Dr. Thomas McLellan to Receive Special Award at the Partnership’s Winter Wish Gala

We are pleased to recognize our friend, Dr. Thomas McLellan, with a special honor at our annual Winter Wish Gala, taking place at Gotham Hall in New York City on Tuesday, December 12. Tom will receive the prestigious James E. Burke award in honor of our former Chairman, Jim Burke.

Jim served as our Chairman from 1989 to 2002, and under his leadership, the Partnership grew to become one of the most effective nonprofit organizations working in public health. We worked closely with the Burke family to create an award in Jim’s memory that would be given to an individual who exemplifies Jim’s work ethic and humanitarian spirit.

With more than 35 years’ experience in addiction treatment research, Tom founded the Treatment Research Institute (TRI), an independent, nonprofit research and development organization dedicated to science-driven reform of treatment and policy in substance use. He also served as a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.

Tom was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy from 2009-2012, where he was the principal author of President Obama’s National Drug Control Strategy.  In 2016, he also served as Senior Editor for the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Facing Addiction.

Our Chief Policy Officer, Marcia Lee Taylor said, “The James E. Burke Award is bestowed upon individuals who are effortless leaders and whose dedication and devotion to their work inspire those around them to do their best, challenge conventions and knock down barriers. There is nobody more qualified to receive this honor than Tom McLellan. His entire career has been dedicated to bringing scientific rigor to the treatment system and using research to drive policy, and in doing so he has improved the lives of countless people with substance use disorders. The Partnership is fortunate to call him a friend and we are delighted to honor him at our 2017 Gala.”

To learn more or to buy a ticket, please visit our Winter Wish Gala.