EJF at Touro University’s College of Pharmacy in NYC for their Dean’s Hour Lecture

The week before last, I had the privilege of spending a few days in New York City to speak at a truly impactful Medication Safety Symposium hosted by Touro University’s College of Pharmacy. The following day, I was honored to join my friend Dr. Emily Messing, PharmD, BCPS, CPPS, a Touro alum and Medication Safety Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, for a Dean’s Hour lecture with a remarkable group of pharmacy students pursuing their doctorates.

It was also a very special moment to finally meet Azhar Hussain in person, one of the Emily Jerry Foundation’s five distinguished Medication Safety Scholars. Azhar attended the session and will graduate our program in June at the ASHP Pharmacy Futures Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

When I founded the Emily Jerry Foundation more than 16 years ago, I never wanted to be someone who simply told a heartbreaking story about my daughter and then walked away. Especially not when it comes to the clinician caregivers, I deeply respect…those who always lead with empathy, compassion, and a relentless commitment to improving the quality of life for patients facing chronic disease. Over the years, I’ve learned that many of these professionals entered healthcare out of a genuine love for science and a sincere desire to save lives and improve the outcomes for the patients they are so dedicated to serving.

That’s why, from the very beginning, the Foundation’s mission and my advocacy have been rooted in being part of the solution, working to prevent the kinds of tragic, preventable medication errors that took Emily’s life. My goal has always been to help stop these errors before they happen…ultimately saving countless lives in the process.

Opportunities like the recent one’s at Touro University continue to inspire me. These students aren’t just mastering the complexities of lifesaving medications, they’re stepping into their roles as the next generation of healthcare leaders. They’re the ones who will carry the torch forward, with a deep and unwavering commitment to patient safety and error prevention across every area of care.

A heartfelt thank you to my friend Dr. Batoul Senhaji-Tomza, PharmD, MPH for making all this possible and for organizing such meaningful events. I’m truly excited to continue growing the partnership between Touro University College of Pharmacy and the Emily Jerry Foundation.

Photo credit; Rebecca L. Rosen