Gary S. Kaplan

Gary S. Kaplan, MD, FACP, FACMPE, FACPE, has been the Chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System since 2000. Dr. Kaplan received his medical degree from the University of Michigan and is board-certified in internal medicine. Throughout his leadership, he has been at the forefront of integrating lean principles into healthcare through the establishment of the Virginia Mason Production System® and the Virginia Mason Institute.

During Dr. Kaplan's ongoing tenure as Chairman and CEO, Virginia Mason has consistently earned national and international accolades. The facility was the sole hospital in the Pacific Northwest to be named a 2009 Top Hospital in the Nation by The Leapfrog Group, an honor it received for the fourth consecutive year. Virginia Mason is recognized for its application of the Toyota Production System to healthcare management, which has significantly reduced costs while enhancing quality, safety, and efficiency.

Dr. Kaplan's contributions extend beyond organizational leadership to encompass global health system improvements. He has helped disseminate Virginia Mason's methodologies worldwide through the Virginia Mason Institute. His leadership and expertise have been recognized repeatedly, including his appearance on Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in the US on thirteen occasions. In 2013, he was elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine.

Additionally, Dr. Kaplan holds several significant positions and honors in the medical community. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Medical Practice Executives, and the American College of Physician Executives. He has served as chair of the National Patient Safety Foundation Lucian Leape Institute and is the immediate past chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Board of Directors. His dedication to healthcare reform is evident through his role as a founding member of Health CEOs for Health Reform and previous leadership positions within the Medical Group Management Association.

Dr. Kaplan's remarkable contributions to healthcare quality and safety have been honored with multiple awards, including the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award in 2009 and the Harry J. Harwick Lifetime Achievement Award in the same year. He is also a clinical professor at the University of Washington, where he imparts his extensive knowledge to the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In addition to his executive and educational roles, Dr. Kaplan’s insights into healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency continue to guide significant discussions and transformations within the field.