50 Most Influential Physician Executives – 2015
Rank: 10
Gary Kaplan
Chairman and CEO, Virginia Mason
Dr. Gary Kaplan has been CEO and chairman of the Virginia Mason Health System in Seattle since 2000. Kaplan, 63, is a practicing internist and chairman of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's board. He pioneered the standardization of healthcare procedures by developing a customized version of the Toyota Production System. Kaplan has also offered warrantees on hip and knee replacements and recently posted estimated prices for the 100 most-common minor surgical outpatient procedures at Virginia Mason. His institution topped $1 billion in revenue for the first time last year.