October 15, 2025
Kaiser Permanente shows up strong for the annual plane pull
Championing health equity and teamwork drives Kaiser Permanente’s support for Special Olympics athletes.
Impressive teamwork on display at Long Beach Airport, as one of Kaiser Permanente’s 4 plane pull teams worked together to move a 124,000-pound jet across the tarmac.
In September 2025, more than 150 Kaiser Permanente employees, doctors, and their families teamed up at Long Beach Airport in Los Angeles, California. They were there for an exciting challenge — the 2025 Special Olympics Southern California Plane Pull. The plane pull is a fun event where teams of 25 people attempt to pull a jet a distance of 12 feet. As the official health partner of Special Olympics Southern California, Kaiser Permanente’s team members were there to show their dedication to health, teamwork, and community support.
For over a decade, Kaiser Permanente and SOSC have worked together to promote health equity. Through events like the plane pull, Special Olympics inspires people to celebrate the talents of people with intellectual disabilities. By taking part in SOSC events, Kaiser Permanente fosters a greater appreciation and respect for people with intellectual disabilities.
Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Hawaii, emphasized, “Events like the plane pull offer opportunities for our care teams to build connections, strengthen our communities, and experience the power of teamwork and shared purpose.”
These values, Gaskill-Hames noted, are central to Kaiser Permanente’s mission. “It’s an opportunity to support the incredible spirit of the Special Olympics and honor the dedication, determination, and talent of its athletes.”
Our efforts continue all year long. A full-time Kaiser Permanente medical director, along with approximately 40 doctors and medical staff, supports Special Olympics with medical screenings, health education opportunities, and sideline care for SOSC athletes.
“Our dedicated team of physicians, medical professionals, and volunteers is proud to support Special Olympics’ athletes,” said Ramin Davidoff, MD, executive medical director of Southern California Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente’s unique partnership helps ensure the athletes have access to our high-quality health services and education, and deepens our own connection with the community.”
“Seeing athletes, families, volunteers, and Kaiser Permanente colleagues come together with such energy and heart was inspiring,” said Michael Divic, director of process improvement at Kaiser Permanente, who has volunteered with SOSC many times but attended the plane pull for the first time this year. “The sheer determination of the Special Olympics athletes and the joy they radiated made every moment unforgettable. It reminded me that the most meaningful outcomes are human connection, dignity, and shared celebration.”
