The World Patients Alliance (WPA) proudly congratulates Helen Haskell, Chair of WPA’s Patient Safety & Quality Committee and Council, on receiving the prestigious Presidential Citation for Distinguished Service Award from the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), recognizing her exceptional contributions to advancing patient safety, healthcare quality, and meaningful patient engagement worldwide.
Helen received the award during ISQua’s 42nd International Conference, held from 27–30 September 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. The Presidential Citation for Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to ISQua’s mission of improving healthcare quality and safety. In announcing the award, ISQua acknowledged Helen’s extraordinary commitment to ensuring that the patient perspective remains central to healthcare improvement globally.
Recognizing a Global Leader in Patient Safety
Helen Haskell is an internationally recognized patient safety advocate who has dedicated more than two decades to improving healthcare safety, transparency, accountability, and patient engagement.
As Chair of WPA’s Patient Safety & Quality Committee and Council, Helen provides important leadership in advancing WPA’s global patient safety agenda, promoting meaningful patient involvement in healthcare decision making, and advocating for safer, higher-quality, and more patient-centred healthcare systems.
Helen is also President of two prominent US-based patient advocacy organizations, Mothers Against Medical Error and Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS), through which she has worked extensively to strengthen the role of patients and families in improving healthcare safety and quality.
She has also played a significant role in the World Health Organization’s Patients for Patient Safety (PFPS) programme, including serving as Co-Chair of its Advisory Group. Her contributions to PFPS have helped advance international efforts to recognize patients and families as essential partners in preventing avoidable harm and improving healthcare outcomes.
Transforming Personal Tragedy into Global Advocacy
Helen’s commitment to patient safety began following the tragic death of her young son, Lewis, as a result of a medical error in 2000.
Since then, she has transformed her personal experience into a powerful and sustained commitment to preventing avoidable medical harm and ensuring that patients and families are heard, respected, and actively involved in their care.
Through her advocacy, research, education, and international collaboration, Helen has contributed to improving healthcare communication, diagnostic safety, transparency, and patient engagement.
Her extensive work has included leadership and advisory roles with several prominent healthcare organizations, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM).
Her dedication has helped shape important conversations on patient safety and reinforced the need to involve patients and families in developing solutions to improve healthcare quality.
WPA Celebrates Helen’s Achievement
The World Patients Alliance is immensely proud of Helen Haskell’s well-deserved recognition.
Her leadership as Chair of WPA’s Patient Safety & Quality Committee and Council, together with her longstanding contributions to Mothers Against Medical Error, Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, and WHO’s Patients for Patient Safety programme, reflects the critical importance of patient leadership in transforming healthcare systems.
Helen’s dedication, experience, and tireless advocacy continue to inspire patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and policymakers around the world.
WPA warmly congratulates Helen Haskell on receiving this prestigious international honour and expresses its deep appreciation for her exceptional leadership, commitment, and invaluable contributions to advancing patient safety and healthcare quality worldwide.
Her achievement reinforces WPA’s commitment to ensuring that patients and families are recognized as essential partners in building safer, more equitable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare systems for everyone.