Featured Article
Colleagues Find Confidence Through R.A.D. Training
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Editor’s Note: This story is part of Ellis in Motion, a feature highlighting the meaningful work we do each day. From everyday moments to tech breakthroughs, Ellis in Motion celebrates the people and teams who make a difference.
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The room is filled with nervous laughter at first.
Participants pair up, practice simple movements, and learn to recognize situations that could put them at risk. As the training progresses, hesitation gives way to confidence. By the end of the class, many women discover something they didn't know they had: the ability to trust themselves under pressure.
That’s the goal of the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) program at Ellis Medicine, which helps women build the skills, awareness, and confidence needed to stay safe wherever life takes them.
Led by Rick Rhodes, Manager of Security Training, and Mackenzie Good, Manager of Operations and Safety for Inpatient Mental Health, the training provides female employees, nursing students, and high school-aged daughters of employees with practical, hands-on self-defense instruction designed to prepare participants for potentially dangerous situations.
The internationally recognized R.A.D. program focuses on much more than physical self-defense. Participants learn situational awareness, risk reduction strategies, and techniques for responding confidently and effectively when confronted with violence or other unpredictable encounters.
While many people associate self-defense training with physical techniques, Rhodes says the program's focus is much broader.
“The biggest misconception is that self-defense is all about fighting,” Rhodes said. “In reality, R.A.D. teaches awareness, prevention, confidence, and how to make good decisions under stress. Physical techniques are only one part of the program—the primary goal is to avoid becoming a victim whenever possible.”
The training emphasizes preparation and empowerment, giving participants tools to recognize threats, make informed decisions, and increase their personal safety.
For Good, one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching the program is seeing participants discover their own capabilities.
"What stands out most is watching participants realize they're stronger and more capable than they thought," Good said. "The confidence they build during the training often extends beyond the classroom and into their everyday lives."
What makes the program especially noteworthy is its accessibility. Ellis Medicine is one of the only hospitals in New York State to offer R.A.D. training free of charge to staff members.
The training reflects Ellis Medicine's ongoing commitment to supporting employees beyond their clinical and professional responsibilities. While many workplace safety programs focus primarily on the work environment, R.A.D. equips participants with knowledge and techniques that can be applied anywhere—whether walking to a car after work, heading off to college, traveling, or navigating everyday situations.
The program’s success isn't measured by how often participants use the physical skills they learn. Rather, it’s measured by prevention. “If our participants never have to use the physical skills because they recognized a dangerous situation and avoided it, we've accomplished our mission,” Rhodes said.
That philosophy highlights what the program is truly about: building confidence, increasing awareness, and giving women the tools to make safer decisions before a situation escalates.
As healthcare organizations continue to focus on supporting employee wellness, R.A.D. stands out as an example of how Ellis invests in the people who make its mission possible, providing skills that empower participants both on and off the job.
Ellis Medicine | Newsroom
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