It is with profound sadness that ISQua acknowledges the death of Dr. Lucian L. Leape, a pioneering champion of patient safety, who passed away on June 30, 2025, at the age of 94 in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Dr. Leape’s life’s work transformed healthcare systems worldwide. His contributions — most notably the Harvard Medical Practice Study in 1991 and his landmark 1994 JAMA article “Error in Medicine” — laid the foundation for patient safety as a discipline. Through advocating systems-based approaches, he guided healthcare from a culture of blame toward one that learns from error.

ISQua expresses its deepest sympathy to Dr. Leape’s family, colleagues, and the global community of clinicians, researchers, and patients who have benefitted from his extraordinary efforts. His belief that “getting to zero” errors and creating transparent, team-based, patient-centered systems is not only possible but necessary continues to inspire us all.

As the founding chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Lucian Leape Institute, Dr. Leape played a pivotal role in shaping collaborative global efforts to improve safety and quality in health systems. His legacy lives on through countless improvements in care, safety protocols, and educational frameworks inspired by his vision.

Dr. Carsten Engel, ISQua CEO, and Dr. Ezequiel Garcia Elorrio, ISQua President, agreed:

“Lucian Leape will be remembered as a pioneer who transformed the way we think about patient safety. At ISQua, we are also deeply grateful to him as the founder of the Lucian Leape Patient Safety Fellowship, which will continue, in his name and in his memory, to support healthcare professionals in developing countries to advance their expertise and improve patient safety.”

ISQua is also honoured to continue his legacy through the Lucian Leape Patient Safety Fellowship Award, established in 2018 and announced at ISQua’s 35th International Conference in Kuala Lumpur. The fellowship supports physicians and healthcare leaders in developing and transitional countries to build their expertise and improve patient safety in their local settings.

As Dr. David Bates noted when presenting the donation on Dr. Leape’s behalf, “Lucian recognised that most harm occurs in developing and transitional countries and that there is a tremendous need to build capacity in these areas. From speaking fees and consulting, Lucian established a private foundation to support safety-related work. He decided to close the foundation and donate the remaining funds to establish the Fellowship, providing one-year awards for leaders who will complete their projects in their own countries with ISQua mentorship”.

Since 2029 this award has been granted to future healthcare leaders from India, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Lebanon - Learn more here.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

 — International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua)