Psychological Safety for Surgeons: Building Trust, Teamwork, and Well-Being

Sunday, October 12, 2025

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EDT

Location: 107-108

Disclosure(s):

Nausheen Jamal, MD, MBA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

James G. Naples, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Michael J. Brenner, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Psychological safety is the concept that an individual will not be penalized or humiliated for making mistakes, voicing ideas, or asking questions. In doing so, interpersonal risk is reduced in the workplace. Research in this area was pioneered within the fields of industry and business but has significant impact within our field of healthcare. A culture of psychological safety is imperative for physician well-being and satisfaction, which in turn directly impacts patient safety, quality, and outcomes. The work required to achieve a culture of psychological safety relies on both high-level organizational input as well as a conscientious effort on the part of the individual healthcare provider.
This panel defines psychological safety as it relates to otolaryngology – head and neck surgery and examines its critical role in patient safety and quality improvement. We will present strategies for creating a psychologically safe environment and will highlight factors that can promote or threaten the culture. Conflict management, microaggressions, and organizational accountability will be highlighted, along with the importance of emotional intelligence as it relates to psychological safety.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Describe approaches to building and sustaining a culture of psychological safety.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Understand the role of the individual in ensuring psychological safety via emotional intelligence, conflict management, and bystander interventions for microaggressions.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Recognize the role of the organization in developing a culture of safety by ensuring accountability and support.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: A psychologically safe culture must be actively cultivated by the organization’s leadership, while also relying on the everyday efforts of all healthcare team members. Conflict avoidance, microaggressions, and lack of emotional intelligence threaten to derail psychologically safety.

Comprehensive Otolaryngology Track Statement :

Moderator(s)

Nausheen Jamal, MD, MBA

Department Chair
University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine
Galveston, TX, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Panelist(s)

Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc

David Myers MD Professor & Chair
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
James G. Naples, MD

Assistant Professor, Residency Program Director
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Needham, MA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Michael J. Brenner, MD

Associate Professor
U. of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.