Stopping the Error Before It Reaches the Patient

Today, she helps safeguard cancer patients on a much larger scale as a medication safety officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Her journey, she says, was shaped by exploration, mentorship and an unexpected discovery at the Touro College of Pharmacy (TCOP).

Discovering Possibilities

Messing arrived at TCOP still unsure exactly where a pharmacy degree might lead. Drawn by the school’s public health focus and hands-on curriculum, she expected to follow a traditional path. A couple of months later, the possibilities seemed endless.

Her perspective changed during a patient safety elective taught by Dr. Batoul Senhaji-Tomza, associate dean of curriculum and a mentor Dr. Messing credits with helping shape her career. Early in the course, Messing learned about Emily Jerry, a young cancer patient whose death in 2006 following a medication error became a powerful lesson about the importance of safety systems in healthcare.

“Her story just really stuck with me,” Messing says. “I realized this was an opportunity to impact patients on a higher level by preventing harm before it happens.”

Learning Through Experience

With encouragement from Dr. Senhaji-Tomza, Messing pursued specialized rotations focused on patient safety, gaining real-world experience that confirmed her interests. After graduating from TCOP, she completed residencies at Montefiore Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, ultimately specializing in medication safety and policy.

Those experiences showed Dr. Messing how pharmacists can influence care beyond direct patient interaction. “It’s a lot of problem solving and thinking through systems,” she says. “How can you prevent harm before it even reaches patients?”

In her current role at Dana-Farber, Messing works to improve systems that help healthcare teams catch potential issues before treatments are administered. While patients may never know her name, she sees the impact every time a safety measure prevents an error. “When we see that a change stopped something and helped make sure a patient received the right treatment, it’s just a really good feeling,” she says.

Giving Back Through Mentorship

Messing, who had served as student government association president back when she was a student, remains closely connected to TCOP. She has returned several times to speak with students and mentor future pharmacists. She views that commitment as a way to repay the guidance she herself received.

Her advice to students mirrors her own experience: Stay curious and explore widely. “There are so many different career options within pharmacy,” she says. “The best way to find your path is to talk to people and learn what’s possible.”

For Dr. Messing, that openness transformed uncertainty into a career dedicated to helping patients, often in ways they may never see, but deeply benefit from. “I truly would not be where I am if it wasn’t for Dean Senhaji-Tomza and the mentors who helped me along the way,” she says. “If I inspire even one student to pursue medication safety, that’s a huge win.”