The following message was sent to the School of Medicine community from the School of Medicine Dean Dr. Mary E. Klotman, and Chair of the Department of Medicine Dr. Kathleen Cooney, MD, MACP.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Daniel “Dan” Kaplan, MD, who passed away on Dec. 11, 2025, after a courageous four-year battle with sarcoma.
Dr. Kaplan was a remarkable physician whose life and career were deeply intertwined with our Triangle communities. Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he attended Carolina Friends School before pursuing higher education at Harvard University, where he graduated before earning his medical degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Virginia in 1992.
As a pioneer in hospital medicine, Dr. Kaplan was practicing as a hospitalist before the term was widely recognized. He began his career at Good Samaritan Regional Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, helping to shape inpatient care practices. Upon returning to the Triangle in 1996, he became a vital part of WakeMed, eventually leading their hospital medicine group from 1996 to 2005.
In March 2005, Dr. Kaplan joined us at Duke as an assistant professor of medicine. While he often expressed that leadership was not his primary ambition, his dedication to patient care and teaching inspired many. His exceptional skill as a clinician and thoughtful mentorship shaped generations of hospitalists and trainees. For nearly two decades, he shared his office with colleagues, offering them insight, humility, and a steady hand.
Dr. Kaplan was known for his insistence on precise clinical language, advocating for accuracy in describing patient conditions. His keen observations extended beyond medicine; his love for birdwatching reflected his appreciation for the natural world.
Throughout his illness, Dr. Kaplan demonstrated remarkable strength, grace, and dignity. Even in his final days, his resilience and unwavering commitment to our profession continued to inspire those around him.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marian, and their two children, Alex and Celie: mother Ellen Kaplan; brother Ron Kaplan along with their children Anna and Harris. Dr. Kaplan will be profoundly missed; his legacy as a healer, teacher, and friend will live on in the countless lives he impacted and the values he instilled in our community.
Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Dr. Kaplan’s family, friends and colleagues.