A new report by the National Patient Safety Foundation's Lucian Leape Institute concludes that "substantive improvement in patient safety will be difficult to achieve without major education reform at the medical school and residency training program levels." Prepared by an expert panel convened by the Institute, the report recommends that medical schools and teaching hospitals create learning cultures that emphasize patient safety, professionalism, transparency and collaboration; and launch intensive programs to help faculty acquire sufficient patient safety knowledge and interpersonal skills to function effectively as teachers and role models for students. John Combes, M.D., president of the AHA's Center for Healthcare Governance, served on the panel that produced the report. "This effort is critical in developing physicians for effectiveness in the future reformed health care delivery model," Combes said. "Physicians will need to have skills in the science of quality and safety in order to assist in making the delivery system safer for patients and families."