Pulse Center for Patient Safety Concludes Dynamic 2026 Symposium
- Pulse CPSEA
- Mar 30
- 2 min read
Westbury NY, Monday March 30, 2026
Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy has successfully concluded its latest annual patient safety symposium and Family-Centered Patient Advocacy Training event.
The two-day symposium in Westbury, NY, attended by professional and family patient advocates, current and former medical professionals, and leaders in the patient safety field defined “What is a Patient Safety Advocate, and Why It Matters to You.”
Attendees were told that medical error is still a growing problem in the United States, despite healthcare systems’ best efforts to eliminate it. It is in fact the third-largest cause of preventable death in the country.
The event was kicked off with a virtual introduction by major supporter Helen Haskell of Mothers Against Medical Error.
Then, in addition to receiving training in the basics of patient safety advocacy, attendees learned about “Vaccinations and What You Need to Know” from Dr. Bruce Hirsch, and “Discovering Patient Safety Through My Family’s Healthcare Failure” from Victoria Killian, BCPA.
Medstar’s Dr. Kristen Miller explored the benefits and risks of AI in healthcare, while L. Bradley Schwartz, multiple amputee from a misdiagnosed infection and his daughter Sofie Schwartz (of Greater National Advocates) described the family consequences of medical error and the work being done by GNA.
The opening day ended with a dinner and some deep as well as interesting conversation with a “Death Café” hosted by Rev. Dr. Linda Anderson.
On Day 2, Yosef D. Dlugacz, PhD, CMQ, retired Senior Vice President, Chief of Clinical Quality, Education and Research, of Northwell Health shared the benefits of advocates operating outside the hospital system.
Juan A. Contreras, CPXP, Director of Patient & Customer Experience, Northshore University Hospital Northwell Health, described the inner workings of the health care system and improvements in patient safety at Northwell Health.
Since medical error is fertile ground for disputes, Steve Goodstein, RN, described “Conflict Resolution Skills in Healthcare”, while Karen Campbell, MBA, RSCP identified “Who’s Who in Homecare”.
The meeting wound up with Teri Frykenberg, RN, BCPA talking about starting a business as a professional patient advocate, and Dr. Randi Lebar's inspirational talk about her mother, pianist Elaine Lebar who went viral on TikTok in 2020 while living in a memory care unit.
Said Marc Berlin, owner of On the Marc Patient Advocacy Services, “This Symposium is wonderful. It’s a great way to enhance your communication, learn about patient safety, and be a better patient advocate for yourself and for others.”
To learn more about Pulse, please visit https://www.pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org/
For more comment about the Symposium or any other Pulse activities:
Media Contact: Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy
|📧 info@PulseCPSEA.org 📞 516-579-4711 🌐 www.pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org
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