SEATTLE – (Aug. 24, 2016) – Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, MD, is No. 44 on Modern Healthcare magazine’s 15th annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

This is the eighth time he has been on the national publication’s roster of most influential people.

Dr. Kaplan is a visionary leader,” said Jim Young, chair, Virginia Mason Board of Directors. “He champions transformative innovation with the goal of continuously improving quality, safety and the patient experience. He advocates for changes that make health care better and more affordable. He truly deserves this recognition for his leadership and impact.”

The 2016 list, which includes President Barack Obama (No. 1), was determined by Modern Healthcare magazine readers and editors. See the complete roster at 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

In addition to serving as chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason since 2000, Dr. Kaplan is a practicing internal medicine physician; chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Board of Directors; and chair of the National Patient Safety Foundation Lucian Leape Institute.

In April, he was also named one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare for the 11th straight year.

With Dr. Kaplan at the helm, Virginia Mason has become a leader in applying principles of the Toyota Production System to achieve continuous improvements in quality, safety and efficiency. Last year, Virginia Mason was chosen by the National Health Service (NHS) of England to implement principles of Virginia Mason’s management methodology, the Virginia Mason Production System, to elevate quality and safety and control costs at several NHS hospitals.

Virginia Mason is also consistently recognized for quality and safety by independent organizations such as The Leapfrog Group, Healthgrades and U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Kaplan 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 received a degree in medicine from the University of Michigan and is board certified in internal medicine.

About Virginia Mason Health System Virginia Mason, founded in 1920, is a nonprofit regional health care system based in Seattle that serves the Pacific Northwest. In the Puget Sound region, the system includes 336-bed Virginia Mason Hospital; a primary and specialty care group practice of more than 500 physicians; regional medical centers in Seattle, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Issaquah and Lynnwood; Bailey-Boushay House, the first skilled-nursing and outpatient chronic care management program in the U.S. designed and built specifically to meet the needs of people with HIV/AIDS; Benaroya Research Institute, which is internationally recognized for autoimmune disease research; and Virginia Mason Institute, which trains health care professionals and others from around the world in the Virginia Mason Production System, an innovative management methodology for continually improving quality, safety and efficiency. Virginia Mason online: VirginiaMason.org

Virginia Mason Health System also includes Yakima-based Memorial Family of Services and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, a 226-bed facility serving the Yakima Valley in Central Washington since 1950. Memorial Family of Services comprises primary care practices and specialty care services, including high quality cardiac care, a continuum of cancer care, hospice care, and advanced services for children with special health care needs. Memorial online: YakimaMemorial.org

Media Contact:
Gale Robinette
Media Relations Manager
Virginia Mason Health System
(206) 341-1509
gale.robinette@VirginiaMason.org