Sadie Elisseou, MD

Dr. Sadie Elisseou is a physician, medical educator, and expert in trauma-informed care, a framework for supporting survivors of physical, sexual, psychological, and structural trauma. Elisseou completed undergraduate and medical training at Brown University through the Program in Liberal Medical Education, followed by residency and chief residency at the Yale Internal Medicine Primary Care Residency Program. She serves as a primary care physician in the VA Boston Healthcare System, a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an adjunct instructor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.

Elisseou is recognized for her work on trauma-informed physical examination, a framework guiding clinicians on communication and behavior during patient exams to enhance safety, autonomy, and trust. She developed and published this curriculum, which is incorporated into medical schools and healthcare institutions nationwide. Elisseou has also published frameworks for trauma-informed telehealth, trauma-informed peer physical examination, and the application of trauma-informed care in addressing healthcare burnout. Her peer-reviewed work covers trauma-informed leadership, emergency medicine, and body-size diversity in clinical care.

Elisseou has served as course leader for the Doctoring Course at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and developed trauma-informed care curricula for institutions including Harvard Medical School, Columbia University, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She received the Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award for her contributions to medical education. Elisseou is co-founder of the National Veterans Health Administration Trauma-Informed Care Collaborative, a member of the Trauma Informed Health Care, Education and Research collaborative, and a member of the Harvard Medical School Trauma-Informed Care Steering Committee.

As a corporate trainer and consultant, Elisseou has led workforce well-being initiatives for organizations such as Procter & Gamble, applying trauma-informed principles to reduce burnout and foster psychological safety. She has spoken for audiences at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Association of American Medical Colleges, disaster relief organizations, and health officials in developing nations. Elisseou partnered with the Canadian Public Health Association to develop a training toolkit for primary care providers. She interviewed the 14th Dalai Lama about healing from trauma through Harvard Medical School's Lifestyle Medicine Course.

Elisseou is a keynote speaker and an ambassador of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, advocating for the well-being and mental health of healthcare professionals. Her work focuses on promoting healing and compassion-driven cultural change in professional organizations globally.