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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                        RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
                                    under the
                             RENAL CARE GROUP, INC.
                            1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN



                    Grantee:  Harry R. Jacobson, M.D.

                    Number of Shares:  12,200

                    Effective Date of Grant:  December 23, 1997


     1. Consulting Agreement. The Grantee named above (the "Grantee") and Renal
Care Group, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the "Corporation") have a consulting
arrangement (the "Consulting Arrangement") pursuant to which the Grantee
provides financial advisory services, investor relations services and certain
other consulting services for the Corporation.

     2. Grant of Shares. In further consideration for the Consulting Services,
and subject to the restrictions and other terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement (this "Agreement"), the Corporation hereby grants to the Grantee named
above (the "Grantee"), under the Renal Care Group, Inc. Amended and Restated
1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), the number of shares indicated above of
the Corporation's $0.01 par value common stock (the "Shares"). Capitalized terms
used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned such
terms in the Plan.

     3. Restrictions. The Shares may not be sold, transferred, exchanged,
assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered unless and until such
restriction has expired as provided in Section 3 hereof. Any Shares as to which
such restriction has not yet expired are referred to herein as the "Restricted
Shares."

     If the Consulting Arrangement terminates for any reason other than as set
forth in paragraphs (a) or (b) of Section 3 hereof, then the Grantee shall
forfeit all of the Grantee's right, title and interest in and to the Restricted
Shares.

     The restrictions imposed under this Section shall apply to all shares of
capital stock or other securities that may be issued with respect to Restricted
Shares hereunder in connection with any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, stock dividend or other change in corporate structure
affecting the common stock of the Corporation.

     4. Expiration and Termination of Restrictions. The restrictions imposed
under Section 3 will expire on the earliest to occur of the following:

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          (a) As to the following numbers of Restricted Shares awarded hereunder
     (adjusted proportionately in the event of any change in the total numbers
     of Restricted Shares) on the following respective dates:

                                                     Date of Termination
             Number of Shares                          of Restrictions
             ----------------                          ---------------
                  12,200                              December 23, 2002

          (b) On the first day of the calendar month next following the
     Grantee's death or a determination that the Consulting Arrangement must be
     terminated due to the Grantee's Disability; or

          (c) If in the sole discretion of the Committee, the Grantee (i)
     terminated the Consulting Arrangement for good cause; or (ii) the
     Corporation terminated the Consulting Arrangement without cause; or

          (d) On the date of any acceleration of vesting in accordance with
     Article 9 of the Plan.

     4. Delivery of Shares. The Shares will be issued in the name of the Grantee
as Restricted Stock and will be held by the Corporation during the Restricted
Period. Stock certificates shall be delivered as soon as practicable after
vesting of the Shares, but may be postponed for such period as may be required
for the Corporation with reasonable diligence to comply if deemed advisable by
the Corporation, with registration requirements under the Securities Act,
listing requirements under the rules of any stock exchange, and requirements
under any other law or regulation applicable to the issuance or transfer of the
Shares.

     5. Voting and Dividend Rights. The Grantee, as beneficial owner of the
Shares, shall have full voting and dividend rights with respect to the Shares
during the Restricted Period.

     6. Restrictions on Transfer and Pledge. The Restricted Shares may not be
pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the
Corporation or a Subsidiary, or be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability
of the Grantee to any other party other than the Corporation or a Subsidiary.
The Restricted Shares are not assignable or transferable by the Grantee other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

     7. No Right of Continued Services or Compensation. Nothing in this
Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Corporation
or any Subsidiary to terminate the Consulting Arrangement.




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     8. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except in writing, signed
by the parties hereto, provided that the Plan may be amended in the manner
provided in the Plan.

     9. Plan Controls. The terms contained in the Plan are incorporated into and
made a part of this Agreement and this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the Plan. In the event of any actual or alleged
conflict between the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this
Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall be controlling and determinative.

     10. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of the
Corporation, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Plan.

     11. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement are invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions of this
Agreement will be construed and enforced as if the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been included.

     12. Notice. Notices and communications under this Agreement must be in
writing and either personally delivered or sent by registered or certified
United States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notices to the
Corporation must be addressed to:

         Renal Care Group, Inc.
         Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
         2100 West End Avenue, Suite 800
         Nashville, Tennessee 37203

or any other address designated by the Corporation in a written notice to the
Grantee. Notices to the Grantee will be directed to the address of the Grantee
then currently on file with the Corporation, or at any other address given by
the Grantee in a written notice to the Corporation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Renal Care Group, Inc., acting by and through its duly
authorized officers, has caused this Agreement to be executed, and the Grantee
has executed this Agreement, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                         RENAL CARE GROUP, INC.


                                         By:    /s/  Sam A. Brooks
                                                -------------------------------
                                         Title:     President
                                                -------------------------------

     I hereby accept the above Shares grant in accordance with and subject to
the terms and conditions set forth above.



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     I agree that any shares of common stock received by me hereunder will not
be sold or otherwise disposed of by me except in a manner in compliance with
applicable securities laws.


                                       GRANTEE:



                                       /s/   Harry R. Jacobson
                                       --------------------------------------

                                       Print Name:     Harry R. Jacobson
                                                     ------------------------






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