On Thursday, November 7 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies will host a screening of the new documentary, To Err is Human, at Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, to be followed by a panel discussion.

It is estimated that medical mistakes lead to as many as 440,000 preventable deaths in U.S. every year and are among one of the leading causes of death in the nation. To Err is Human is an in-depth documentary that explores the tragic outcomes of medical errors and the medical professionals working behind the scenes to create a new age of patient safety.

Described as a thoughtful and inspiring film by The Atlantic, the film casts a spotlight on medical errors, the importance of transparency and communication, and efforts to improve patient safety, through interviews with leaders in healthcare and with families severely impacted by medical errors.

"As we seek to advance the national healthcare agenda through innovation, this event perfectly aligns with our vision. My hope is that it will educate our students to address medical errors that may occur and inspire our students to be leaders in the improvement of the quality of healthcare from every angle," said Egan School Director of Simulation Susan Reynolds, BSN, RN, MAHSM, CNML. 

Following the screening, a panel discussion will be moderated by Patrick Kelley, MD, DrPH, and will feature the film’s director, Mike Eisenberg, and interprofessional clinical experts including: Lauren (Satos) Edwards ’06, BSN, RN from Yale New Haven Children's Hospital; Michael Pineau, MS, RN, VHA-CM chief of Quality Management, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Rohit Bhalla, MD, MPH vice president and chief quality officer for Stamford Health; and Ann Spenard, DNP, RN-BC principal and vice president of Qualidigm.