Support Report: Q&A with Emotional PPE Co-Founder, new peer support literature, and upcoming events

SEPTEMBER 2026

Q&A with Dr. Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, President and Co-founder of the Emotional PPE Project

Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA, is a practicing critical care physician and anesthesiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Program Director of Anesthesiology Residency at MGH, and Associate Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. He is also President and Co-founder of The Emotional PPE Project, a non-profit organization that champions the well-being of healthcare workers by reducing barriers to mental and emotional health care. Dr. Saddawi-Konefka talked with the Support Report about his work addressing the emotional needs of healthcare workers.

Read the story and see the video

Research spotlight

The peer support research library was recently updated with new resources and articles from the past decade, covering different topics related to peer support. Visit the library and see an example of featured research from the collection below:

“The pain and suffering are just too great for me to manage”: A qualitative study of emotional distress among anesthesiologists after challenging clinical events

Burns CJ, Marzoughi M, Sinko L, Saddawi-Konefka D, et al.

Read the article

See all literature

Featured resource

The “Calm, Kind, and Connected” guide is a toolbox for developing and honing your emotional skills. It shares some tips for releasing or moving through hard feelings and emotions, shifting the way we’re feeling, or changing our situation. One example from the guide is the use of cold water as a calming exercise. As an emotion heats up, so does the body. Subtly calm the reaction in the moment with cold water:

Nervous about a meeting with your manager? Sip cold water during the meeting.
Annoyed with a coworker? Wash your hands in cold water.
Overwhelmed by your to-do list? Place a cold washcloth on the back of your neck.

Read the guide

Upcoming events

Sept. 17

World Patient Safety Day • Learn more here

Oct. 16

12 - 1:00 p.m.

Healing the Healer in a Highly Reliable Way • The Peer Support Learning Collaborative hosts this virtual event with Timothy McDonald, MD, JD, and Deanna Tarnow, RN, BA, CPHRM, on the importance of a highly reliable and empathetic peer support program. Register here

Nov. 2

5 - 6:30 p.m

Support for the Supporter • A gathering for VPSN volunteers, featuring a presentation from Barbara Sarnoff Lee, LICSW. *Please note only trained peer supporters may attend this event. Register here

Nov. 6

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

CARe Forum • Communication, Apology and Resolution (CARe) is a model for more quickly, fairly, and compassionately meeting the needs of patients who have been harmed during procedures and treatments. The Betsy Lehman Center’s CARe Forum will feature presentations, case simulations, and more. Register here

Nov. 12

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

2026 Healthcare Safety & Violence Prevention Summit • The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association hosts this event on the latest trends, challenges, and solutions shaping healthcare workplace safety. Register here

The peer support team is holding trainings for those interested in becoming volunteers.

Multiple dates

Virtual Peer Support Network Training • A virtual training for those who are not yet peer supporters. Register here

The Betsy Lehman Center is a state agency that works with providers, patients and policymakers to reduce preventable medical harm across Massachusetts. The Center offers technical assistance, learning collaboratives, tools and resources related to three key safety programs: Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs), Peer Support and Communication, Apology and Resolution (CARe).

BetsyLehmanCenterMA.gov