The 33rd CPHS Convocation ceremony was held September 11 to mark the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year. Following the ceremony, first-year CPHS and CUSOM students came together to hear from speaker Chris Jerry on the topic of medication error prevention.
Convocation remarks were lighthearted but meaningful and speakers reminded students of the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and professionalism. CPHS Dean Michael L. Adams (’96 PharmD, PhD) presided at the ceremony.
“I look forward to this event each year where we come together to celebrate our common mission,” said Adams. “The work you are training for makes a difference each and every day. The impact of each one of you over your lifetime will be huge.”
Campbell University President J. Bradley Creed brought greetings from university administration and a touching invocation was given by Clinical Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Deborah Constantine, DPT, who invoked the Lord’s protection on everyone in the path of Hurricane Florence.
President-Elect of the CPHS Alumni Association Board of Directors Crystal Dowless (’09 PharmD), along with four students, provided remarks. Founding editor of North Carolina Health News, Rose Hoban, RN, MPH challenged students to think about telling stories, listening to stories, helping others tell their stories, and the power of those stories.
“One of the most important things you can learn is listening and responding to patients’ stories,” Hoban said. “By listening, you provide complete stories and information to the rest of the care team where information is utterly essential.”
View a recording of the Convocation ceremony.
The IPE First-Year Event brought an international speaker to campus to discuss the topic of medication errors. President & CEO Chris Jerry of the Emily Jerry Foundation for Patient Safety & Safe Medication Practices spoke about the importance of eradicating tragic medication errors.
“When you all begin your healthcare career, you’re all going to be striving as a team for the best possible outcome for your patient,” Jerry said. “It’s very much a team sport to achieve those best possible outcomes. You’re the ones who are going to make a difference and prevent tragedies.”
Jerry discussed the events surrounding the tragic death of his two-year-old daughter, Emily, who passed away due to a fatal medical error. Despite his experiences, Jerry considers himself not only a patient advocate, but a clinician advocate as well, citing the need for systemic change and the importance of systems thinking in preventing unnecessary medical errors.
He also is deeply involved in working with legislators to improve the culture of patient safety. More information about Chris Jerry and his foundation can be found here: https://emilyjerryfoundation.org/.