Laurie Simpson

Laurie Simpson became a patient safety advocate first as a mother. Following her daughter's misdiagnosis of cystic fibrosis and subsequent healthcare experiences, Laurie witnessed firsthand the profound impact that communication, listening, and partnership can have on patients and families. Those experiences inspired her lifelong commitment to improving healthcare safety and ensuring that patient and family voices help shape care delivery.

Proud of her Native American heritage, as a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and deeply connected to rural communities, Laurie brings a unique perspective to healthcare improvement. She is passionate about advancing equitable, accessible, and culturally responsive care, particularly for patients and families who face barriers related to geography, resources, language, or life circumstances.

Today, Laurie serves as Assistant Vice President of High Reliability Organization at Samaritan Health Services in Oregon, where she leads system efforts focused on patient safety, quality outcomes, patient experience, health equity, and organizational reliability. As a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) and Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP), she believes healthcare organizations achieve the best outcomes when they learn with patients and families, not just from them.



As a PFPS US Patient Safety Champion, Laurie is honored to combine her personal experiences, professional expertise, and commitment to partnership to help create safer, more compassionate healthcare for all.