Popular Osher at CMU Course “Protecting Yourself as a Patient” Returns for Fall 2025

The fall 2025 session of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon’s highly regarded course Protecting Yourself as a Patient has officially kicked off, following an enthusiastic response to its debut last spring. The six‐week virtual program, which began November 5, once again brings together patient safety experts and learners eager to explore how patients and caregivers can play a more active role in ensuring safe, effective health care.

Led by UPMC geriatrician Dr. Eric Rodriguez, the fall course features many of the same speakers and topics that made the spring 2025 pilot such a success. When first launched by JHF, the course was praised for its blend of national‐level patient safety research, real‐world guidance, and personal storytelling.

This fall, Dr. Rodriguez and the returning guest faculty—including safety leaders such as Martin Hatlie, Dr. Hardeep Singh, Dr. David Classen, Dr. Paul Tang, Peggy Zuckerman, and several new speakers—are once again discussing diagnostic errors, medication safety, and communication between patients and providers. The sessions encourage participants to share their own experiences and strategies, reinforcing the idea that patients and families are vital members of the healthcare team.

The fall series, which runs through mid‐December, continues to draw a strong turnout and lively engagement from Osher members committed to lifelong learning and self‐advocacy. As Dr. Rodriguez notes, empowering people to protect themselves in healthcare settings is both a practical skill and a shared responsibility.