I was very grateful for the opportunity to speak at the RWJBH Clara Maass Medical Center Leadership Retreat at Glen Ridge Country Club in New Jersey the week before last. Sharing Emily’s story, and the valuable lessons learned from her tragic and preventable medication error is never easy, but it remains the work I feel profoundly called to do.
There was something especially fitting about doing this work with an institution named after Clara Maass. A nurse whose legacy embodies extraordinary courage and selflessness, Clara volunteered in 1901 for medical research aimed at better understanding yellow fever, ultimately giving her life in service to advancing patient care and saving others. Her story is a powerful reminder that healthcare has always demanded bravery, humility, and an unwavering commitment to learning to improve patient care and prevent harm.
For more than 16 years, my work with the Emily Jerry Foundation has been guided by a simple truth: safer care is not achieved through individual vigilance alone, but through strong systems and committed leadership. I am continually inspired by frontline clinicians, the pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and technicians, who dedicate themselves every day to protecting patients, saving lives, and improving the quality of lives of people diagnosed with all kinds of various chronic disease states. Equally critical is the role of healthcare executives and system leaders who really understand that safety begins at the top. Culture, resources, and thoughtful system design are not optional; they are absolutely essential.
What stood out during this retreat was the shared recognition that while human error is inevitable, harm is not. When organizations truly invest in building highly reliable systems focused on safety, that support learning, transparency, and accountability, real and sustainable change becomes possible.
I am deeply grateful to the Clara Maass leadership team for their openness, engagement, and commitment to advancing a true culture of safety. Through partnerships like these, Emily’s legacy continues to live on, making a huge difference that is ultimately helping to save countless lives.
Last Updated: February 23, 2026 by ejfadmin
EJF Speaking Engagement at RWJBH Clara Maass Medical Center Leadership Retreat
I was very grateful for the opportunity to speak at the RWJBH Clara Maass Medical Center Leadership Retreat at Glen Ridge Country Club in New Jersey the week before last. Sharing Emily’s story, and the valuable lessons learned from her tragic and preventable medication error is never easy, but it remains the work I feel profoundly called to do.
There was something especially fitting about doing this work with an institution named after Clara Maass. A nurse whose legacy embodies extraordinary courage and selflessness, Clara volunteered in 1901 for medical research aimed at better understanding yellow fever, ultimately giving her life in service to advancing patient care and saving others. Her story is a powerful reminder that healthcare has always demanded bravery, humility, and an unwavering commitment to learning to improve patient care and prevent harm.
For more than 16 years, my work with the Emily Jerry Foundation has been guided by a simple truth: safer care is not achieved through individual vigilance alone, but through strong systems and committed leadership. I am continually inspired by frontline clinicians, the pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and technicians, who dedicate themselves every day to protecting patients, saving lives, and improving the quality of lives of people diagnosed with all kinds of various chronic disease states. Equally critical is the role of healthcare executives and system leaders who really understand that safety begins at the top. Culture, resources, and thoughtful system design are not optional; they are absolutely essential.
What stood out during this retreat was the shared recognition that while human error is inevitable, harm is not. When organizations truly invest in building highly reliable systems focused on safety, that support learning, transparency, and accountability, real and sustainable change becomes possible.
I am deeply grateful to the Clara Maass leadership team for their openness, engagement, and commitment to advancing a true culture of safety. Through partnerships like these, Emily’s legacy continues to live on, making a huge difference that is ultimately helping to save countless lives.
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Our Mission
The Emily Jerry Foundation is determined to help make our nation’s, world renowned, medical facilities safer for everyone, beginning with our babies and children. We are accomplishing this very important objective by focusing on increasing public awareness of key patient safety related issues and identifying technology and best practices that are proven to minimize the “human error” component of medicine. Through our ongoing efforts The Emily Jerry Foundation is working hard to save lives every day.
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