The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) has been a pioneer in promoting global health safety and quality improvement. One of ISQua's prestigious initiatives is the Lucian Leape Fellowship, which was set up from funds donated by Dr Lucian Leape, a transformative figure in the patient safety movement This fellowship supports physicians and healthcare leaders in developing countries, to advance and expand their expertise in patient safety, with the resultant improvement of the safety of patients in their local area.
Dr Lucian Leape
Dr Lucian Leape, a physician and professor at Harvard School of Public Health, is often regarded as the father of the modern patient safety movement. His groundbreaking work highlighted the systemic nature of medical errors and emphasised the need for a culture of safety within healthcare institutions. Dr Leape's advocacy for systemic change has inspired countless professionals and led to the development of safety protocols that save lives every day.
The Lucian Leape Fellowship
The Lucian Leape Fellowship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication and innovation in the field of patient safety and healthcare quality. This fellowship not only honours their past achievements but also supports their ongoing work to improve healthcare systems in their local area. Recipients of this fellowship are given opportunities to collaborate with global leaders in healthcare quality, participate in ISQua events, and further their education, research, and projects.
Learn more about the 2024-2026 Recipients
Elom Otchi (Ghana)
Elom is passionate about improving quality of care and patient safety outcomes. In view of this, he has had the opportunity to work in various capacities with various organisations including AfIHQSA, WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF and others undertaking research, supporting the development of national quality policies and strategies, facilitating the establishment of quality governance systems across all the levels of the health sector and building capacity of national and sub-national quality leads/teams to institutionalize the practice of quality and patient safety across the continent. He has also worked extensively across all levels of care in the health sector of Ghana, including leading the Quality & Patient Safety program in its largest teaching hospital.
“I would like to use this Fellowship as a learning platform and an opportunity to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to complement ongoing efforts by like-minded individuals and organizations to continuously advance improve the quality and patient safety in Ghana and the continent.” - Elom Otchi.
Nourhan Kawtharani (Lebanon)
Nourhan, a quality and safety coordinator, with eight years of experience in ambulatory healthcare in Lebanon, aims to deepen her understanding of the systemic and holistic approach to healthcare through this fellowship. She aims to identify gaps and develop tailored interventions that address specific contexts rather than applying general solutions. Engaging with diverse professionals and perspectives during this educational journey will expand the application of these concepts across different cultural settings.
Nourhan emphasizes the importance of promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement within healthcare institutions, considering it a vital leadership responsibility to integrate quality and safety initiatives into the organizational culture. Nourhan's commitment to patient safety and quality management includes sourcing practical resources and transforming insights into actionable knowledge to drive continued progress in healthcare practices and outcomes.
Find more information about the Lucian Leape Patient Safety Fellowship here.