Reflecting and looking ahead with an ISQua Conference Scholar  

Dr. Luis Torres Torija Arguelles is a physician with a specialty in Quality of Clinical Care, and graduate of the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and current ISQua Member and Fellow. In 2025, Luis was one of the recipients of the Conference Scholarship to attend the 45th ISQua International Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Read his reflections of the experience below and hear firsthand about the Conference Scholarship’s benefit in extending invaluable Knowledge, Networking, Voice and Action to Fellows all over the world.  
 

 Luis Torres Arguelles’ Conference Scholar Experience


 Attending the ISQua Conference in Sao Paulo as a Scholar was an extraordinary experience, one that went beyond academic learning. It represented a space of connection, empathy, and shared purpose among people who are deeply committed to strengthening patient safety and quality around the world. 

It was especially meaningful to see how the theme “Global Learning, Local Action” came to life throughout the conference. Every session from discussions on leadership and workforce well-being to patient partnerships and equity reflected how compassion and community can drive sustainable improvement. These exchanges reminded me that true transformation in healthcare is not only about systems and policies, but about people coming together with a shared vision for safer, kinder, and more resilient health systems. 

I also had the privilege of sharing some of the work being carried out in Mexico to advance patient safety and quality of care. Having the opportunity to contribute to a global dialogue reinforced my belief that learning from each other (across countries and contexts) is key to achieving lasting change. 

This experience renewed my sense of purpose and hope. As we look ahead to Dublin 2026 and its theme “Thriving Through Compassion and Community: Sharing Stories for the Future of Health Systems,” I believe the next step is to turn these shared stories into sustained collaboration. Thriving means more than surviving complex systems, it means creating environments where patients, families, and professionals feel valued and supported. Compassion should not be seen as a soft skill, but as a strategic foundation for quality, safety, and health system resilience. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of this year’s ISQua Scholars. It was an honor to represent my region and to learn from such an inspiring global community. 
 

We look forward to seeing Luis again in Dublin this September and continue our sustained collaboration. The Conference Scholarship provides Fellows from Lower Income Countries and Lower Middle-Income Countries with the opportunity to attend the ISQua International Conference and present, connect and reflect on safety and quality in healthcare. Applications for the Conference Scholarship are open now until the end of May, See more and apply here
 
Hear more from ISQua Scholars:  

A Scholar’s Journey: John Byabagambi’s Reflections on the 2025 ISQua Conference 

Adegboyega Oderinde – ISQua Fellowship Experience 

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Nourhan, a quality and safety coordinator with eight years of experience in ambulatory healthcare in Lebanon, aims to deepen her understanding of the systemic and holistic approach to healthcare through this fellowship.

She aims to identify gaps and develop tailored interventions that address specific contexts rather than applying general solutions. Engaging with diverse professionals and perspectives during this educational journey will expand the application of these concepts across different cultural settings.

Nourhan emphasizes the importance of promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement within healthcare institutions, considering it a vital leadership responsibility to integrate quality and safety initiatives into the organizational culture.

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Elom Otchi

Elom is passionate about improving quality of care and patient safety outcomes.

In view of this, he has had the opportunity to work in various capacities with various organisations including AfIHQSA, WHO, UNICEF and others undertaking research, supporting the development of national quality policies and strategies, facilitating the establishment of quality governance systems across all the levels of the health sector and building capacity of national and sub-national quality leads/teams to institutionalize the practice of quality and patient safety across the continent.

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I would like to use this Fellowship as a learning platform and an opportunity to acquire the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to complement ongoing efforts by like-minded individuals and organizations to continuously advance improve the quality and patient safety in Ghana and the continent.

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Stephen Taiye Balogun

Stephen is a Senior Programme Officer at the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria as well as Country Representative for Health Information for All (HIFA).

Stephen plans to use this opportunity to maximise his impact by championing the cause of patient safety and quality in Nigeria and across Africa.

Stephen says "Quality and safety is a major wheel through which universal healthcare coverage can be achieved. The goal is to be a bridge in the gap between the International Quality Improvement and Patient Safety community and my country to ensure rapid spread, adoption, implementation and practice."

We are looking forward to working with both Stephen and our 2020 winner Rhoda Kalondu over the next year.

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Dr Rhoda Kalondu

Rhoda is the Head of the Patient Safety Unit at Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi and wants to use this Fellowship to learn how to establish a culture of safety and develop systems for assessment and analysis at her institution, and more widely. As well as this, Rhoda intends to develop and execute an intervention to improve patient safety in Kenyatta National Hospital.

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Dr Subhrojyoti Bhowmick

I am an MBBS graduate from Calcutta University with a Gold Medal in Gynecology & Obstetrics.

I have completed M.D in Pharmacology from IPGME& R, Kolkata and have over 12 years of experience in the field of Clinical Research, Pharmacovigilance and Medication management in Hospitals.

I have completed certification in Clinical Research Administration & Project Management from Stanford University, USA and in Patient Safety from Johns Hopkins University, USA.

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I am a peer reviewer for prestigious international journals like the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, CNS Drugs and Drug Safety case reports.

I am the recipient of the UK Seth Oration Award for Best Clinical Pharmacology paper by the Indian Pharmacological Society in 2009 and the “Most promising Healthcare professional in Patient Safety in India” award by the Asian African Chamber of Commerce and Industry in October 2018.

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