Gary S. Kaplan, M.D., FACP, FACMPE, FACPE, is currently Senior Advisor and Senior Vice President for CommonSpirit Health with a special focus on Quality, Safety and Patient Experience.
Dr. Kaplan served as chairman and CEO of the Virginia Mason Health System from 2000-2020 and Co-CEO of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in 2021. He has been a practicing internal medicine physician at Virginia Mason Health System since 1978.
Dr. Kaplan received a degree in medicine from the University of Michigan and is board certified in internal medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), the American College of Medical Practice Executives (FACMPE) and the American College of Physician Executives (FACPE). He is recognized as one of the most influential physician executives in health care and is a frequent national and international speaker on Quality, Safety, Value Creation, Leadership and Governance, and Building Sustainable Cultures.
Dr. Kaplan is chair of the IHI Lucian Leape Institute for Patient Safety, and a past chair and board member of several organizations including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the National Patient Safety Foundation, Medical Group Management Association, and the Greater Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of Health CEOs for Health Reform and has held leadership positions with numerous organizations, including the Washington Healthcare Forum and the National Academy of Medicine (Institute of Medicine).
During Dr. Kaplan's tenure, Virginia Mason has received significant national and international recognition for its efforts to transform health care, most notably as the leader in adapting the Toyota Production System for health care. Virginia Mason has consistently been named a Top Hospital by Leapfrog and was the Top Hospital of the Decade in 2010. Dr. Kaplan received the Leapfrog Emerald Award this year for outstanding achievement by a health care leader. In addition, Virginia Mason is the only Washington state hospital to earn an A patient safety grade every year since the grading system began.