Malkia A. Cyril is the Executive Director and founder of the Center for Media Justice. With more than 15 years’ experience as a community organizer, policy advocate, and communications strategist, Malkia has led local and national campaigns for racial and economic justice and is the author of numerous essays and articles on media, marginalization, and movement-building.

Malkia is the recipient of the Media Leader award from the Alliance for Community Media, the Emerging Leader award from the Media That Matters Film Festival, and other awards from the Media Justice Fund, Rock the Vote, and others; with appearances in Democracy Now, Hard Knock Radio, Breakdown FM, Free Speech TV, the documentary Outfoxed, the documentary Broadcast Blues, the SF Weekly, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the New York Times, the Village Voice, and others.

http://centerformediajustice.org/home/about/staff/

I began searching for other medically injured patients after my own husband was injured in a procedure at the local facility in Aiken SC where my husband Willie served as a Public Servant for nearly 33 years. An article in an AARP Magazine caught my eye as I read of Helen Haskell's loss of her15 yr old son who was misdiagnosed after a procedure at MUSC a few years earlier. As I read I realized that I was not alone in my quest to find out what had actually happened. This was the beginning of my patient safety advocacy.

http://www.consumersunion.org/2008/summit/participant-bios.html

I became a patient activist following the death of my 15-year-old son from medical error. I have worked with Consumers Union (CU) on infection issues since 2006, when CU helped us pass the South Carolina infection disclosure law. I now sit on the SC infection disclosure advisory committee. I am involved in several other patient safety initiatives, including an advocacy program for hospital patients and their families.

http://www.consumersunion.org/2008/summit/participant-bios.html

After my daughter's crib had fallen apart with her in it, due to the negligence of the manufacturer, is when I felt I had to make a difference. This September I enrolled back in college to gain more knowledge on how to better help efforts such as that of the Consumers Union in the future.

http://www.consumersunion.org/2008/summit/participant-bios.html

Kerry O'Connell
Patient Safety Activist

I believe that I was given the highly improbable experience of multiple medical errors to prepare me to help fight for change in our Healthcare System. While many errors are understandable and forgivable the way patients are treated after medical disasters are very unacceptable. The restoration of the art of empathy and compassion is the only solution.

http://www.consumersunion.org/2008/summit/participant-bios.html