Mark L. Graber, MD Named New SIDM Chief Medical Officer

SIDM Founder and President Emeritus honored at DEM2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Orleans, LA—(Tuesday, November 6, 2018) The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) announced that Mark Graber, MD FACP will be its new Chief Medical Officer effective November 7. The announcement was made at the 11th Annual International Diagnostic Error in Medicine Conference (DEM2018) in New Orleans, Louisiana. In honor of his lifelong work to bring attention to the problem of diagnostic errors and to drive improvements in clinical practice and medical education, SIDM established the Mark L. Graber Diagnostic Quality Award. The SIDM Board of Directors determined that Dr. Graber became the first recipient at a reception on Sunday, November 4.

“Mark’s renowned career has spanned clinical care, medical education and health services research, all in service of reducing patient harm by improving diagnostic safety and quality. Mark has made—and will continue to make—an impact on countless patients and their families by preventing harm from misdiagnosis,” said David Newman-Toker, MD, PhD, President of SIDM. “He has bravely challenged clinicians, educators and researchers to improve diagnostic tools and training. He has shaped and championed the field of diagnostic medicine.”

Dr. Graber convened and chaired the first Diagnostic Error in Medicine conference in 2008 and founded the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine in 2011. He is a respected national leader in the field of patient safety, originating the first-ever Patient Safety Awareness Week in 2003, an event which is now internationally recognized. He is a pioneer of myriad efforts to address diagnostic error, with his research in this area supported by the National Patient Safety Foundation, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and others. In 2014, Dr. Graber was named the recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards by the Joint Commission and National Quality Forum.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue to work alongside my colleagues at SIDM to build on their efforts to improve diagnostic quality and safety in partnership with clinicians, patients, researchers, policymakers and others with the shared mission of reducing patient harm from diagnostic error,” said Dr. Graber. “Our Society and its members are passionate about improving diagnostic quality and safety, and I’m thrilled to continue help advancing these goals as the new and first SIDM CMO.”

This week more than 400 physicians, patients, nurses, healthcare professionals, researchers, institutional leaders and policymakers are coming together to showcase and share innovations to reduce diagnostic error and improve diagnostic quality and safety at DEM2018.

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About the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM)
The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) catalyzes and leads change to improve diagnosis and eliminate harm from diagnostic error. We work in partnership with patients, their families, the healthcare community and every interested stakeholder. SIDM is the only organization focused solely on the problem of diagnostic error and improving the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis. In 2015, SIDM established the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis, to increase awareness and actions that improve diagnosis. Members of the Coalition represent hundreds of thousands of healthcare providers and patients—and the leading health organizations and government agencies involved in patient care. Together, we work to find solutions that enhance diagnostic safety and quality, reduce harm, and ultimately, ensure better health outcomes for patients. Visit http://www.improvediagnosis.org to learn more. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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