50 Most Influential Physician Executives – 2018

Passionate about quality improvement, Kaplan in 2017 instituted workshops across Virginia Mason aimed at spreading best practices. The training sessions included patients and family members working side-by-side with clinicians. He supported expansion of the system's Patient Family Partners program, which pairs patients undergoing a surgery with others who have had a similar procedure. Virginia Mason received a top rating from the Leapfrog Group for the 12th straight year.