Key Lessons in Patient Safety at “Do No Harm” Event

The Do No Harm safety event, an interprofessional educational initiative hosted by Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences’ Interprofessional Education Committee, was designed to prepare healthcare students for real-world challenges. Held in March 2025, the virtual event engaged students and professionals from across healthcare disciplines, allowing them a unique opportunity to learn how to navigate complex medical scenarios involving patient safety, compassion, and collaboration across fields. Participants included students from Baylor's physical therapy, occupational therapy, communication sciences and disorders, public health, medical science, athletic training, and nursing programs, as well as others from across Robbins College and the broader University.

Casey Unverzagt, DPT, DSc, Director of Residency Education and Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Physical Therapy, helped to plan and oversee the event. He hopes participants gained a better understanding of how an interdisciplinary approach in healthcare plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes. 

“This event was designed to teach students the value of communication and empathy in healthcare. Even more, it’s important that they understand that mistakes will happen, but how they respond and collaborate with their peers is what ultimately makes a difference in patient care,” Unverzagt said. “By bringing students from different disciplines together, we’re helping them build a strong foundation for teamwork and problem-solving in a high stakes environment.”  

Small group discussions, which were fully student-led, encouraged participants to reflect and collaborate across different studies. It also allowed space for students to step into leadership roles and be willing to engage with peers.

“That peer-to-peer learning was definitely a big part of what made this event special,” Unverzagt said. 

Bethany Bradshaw, a second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student, shared her experience attending the event, specifically the importance of learning how to handle challenging situations with patients and families. She participated in role-play exercises that simulated crucial conversations between medical professionals and family members following a medical error—an emotionally intense scenario designed to build empathy and communication skills.

“Participating in the clinic has made me realize there is still a lot I don’t know, and I want to protect my patients and be the best clinician I can. Any opportunity to learn more is a good opportunity, and if it helps even one patient, it’s worth it,” Bradshaw said. “The role-play was really eye-opening—we had to interact with a ‘family’ who had lost someone due to a medical error. This exercise taught me, especially as a physical therapist, that you don’t need to have all the answers. What matters is showing compassion and offering a sincere apology.”  

The role-playing activity was just one of the interactive components of the Robbins College event. Attendees also reviewed a series of videos showcasing real medical errors, ranging from minor oversights to much larger mistakes. Students were assigned to identify these errors and then discuss them in small groups, led by peer leaders.

“There are so many little details that go into patient care—even something as simple as what’s written on a patient’s chart could make a difference. This event really opened my eyes to just how much attention to detail is required,” Bradshaw said.

For most students, Do No Harm’s value has potential to extended beyond the classroom. Bradshaw, who is preparing for her upcoming acute care rotation in a neurological intensive care unit (ICU) to work with post-stroke patients, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, feels that her newest knowledge of potential risks has made her more confident heading into this new stage of learning. 

“I am nervous about my neuro ICU rotation coming up in the fall,” Bradshaw said. “But after this event, I feel better prepared and I know I’ll be able to talk to someone if something goes wrong, and I’ll be ready to take action to make sure it doesn’t happen again—that could save a life.”  

Samantha Dvorak, SLPD, CCC-SLP, Associate Chair for Residential Academic Programs, Undergraduate Program Director, and Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, shared similar insights, emphasizing the importance of teamwork across healthcare disciplines.

“It’s easy to think we need to know everything on our own, but in healthcare, we can collaborate. Each field has its own expertise, so when we all come together, we create the best possible care plan for the patient,” Dvorak said.  

The event highlights the need for professionals to work together and lean on each other's strengths.

“You don’t have to know it all,” Dvorak said. “What’s important is that you know who to talk to when something goes wrong and when to ask for help.”  

Robbin College’s Do No Harm event provided important insights, not only for future healthcare providers, but also for those currently navigating the challenges of a quick, evolving, and often stressful, healthcare environment. By focusing on compassion, teamwork, and the importance of addressing medical errors, the event aimed to better equip students for real-world scenarios they will all face working in healthcare.