As planning continues for this fall’s Quality & Safety Symposium, organizers have confirmed the sixth annual event’s keynote speaker, Sorrel King. Ms. King came to national attention as a patient safety advocate following the 2001 death of her daughter Josie. Her establishment of the Josie King Foundation with her husband opened a new conversation between providers and patients on how best to ensure patient safety and reduce medical errors.

In the years since that conversation began, Ms. King has traveled the country working with hospitals, doctors, nurses, educators, and members of private industry to inspire change for a safer health care system. In 2009, Ms. King’s book, Josie’s Story, was published by Grove/Atlantic and was named one of the best health books of the year by the Wall Street Journal as well as winning other awards. Ms. King was also named one of the “50 Women Changing the World” by Woman’s Day magazine the following year.

Krista Johnson, MD, MME, is one of the Quality & Safety Symposium’s co-directors. “We are thrilled that Sorrel King has accepted our invitation to speak,” Dr. Johnson said. “The perspective of patients and their families is a critical component of planning and improving quality and safety in health care. Ms. King’s experiences both as a mother and as voice for change will provide important context for this year’s symposium attendees.”

The sixth annual Quality & Safety Symposium will begin with a poster session on the evening of November 14 and the symposium itself will be a day-long series of presentations and breakout sessions on November 15 in Medical Alumni Auditorium. Registration will open soon.

Learn more about the Quality & Safety Symposium: https://internalmedicineiowa.org/tag/quality-safety-symposium/