--- title: "Dr. David Mayer: A Moon Shot for Zero Patient Harm" description: Our guest is David B. Mayer, MD, the Chief Executive Officer of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation and Executive Director of the MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety. image: https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Copy-of-Habitual-Excellence-Episode-Cover-Image-5.jpg --- # Dr. David Mayer: A Moon Shot for Zero Patient Harm March 8, 2021 Written by Mark Graban ## Listen: *Scroll down for a transcript, how to subscribe, and more* Welcome to Episode #37 of [Habitual Excellence](https://valuecapturellc.com/thought-leadership/our-podcast-habitual-excellence/), presented by [Value Capture](https://valuecapturellc.com/). Our guest is [David B. Mayer, MD](https://patientsafetymovement.org/speaker/dr-david-mayer-md/), the Chief Executive Officer of the [Patient Safety Movement Foundation](https://patientsafetymovement.org/) and Executive Director of the [MedStar Institute for Quality and Safety](https://www.medstariqs.org/). Dr. Mayer attended the University of Illinois at Chicago for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. He completed his internship and residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in cardiac anesthesia. Additionally, he co-produced the patient safety educational film series titled “The Faces of Medical Error…From Tears to Transparency,” which won numerous awards including the prestigious Aegis Film Society Top Short Documentary Award. In today's episode, host [Mark Graban](https://valuecapturellc.com/staff/mark-graban/) asks David about topics including: - How did you take such an interest in healthcare quality and safety? - What happened when you witnessed a surgeon lie to a patient about an error? - What is the [Seven Pillars Program](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5134341/)? - What is the [CANDOR](https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/capacity/candor/modules.html) program? - Is "[zero harm](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/zero-harm)" possible? How do you engage with people about that? - What are your hopes for the Biden administration approach on patient safety? - What is your "moon shot" effort? [See video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN1U9NHqNgQ) - What do you remember about bringing [Paul O’Neill](https://valuecapturellc.com/staff/paul-h-oneill/) in to speak at MedStar? - Should there be a national patient safety authority? --- *Value Capture is proud to be an [official partner of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation](https://patientsafetymovement.org/partners/partners/view-all-partners/). * --- ## Video: --- ## Quotes: !["I asked our administration in the 90s, how come we don't track my complication rates, my infection rates? I was always assured, 'Oh, I'm sure you're good.'" ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Habitual-Excellence-David-Mayer-1-1.jpg) ![ "If I had raised my hand and said, 'You know what, no, that's not what happened,' I probably wouldn't have finished my residency."](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Habitual-Excellence-David-Mayer-2-1-1.jpg) !["We should strive for zero [harm]. We understand that that's a lofty, challenging goal, but we don't see any other number that makes us happy that creates the urgency we need."](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Habitual-Excellence-David-Mayer-3-1-1.jpg) --- ## Podcast Main Page: [Click to visit the main Habitual Excellence podcast page](https://valuecapturellc.com/thought-leadership/our-podcast-habitual-excellence/). --- ## Subscribe: To make sure you don't miss an episode, be sure to subscribe today! Please rate and review the podcast. [![Subscribe or Follow - Habitual Excellence Podcast, Presented by Value Capture](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5436566/8f2c6b31-ec1d-464b-a58e-665ee2313fe1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5436566/8f2c6b31-ec1d-464b-a58e-665ee2313fe1) --- --- ## Transcript   [Podcast](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/podcast), [Paul O'Neill](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/paul-oneill), [Patient Safety](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/tag/patient-safety) ![Mark Graban](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Mark%20Graban%20Chair%20Lean%20Head%20Square%20600.jpg) #### Written by [ Mark Graban ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/author/mark-graban) Mark Graban has served healthcare clients since 2005. Mark is internationally recognized as a leading author and speaker on Lean healthcare. His latest book is "The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation." ##### Like it? Share it: [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-a-moon-shot-for-zero-patient-harm) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-a-moon-shot-for-zero-patient-harm) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-a-moon-shot-for-zero-patient-harm) ### You may also like [Dr. David Mayer Discusses the Surgical Mistake that Dramatically Changed his Career ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) ##### [Dr. David Mayer Discusses the Surgical Mistake that Dramatically Changed his Career](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) 10 June, 2021 [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-ceo-of-the-patient-safety-movement-foundation-discusses-the-surgical-mistake-that-dramatically-changed-his-career) [Dan Varnum on Developing People as Leaders in Healthcare ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) ##### [Dan Varnum on Developing People as Leaders in Healthcare](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) 4 May, 2021 [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dan-varnum-on-developing-people-as-leaders-in-healthcare) [Kedar Mate and Patricia McGaffigan on Workforce Safety & Patient Safety ](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) ##### [Kedar Mate and Patricia McGaffigan on Workforce Safety & Patient Safety](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) 2 November, 2020 Listen: Scroll down for a transcript, how to subscribe, and more [Read this article](https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/habitual-excellence-episode-26-kedar-mate-and-patricia-mcgaffigan-on-workforce-safety-patient-safety) #### Submit a comment ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Mark Graban", "url" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/author/mark-graban" }, "dateModified" : "2021-10-29T02:07:30.841Z", "datePublished" : "2021-03-09T03:55:07.000Z", "headline" : "Dr. David Mayer: A Moon Shot for Zero Patient Harm", "image" : [ "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/Copy-of-Habitual-Excellence-Episode-Cover-Image-5.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/blog/dr-david-mayer-a-moon-shot-for-zero-patient-harm", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.valuecapturellc.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.valuecapturellc.comhs-fshubfsValue%20Capture%20White%20Logo%20Transparent-3.png" }, "name" : "Value Capture" } } ```