Kaplan Award

Murrel H. Kaplan, MD Award

Murrel H. Kaplan, M.D. was the Chief of Internal Medicine at Touro Infirmary from 1957-1962 and served his patients and the hospital with distinction as a member of the medical staff for 50 years, from 1937-1986.

The Compassionate Physician Award bearing his name was generously endowed by his family and friends in December 1986 and was originally given to a graduating medical student.

Today, the award recognizes a Touro physician who demonstrates compassion, empathy, respect for the patient as a whole person, and genuine care for the patient’s welfare for which Dr. Kaplan was so highly esteemed. The physician must be an active physician with Touro who demonstrates compassion and respect for their patients, staff, and peers.

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The 2023 Kaplan Award recipient is Dr. Ellen Zakris. The Touro Infirmary Foundation along with Dr. Zakris' friends, family, and colleagues celebrated and honored her for always being the most compassionate physician.

Past Kaplan award recipients

1987 - Stephanie Ruth Brown, M.D.
1987 - Robert Allen Shankerman, M.D.
1988 – Jonathan Boraski, M.D.
1989 – Phillip Y. Roland, M.D.
1990 – Jaculeen A. Dano, M.D.
1991 – Bretley Todd Sitzman, M.D.
1992 – William Fox Moore, M.D.
1993 – Darin D. Signorelli, M.D.
1994 – Charles R. Parsiola, M.D.
1995 – Arnold Alper, Jr., M.D.
1996 – D. Patrick Martin, M.D.
1997 – Paul R. Hlandon, M.D.
1998 – Jeremy Clyde Johnson, M.D.
1999 – Heidi L. Berkheimer, M.D.
2000 – Barry K. Young, M.D.
2001 – Suzanne Buckley, M.D.
2002 – Mark Skains, M.D.
2012 – Salvador Caputto, M.D.
2013 – Jack Jacob, M.D.
2014 – Nathan Wexler, M.D.
2015 – Frank Wilklow, M.D.
2016 – Rebecca U. Perret, M.D.
2017 – Daniel Rupley, M.D.
2018 – Alfred John Colfry III, M.D.
2019 Robert Occhipinti, M.D.
2022 Donna Waters, M.D.
2023 Elly Zakris, M.D.