Eric Masi, Ed.D., Wayside CEO, Framingham, MA

"We still have to be ever attentive and ever vigilant to make sure that our training is at the top and that we never, ever become complacent in thinking . . . that just because we’ve learned a lot means that we are past the risk of something like this happening again." Dr. Masi possesses first-hand knowledge of the horrors of restraints.  Over a decade ago, he and his staff suffered the loss of a young man who died in the course of a physical restraint at the Wayside program. Eric Masi did not falter when questioned about the impact this tragedy has had on the entire Wayside community as well as other mental health and social service agencies in Massachusetts. "The power of that event resonated through our organization and still does today. It was a unique experience that I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to go through." Dr. Masi made these observations on a crisp, autumn day, as he stood in the shadow of a tree planted in memory of Mark Soares, the youth who died while a resident at Wayside.