Dr. Kaplan Earns United Hospital Fund Distinguished Trustee Award

Z. Micah Kaplan, M.D., the vice chairman of the Eastern Long Island Hospital Foundation Board, has been selected for the United Hospital Fund Distinguished Trustee Award.

The United Hospital Fund’s primary mission is to shape positive change in health care for the people of New York through the advancement of policies and programs that promote high-quality, patient-centered health care services that are accessible to all.

Established in 1991, the United Hospital Fund Distinguished Trustee Award recognizes extraordinary service, leadership and a deep commitment to not-for-profit hospitals in the New York region. Dr. Kaplan received this honor at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at a special reception and awards luncheon hosted by the United Hospital Fund.

Dr. Kaplan is highly respected and greatly admired as a primary care physician. Dr. Kaplan retired from his active internal medicine practice in Greenport in 1999.  During his 25 years at Eastern Long Island Hospital he held several appointments including vice president of the Board of Trustees and president of the medical staff. He served on the Board of Peconic Health Corporation, the former parent corporation of ELIH, and two other East End hospitals.

Since 2002, Dr. Kaplan has spearheaded several capital projects, greatly improving and expanding ELIH. He became chairman of the ELIH Foundation when it was first established in January of 2006.  Dr. Kaplan has served as chair for four years and currently serves as vice chairman.  Prior to the formation of the ELIH Foundation, Dr. Kaplan served as chairman of “Operation: Emergency Expansion,” a $2 million project to rebuild the emergency department which completed in January 2005.  Under Dr. Kaplan’s leadership, the ELIH Foundation has raised funds to complete several initiatives to rebuild the hospital from the inside out.

Dr. Kaplan was one of 28 trustees from metropolitan area hospitals to receive this prestigious award.