The National Patient Safety Foundation has named Gary Kaplan, MD, as chairman of the Lucian Leape Institute.
Dr. Kaplan replaces Lucian Leape, MD, as chairman. Dr. Leape, who had chaired the Institute since its creation in 2007, will remain a member.
Dr. Kaplan is chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System in Seattle, a position he has held since 2000. Among many honors he has earned throughout his career, he won a John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for individual achievement in 2009. He also serves on the NPSF board of directors.
"It is an honor to be asked to fill a role that has since its inception been held by Lucian Leape," Dr. Kaplan said. "Lucian is truly one of the reasons that we are all so focused on patient safety today, and my goal is to help the institute continue to work on the issues that we think can help lead the path to safer care."