Hillary Kaplan, MD
Matthew Simmons
Hillary Kaplan’s caregiving nature was obvious to her parents as she took responsibility for her two younger sisters. The irony of growing up in a household of girls and now having three sons is not lost on her.
“When our kids were younger, I remember wondering why it was always so noisy in our house,” she laughs. “But three boys and two Labrador retrievers explains that!”
A rheumatologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Kaplan says she chose the field of rheumatology because of the long-term patient relationships inherent with the specialty. As a senior in high school, Kaplan shadowed a medical ethicist at the Cleveland Clinic, and was mentored in the effectiveness of a good patient-doctor relationship.
“I was attracted to rheumatology because of the potential to manage patients’ care over a long term,” Kaplan says. “It’s very rewarding to work with patients over their life span.”
According to Kaplan, she has been treating some of her patients for 20 years. “When they come for a visit, it’s like seeing an old friend,” she said.
Now those interpersonal relationships are the most rewarding component of her practice. There are challenges too, however.
“It’s a challenge to see more and more patients in less time,” Kaplan explains. “Even more stressful is figuring out how to treat patients in a way they can afford, since so many of the medications are extremely expensive. I find myself having to tailor treatment plans to financial considerations. It’s like putting pieces of puzzle together.”
In managing their busy household, Kaplan and her husband, also a physician, work together as a team. “When we talk about our jobs, we are able to understand what a particular day might feel like,” Kaplan says. “This is a huge advantage.”
Hillary Kaplan, 615-386-6200; vanderbilthealth.com