassador. Mental health is near and dear to my heart and this opportunity will allow my voice to reach a greater audience, specifically the women and youth of San Diego,” says Girma. “Let’s work together to break down the barriers surrounding female health and wellness to help build a more supportive and inclusive community.”

The 2023 partnership is committed to making a positive impact in the San Diego community, with a refined focus on four key areas: Total Health programming for local youth and women, mental wellness, health equity, and nutritional resources with support to access to healthy foods. Through the launch of the Wave of Wellness Fit Clinics presented by Kaiser Permanente local community organizations will receive necessary resources to promote their mental and physical well-being, including access to local Kaiser Permanente medical experts and wellness resources.

“This partnership is a continuation of our commitment to empowering diverse individuals everywhere, and we are thrilled to share valuable resources that can help drive the next generation of youth toward success,” said Julie Miller-Phipps, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Hawaii Health Plan and Hospitals. “For nearly a century, Kaiser Permanente has been a company that values diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization. We’re proud of the fact that nearly 69 percent of our current total workforce are members of racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities, and 74 percent identify as female.”

Through this dynamic partnership, Kaiser Permanente will continue to provide the Wave FC’s athletes unparalleled care on the field as their trusted team physicians. To ensure Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to staying at the forefront of sports medicine and research, physicians offer detailed sideline care, assessment, and treatment while establishing programs that emulate the organization’s philosophy towards medical excellence, community wellness, and total health.

In just her first season with Wave FC, Girma was recently titled as the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Rookie and Defender of the Year. The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) also selected Girma as a defender for the 2023 SheBelieves Cup.