Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences helds an awareness lecture on World Patient Safety Day."
In a world rife with health challenges and an ever-growing need for safe and compassionate care, the patient remains at the heart of the medical mission. Their dignity and safety serve as the guiding compass for every physician and healthcare practitioner. Rooted in this conviction, Ar-Rasheed Smart University reaffirmed its academic and humanitarian mission by commemorating World Patient Safety Day—underscoring that medicine is not merely a science, but a profound human endeavor built on compassion, care, and hope.
In this spirit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with the University Student Forum, organized a specialized awareness lecture on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Somaya Al-Areeqi, a specialist in healthcare quality and patient safety at the Royal Faculty of Surgeons in Ireland. The event took place on campus and was attended by Dr. Salah Wajih Al-Din, Head of Pharmacy Department, and Dr. Fayrouz Atroosh, Head of the Laboratory Medicine Department.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Ikram Fadhl Al-Iryani, Dean of faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, emphasized that this global occasion serves as a reminder that medicine is not just a profession or theoretical science—it is a humanitarian calling rooted in empathy, compassion, and alleviating patient suffering.
She added, “Through initiatives like this, Ar-Rasheed Smart University strives to graduate physicians and healthcare professionals who combine academic excellence with human values—becoming ambassadors of mercy and service to society and humanity at large.”
During her lecture, Dr. Somaya Al-Areeqi highlighted the dangers of unsafe care, which result in millions of deaths annually and place a heavy burden on healthcare systems and families. She stressed that patient safety is an indispensable priority for ensuring the quality of healthcare services.
The event coincided with the observance of World Patient Safety Day 2025, held under the theme: “Patient Safety from the Start – Safe Care for Every Newborn and Child.” The theme spotlighted the vulnerability of children and newborns and their unique needs in healthcare.
Dr. Al-Areeqi also presented the five key objectives of the 2025 campaign:
Engaging parents, families, and children in safety efforts
Enhancing medication safety for children
Improving diagnostic safety
Preventing healthcare-associated infections
Reducing risks for newborns and young patients
The event witnessed strong participation from faculty students, whose questions and contributions enriched the discussion—reflecting a deep awareness of the physician’s role as a compassionate human being before a medical practitioner, and the belief that successful treatment begins with a trust-based relationship founded on empathy and respect.
The event concluded with heartfelt messages to healthcare workers, emphasizing their pivotal role in ensuring safer care for children and newborns from the very first moments of life—contributing to a healthier future for generations to come.
