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Voices from Our Community
For three decades, Pulse Center for Patient Safety, Education & Advocacy has been privileged to walk alongside countless individuals on their patient safety journeys. We are deeply grateful to the patients, families, healthcare professionals, and advocates who have trusted us to support them through some of healthcare’s most challenging moments.
The stories shared here reflect the heart of our mission, empowering people with knowledge, building bridges of understanding, and creating a community where everyone has the tools to advocate for safer, more compassionate care. To each person who has learned with us, grown alongside us, and found strength through our programs, thank you.
Your courage and commitment inspire everything we do.
TESTIMONIALS
"Pulse enabled me to navigate my husband Peter's medical care. It gave me the confidence to advocate for Pete, in that I would readily ask questions and if I didn't agree with specialists, I didn't hesitate to say so. The knowledge that Pulse provided me with made different, difficult and emotional situations more bearable."
--Eileen Montalbano
"I have been involved with Pulse since my wife's untimely death in 1999 due to medical error. Listening to the stories of other victims of medical error and their families at the Pulse support group meetings has helped the grieving and healing process for my family. We were not alone in our grief. Pulse is an integral part of patient safety, which ultimately will help to reduce medical errors. My continuing donations will help improve patient safety and awareness. I have a vested interest in the work of Pulse since I share the same mission of patient safety.
-- Leonard Joseph
"I attended the Pulse Advocacy class a few months before my 20-year-old son was hospitalized. There were several medical errors during his one month stay and two months he was in respiratory rehab in a nursing home. Because of my Pulse training and the support of Pulse, I learned I could stay at the hospital and rehab center and was well prepared to monitor his care and speak up when things didn't seem right. Pulse gave me the tools and support to make sure my son got the right care."
-- Mary Brower
"With the knowledge I've gained from the Pulse organization through attending seminars, reading literature and learning about patient safety advocacy, I no longer feel helpless and alone, at the mercy of a system that struggles to operate with empathy, compassion and transparency. When I find myself, a friend or loved one under the care of a doctor or hospital and I have concerns, reaching out to Pulse for help is irtually a life line that I grab onto and is only a phone call, text, or email away. You can't put a price on patient safety. It's priceless and lifesaving.
-- Leslie Anne Reichert
"Today I worked with a patient who needed me by her side during an MRI procedure. As an end-of-life doula, I help wherever the patient needs me. There were many instances that could have gone wrong, that would have gone wrong during our six hour visit if I was not with her. Nearing the end of her life, I know her concerns would have been dismissed if I was not with her, asking questions and relaying her concerns. Even with my own certification, I am grateful for Pulse's family centered advocacy training. I learned additional information that helped me today to better advocate for whoever I am with.
-- Susan Capurso - East End Doula Care LLC
"As the survivor of living with the aftereffects of a catastrophic medical error, for over eighteen years, I have often sought out emotional guidance and support and have found this in Pulse. I have learned and received valuable information and support with Pulse that has assisted me in moving forward in life, despite my very difficult circumstances. Thank you Pulse for providing all of this especially to those of us impacted by negative medical outcomes. You are a lifeline to me Pulse, and just when I needed it the most."
-- Stacey Sharazi
By my fifth surgery, I knew how quickly things can go wrong and how crucial it is to have a knowledgeable patient safety advocate asking the right questions about procedures, care, and next steps. When pre-op nurses asked my daughters to leave, I watched another patient become so anxious alone that she left before her surgery. I started feeling the same—helpless, scared, ready to back out. That’s when my Pulse advocate stepped in, asking within earshot of staff, “Lisa, do you want us here?” Her knowledge of my rights allowed my daughters and advocate to stay, calming my fears and putting me back in control. Later, when a doctor arrived in casual clothes without identification, my advocate requested it before allowing him to discuss my surgery. My patient safety advocate improved communication with staff, helped me understand each step, and ensured I never felt alone.
-- Lisa B.
"I discovered very suddenly that my mother was going to die from cancer. She was an asocial schizophrenic and had hidden her worsening health from my brother and me. We were feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for moving our mother into hospice care and keeping her comfortable at the hospital. Our Pulse advocate met with me and walked me through what my mother and our family had the rights to ask for. Even simple things, like knowing what a nurse’s station would have available and how to work with staff, was of great value. She walked me through our first visit with the main doctor, going over what clarifying questions I should ask. Our advocate left me feeling much more confident and informed in just one day, and for that I am extremely grateful."
-- Dom
"I am a medical professional and a transgender man, (a man born in a female body.)
When I went for a hysterectomy, it was beneficial to the medical staff as well as myself to have Ilene Corina from Pulse, a trained, professional patient safety advocate with me. The doctor wanted to put me on a post-partum floor and Ilene Corina was able to convince the doctor not to. Furthermore, having her there as an advocate for me was extremely helpful in that she was able to answer very personal and difficult questions by the staff so that I was able to relax and concentrate on my healing, thank you!”
-- Kyle NY
Regarding the 2026 Family Centered Symposium."
"Everything about this program was wonderful, every presenter was interesting and very informative, thank you for doing this. Wonderful event."
-- Roberta R.
Regarding the 2026 Family Centered Symposium."
"Another great symposium with new and additional speakers covering relevant topics to address Ai communication and how to increase patient advocacy."
-- Patti W.
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