Dr. Kaplan serves as CEO of UW Health, a multi-state academic health system affiliated with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and comprised of six main hospitals in Wisconsin and Illinois, and more than 1,800 faculty physicians and 24,000 total employees providing care to more than 800,000 patients annually.
Dr. Kaplan is best characterized as a builder of innovative, transformational and long-lasting partnerships. In his current role he led the post-merger integration of the hospital system and the faculty physician group practice, facilitated a financially integrated Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with a non-owned community hospital and expanded a provider-owned health plan by offering equal governance to regional health systems. In a prior role, Dr. Kaplan led a three-state medical practice merger leading to a unified 1,000+ provider medical group.
Dr. Kaplan’s leadership through the turbulent pandemic era positioned UW Health for continued growth through strong fiscal management, innovative workforce strategies and a forward-looking approach to diversity and health equity. In 2023, UW Health launched a first-of-its-kind nurse apprenticeship program to expand the number of nurse graduates while providing opportunity for individuals from historically marginalized communities.
Dr. Kaplan maintains a strong focus on patient care and serving the academic mission. This focus was evident in the recent opening of a new 480,000 sq. ft. outpatient facility that offers coordinated, multi-disciplinary care, ground-breaking cancer treatment technologies, integrated specialized care for women and increased access to clinical trials.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Kaplan served in senior executive leadership roles at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, IA and Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL.
Dr. Kaplan earned his medical degree from Rush University, is residency trained in emergency medicine, and earned a Master of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
