Welcome to Our 2026 Spring Symposium
"What is a Patient Safety Advocate
and Why it Matters to You"
WHAT?
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Pulse is excited to present our 2026 Annual Symposium Family Centered Patient Advocacy Training.
Everyone is welcome to attend:
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Patient Advocates​
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Family Members & Friends
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Caregivers
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Healthcare Professionals and more!
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WHEN?
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March 26, 2026 Thursday
8:00 AM Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speakers, Symposium & Training -
March 27, 2026 Friday
8:00 AM Continental Breakfast 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speakers, Symposium & Training -
Optional Event:
Dinner and Death Cafe:
Thursday, March 26th Only 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
WHERE?
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Viana Hotel and Spa Westbury, Long Island, New York
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2998 Brush Hollow Rd.
Westbury, New York 11590
(516) 338 - 7777
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Hotel Discount Available
(Located just a short walk away from NYCB Theatre at Westbury)
Book your stay here
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For additional nights contact the hotel direct for discount.
2026 Family Centered Patient Advocacy Training:
What is a Patient Safety Advocate and Why It Matters to You
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About the Training​
Join Pulse for our signature 2-day intensive training program designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills to become an effective patient safety advocate. Whether you’re advocating for yourself, a loved one, or working as a healthcare professional, this comprehensive training provides essential tools to navigate today’s complex healthcare system safely and confidently.
The healthcare journey can be overwhelming and filled with potential risks. Our expert-led symposium equips you with practical strategies to prevent medical errors, improve communication with healthcare providers, and ensure the highest quality of care for those who matter most.
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Program Highlights​
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Medical Error Prevention: Understand common types of medical errors, their causes, and how to help prevent them
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Effective Communication Strategies: Learn techniques to ensure patients are heard, understood, and supported
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Healthcare System Navigation: Identify key healthcare roles, responsibilities, and resources
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Addressing Bias in Healthcare: Recognize and mitigate bias that can affect the quality of care
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Crisis Intervention: Develop skills for advocating during medical emergencies
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Ethical Considerations: Navigate complex healthcare decisions with confidence
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Featured Speakers​
Our 2026 symposium will showcase industry-leading experts in patient advocacy, healthcare safety, and medical ethics. Hear from patient advocates, experts in the healthcare industry, and individuals with powerful personal stories that illustrate why advocacy matters. Speaker lineup will be announced soon!
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Who Should Attend​
This training is invaluable for:
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Family members supporting loved ones through health challenges
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Individuals wanting to take control of their own healthcare journey
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Healthcare professionals seeking to enhance patient-centered care
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Community advocates working with vulnerable populations
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Anyone interested in improving healthcare outcomes and safety
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Sponsorship Opportunities​
Support this vital educational initiative while gaining visibility among healthcare professionals, advocates, and community members. Multiple sponsorship levels are available, offering benefits such as:
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Prominent logo placement on event materials
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Exhibition space during the symposium
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Recognition during opening and closing ceremonies
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Opportunities to provide educational materials to participants
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Demonstration of your organization’s commitment to patient safety
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CE Credits​
The Pulse program “Family Centered Patient Advocacy Training: What is a Patient Safety Advocate and Why It Matters to You” is waiting approval for continuing education credits for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA) by the Patient Advocate Certification Board.
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Join us for this transformative experience that could literally save lives. Because when it comes to healthcare, having a knowledgeable advocate can make all the difference.
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Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate and may be listed on the Pulse website with other Family Centered Patient Advocates. Here
2026 FEATURED SPEAKERS
Family-Centered Patient Advocacy Training for the 2026
"What is a Patient Safety Advocate and Why it Matters to You"
March 26th & 27th 2026
Meet Our Speakers
Teri Frykenberg, RN CCM BCPA
Teri Frykenberg guides aspiring patient advocates on turning their passion into a career, covering essential requirements, pros and cons, and strategies to avoid costly first-year mistakes.
Steven Goodstein, RN, BCPA
Steven Goodstein provides practical tools for navigating conflict in professional and personal settings, using real-world case studies to improve communication, problem-solving, and reduce errors.
Victoria Killian, BCPA
Victoria Killian shares personal stories of safety breakdowns and system failures that had irreversible consequences for her family, revealing lessons learned and the foundation of her patient safety advocacy.
Randi Lebar, MD
Dr. Randi Lebar shares the inspirational story of her mother, pianist Elaine Lebar, who went viral on TikTok from a memory care unit, and the lessons learned about connection, meaning, and joy despite cognitive decline.
Karen Campbell, MBA, RSCP
Karen Campbell clarifies the distinct roles and responsibilities of family caregivers, aides, and support personnel, examining how these differences impact patient safety, care quality, and legal accountability.
Juan A. Contreras, CPXP
Juan A. Contreras, CPXP explores patient experience as a shared responsibility, demonstrating how his hospital operationalizes quality, communication, and advocacy through innovative programs.
Ilene Corina, BCPA
Ilene Corina empowers patient advocates through family-centered advocacy tools, critical communication skills, and practical strategies to prevent falls, infections, medication errors, and surgical complications.
Yosef Dlugacz, PhD
Dr. Yosef Dlugacz explores the challenges facing external patient advocates and offers a roadmap for transforming these limitations into opportunities for enhanced patient safety and truly patient-centered care.
Kristen Miller, DrPH, MSPH,
MSL,CPPS
Dr. Miller explains how AI is being used in healthcare—from clinical decision support to scheduling—and discusses critical concerns for patient advocates including accuracy, bias, transparency, and privacy.
Sofie Schwartz, MBA
Greater National Advocates -
More to come.
L. Bradley Schwartz, ESQ
Greater National Advocates -
More to come.
Karen Campbell MBA, RSCP
Karen Campbell: We extend our deepest gratitude to Karen Campbell for her invaluable contributions and dedicated hard work in creating and bringing the 2026 symposium to fruition.
Maria Rodriguez
Maria Rodriguez: We extend our deepest gratitude to Maria Rodriguez for her invaluable contributions and dedicated hard work in creating and bringing the 2026 symposium to fruition.
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Thank you!
Thank you to our Sponsors - Learn more about sponsorship here:
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