Dr Francis Pancho Chang, a Fulbright Specialist, collaborated with the Center of Excellence for Patient Safety and Quality at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, East Java, from April 12 to May 12, 2024, in a transformative initiative to improve patient safety and quality knowledge.

Impactful activities and achievements marked Dr Chang’s presence at the Center of Excellence. Key highlights included meeting with Center staff, the Faculty of Public Health Deans, and the Department of Health Policy and Administration to discuss strategic directions for Center development and potential linkages with US institutions.

Moreover, Dr Chang engaged in interactive teaching sessions for master’s students in Health Policy and Administration, providing invaluable insights into high-reliability organizations, patient safety, and leadership. His presentations at Universitas Airlangga Hospital and Adi Husada Undaan Wetan Hospital in Surabaya on High-Reliability Organizations resonated with administrators, nurses, and providers, fostering a shared commitment to improving patient safety.

“We plan to continue collaborating in education initiatives and knowledge exchange activities. By sustaining our partnership, we aim to embed high-reliability organization principles into our institution’s culture and drive continuous improvement in patient safety practices”, Dr Inge Dhamanti from the Center of Excellence for Patient Safety and Quality of Universitas Airlangga said.

She further said that their institution pursued the opportunity to host a Fulbright Specialist to address a critical need for expertise in patient safety. Recognizing the importance of ensuring the highest standards of care for the patients, they sought to leverage the specialized knowledge and experience of a Fulbright Specialist to enhance their capabilities in this area.

“Collaborating with a renowned expert provided a unique opportunity to advance our institution’s goals and make a meaningful impact on patient care,” she added.