NEW YORK – The NBA and Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated health system, are teaming up for the first Total Health Forum, the two organizations announced today.  Taking place in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 28, the forum will serve as a catalyst to identify solutions in achieving total health of body and mind during the culminating event of NBA FIT Week 2016 presented by Kaiser Permanente (Jan. 21-29).

The Total Health Forum will convene leaders across health, sports, community and policy to address factors affecting health and wellness and hold a discussion on what measures can be taken to improve the health of communities in America.  The discussion will include social determinants of health facing America in an effort to elevate the NBA’s and Kaiser Permanente’s collective approach to healthy living for individuals and communities.  Forum participants include U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson, Hall of Famers Bob Lanier and Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legends Shane Battier and Steve Smith, 2011 WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and four-time WNBA All-Star Swin Cash (New York Liberty).

“Kaiser Permanente and the NBA are committed to shaping healthier lives, stronger communities, and better conditions in the neighborhoods in which we all live,” said Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson.  “This first-ever Total Health Forum is a great example of how our organizations are united in creating opportunities to make a real and lasting impact on community health.”

As the Official Health Care Partner of the NBA, Kaiser Permanente serves as the health care expert and consultant for the NBA on community health and wellness programming and played a critical role in developing the Total Health Forum.  During the forum, participants will contribute to a national dialogue to address health issues affecting NBA fans and local communities and to define action steps needed in achieving a life that is balanced in all aspects of health and wellness.

“Encouraging healthy, active lifestyles is at the heart of NBA FIT,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.  “The Total Health Forum presents a terrific opportunity to discuss and share ways we can all help make communities healthier and stronger.”

In addition to the forum, NBA FIT Week presented by Kaiser Permanente will feature programs and events around the league focused on three simple pillars: be active, eat healthy and play together.  NBA Development League FIT Week presented by Kaiser Permanente will also take place through Jan. 29.   NBA FIT Team members will help encourage fans of all ages to participate through fitness events and social media.

The 2016 NBA FIT Team includes Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies), D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers), Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Head Coach Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat), Kara Lawson (Washington Mystics), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) and Swin Cash (New York Liberty).

Beginning Jan. 21, fans are encouraged to personally commit to leading healthy, active lifestyles by taking the Total Health Pledge, and sharing their pledges on social media using #NBAFIT and #TotalHealthPledge.  Additionally, fans can take the NBA FIT “Road to NBA All-Star 2016” challenge on the Under Armour MapMyFitness apps by logging their workouts for a chance to win special prizes leading up to NBA All-Star 2016.

NBA and NBA D-League players will wear special oncourt attire throughout the week, including adidas NBA FIT shooting shirts.  The shirts are available at NBAStore.com and the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

For more information on NBA FIT Week presented by Kaiser Permanente, visit www.NBAFIT.com.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2015-16 season featured 100 international players from 37 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA.com and the NBA app, which achieved record traffic during the 2014-15 season, as well as NBA TV.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 960 million likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.