Team members

Diana Friend

Dr. Diana Friend is the Assistant Area Medical Director at West Los Angeles Medical Center. She oversees laboratory and pathology, radiology, neurology, behavioral health including addiction medicine, and the Center for Healthy Living. Her responsibilities also include the People Pillar, which encompasses physician wellness and a healthy workforce, equity, inclusion and diversity, threat management, Women in Medicine, LGBTQ+ initiatives, continuing and graduate medical education, clinician-patient communication, Pathway to Partnership, the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, and physician leadership development. In addition, she oversees care experience, patient complaints and grievances, the appeals committee, and reception services. An OB/GYN by training, Dr. Friend was born and raised in Los Angeles and is grateful to serve the community where she grew up. She attended UC Irvine for both college and medical school, always intending to return to Los Angeles. After completing her OB/GYN residency at KP Los Angeles Medical Center, she joined KP West Los Angeles in 2002. From the start, she became involved in access and care experience committees and went on to hold several leadership roles, including first Assistant Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff for the OB/GYN Department from 2009 to 2021. Dr. Friend considers it an honor and privilege to practice medicine and serve as a leader within Kaiser Permanente. Her goal is to deliver high-quality, compassionate care and an exceptional patient experience while supporting operational and business sustainability.