Advocating for Patient Safety: Dr. Soojin Jun's Transformative Journey and the Vision of Patients for Patient Safety US

In this compelling episode of PX Space host Linda Robinson speaks with Dr. Soojin Jun, a Population Health Pharmacist at Oak Street Health and co-founder of Patients for Patient Safety US. Dr. Jun, a distinguished board-certified geriatric pharmacist, brings additional certifications in patient safety and healthcare quality, anchored by her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.

 Driven by a deeply personal experience of harm within her family, Dr. Jun transitioned from her previous role as a videographer to a career in healthcare, emerging as a fervent advocate for patient safety. The tragic event involving her father, a South Korean immigrant navigating language and cultural barriers in healthcare, impelled Dr. Jun to confront gaps in care and medication-related adverse events. These challenges tragically culminated in her father's untimely death, prompting Dr. Jun to channel her grief into a resolute commitment to enhancing healthcare for others.

The conversation illuminates the profound impact of personal caregiving experiences on Dr. Jun's professional journey, underscoring her unwavering dedication to advocating for patient safety. It sheds light on the complexities faced by families navigating healthcare, particularly in the presence of language and cultural barriers. Dr. Jun's trajectory embodies a steadfast commitment to catalyze positive change in healthcare, with a vision of improving the system one patient at a time.

Continuing the discussion, the two explore the intricacies of healthcare, specifically in the realm of medicines and patient safety. Despite existing safeguards, both hosts acknowledge that there is room for improvement. Dr. Jun shares her transformative journey, realizing that her initial efforts as a pharmacist were merely a starting point for the systemic changes she aspired to instigate. Through shared caregiving stories, she recognized that medical harm transcends cultural and language barriers, leading to the formation of Patients for Patient Safety US—a collective of individuals who have experienced or witnessed medical harm.

This dynamic organization aims to advocate for patients and caregivers at the policy level, uniting various patient safety organizations to amplify their collective voice. Dr. Jun emphasizes the crucial need for policy change, particularly in addressing workplace violence. 

The conversation delves into the multifaceted challenges within healthcare, ranging from language barriers to navigation issues and the lack of clarity in discharge care. Also mentioned, is the importance of technological solutions, such as language translations in patient rooms, aligning with broader efforts in quality improvement. The discussion also highlights the alignment of Patients for Patient Safety US with the World Health Organization's Global Patient Safety Action Plan, spanning from 2021 to 2030. Dr. Jun's narrative and advocacy work stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to effecting positive change in healthcare policies and practices.