The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety

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Applications Now Open for 2027 AELPS Sessions

What is The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety (AELPS)?

Initially founded in 2005, The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety (formerly known as The Telluride Patient Safety Summer Camps) began with a mission to redesign medical education to include a greater appreciation for patient safety. Sessions have evolved into transformative 4-day, immersive workshops convening residents, fellows, medical and nursing students focusing on patient safety concepts, and applying quality and safety improvement strategies and tools. Applicants are selected based on demonstrated passion and interest in patient safety, history of leadership, and commitment to ongoing education and scholarship in patient safety. Sessions are guided by nationally and internationally recognized patient safety leaders and advocates. Learners obtain real-world knowledge and skills to implement and disseminate with colleagues in their organizations on:

High Reliability principles and implementation strategies
System error and human factors engineering
Quality Improvement tools and techniques
Leadership

Open and honest communication after unexpected harm
Reflective Practice
Mindfulness
Teamwork

To-date, AELPS sessions have been held in Telluride and Breckenridge, Colorado; Napa, California; Tempe, Arizona; Washington, D.C.; Ellicott City, Maryland; Doha, Qatar; and Sydney, Australia, and have trained over 1,600 learners. The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety is driven by the MedStar Health Institute for Quality and Safety and supported by its faculty and leaders.

What People Are Saying About the Program

Ann Harrington Labor, RN, BSN

AELPS Alumna

[AELPS] made me a more conscientious nurse in may ways. I find myself capable of a deepened understanding of not only other members of the healthcare provider team, but also of the families and patients I provide care for.

Chelsea Backer, DO

AELPS Alumna

[AELPS] was invaluable. I was able to spend four days learning from leaders in the field of patient safety and participating in a multidisciplinary discussion on how to make healthcare safer. In addition to reducing medical errors, [AELPS] helped me realize that we also need to provide emotional support to our colleagues and team.

Dave Mayer, MD

AELPS Founder

The energy of our resident and student alumni is invigorating, and something we as faculty look forward to each year. It recharges our efforts at the front lines of care or hospital administration, and we hope, contributes to making care that much safer for patients around the world.

John Hatoun, MD

AELPS Alumnus

If I had spent the last four days locked in a library researching patient safety literature nonstop, I would not have walked away with as much knowledge, enthusiasm and support as I acquired.

Geoffroy Fauchet, MD

AELPS Alumnus

The past two days not only have re-framed why I truly entered medical school – to make a difference in my patients’ lives to the best of my capabilities – but it has also taught me what a great physician should be like.