SEATTLE – (June 19, 2017) – Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, MD, has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders in Healthcare for the 12th time by Modern Healthcare magazine. He is No. 12 on the annual list, published in today’s edition of the national magazine.

The publication created the list to recognize visionary physician executives who are focused on improving quality and patient safety. Joining Dr. Kaplan on the elite roster are hospital CEOs, physicians who are in government organizations, and those representing consumer and professional organizations. 

“This recognition is a major honor for Dr. Kaplan and the entire Virginia Mason organization,” said Tod Hamachek, chair, Virginia Mason Board of Directors. “Under his leadership, Virginia Mason has become renowned for innovations in health care quality, service and safety.”

Dr. Kaplan has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Virginia Mason Health System since 2000. Also, he is chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Board of Directors and chairman of the National Patient Safety Foundation’s Lucian Leape Institute.

“I am proud to again be recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine and extremely honored to have the opportunity to lead the Virginia Mason team as we continue our journey to transform health care and improve the patient experience,” Dr. Kaplan said.

In addition to his responsibilities as chairman and CEO at Virginia Mason, Dr. Kaplan is a practicing internal medicine physician.

Being named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders in Healthcare is the second major honor for Dr. Kaplan this month. On June 8, he received the 2017 National Healthcare Award from B’nai B’rith International at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Modern Healthcare’s list of most influential people, launched 13 years ago, honors physicians deemed by their peers and an expert panel to be the most influential in terms of demonstrating leadership and impact. Readers of Modern Healthcare nominate and vote for executives they view as most influential. Readers’ votes count for 50 percent of the outcome. The opinions of senior editors account for the other 50 percent.

About Virginia Mason
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 480 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 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:
Michelle Peterson Director, Communications
Virginia Mason Health System
(206) 583-6581
michelle.peterson@VirginiaMason.org