November 2008 Schick Connections > Your opportunity to be part of the future
Your opportunity to be part of the future
Importance of research and fundraising
Why is research important?
After putting this question to Dr. Ralph Elkins, the Director of Research at Schick Shadel Hospital, he gave the following as his answer. “Our number one rated treatment for alcohol and other psychoactive drugs at Schick Shadel Hospital was born of research.” He was referring to the famous work of Ivan Pavlov in the 1920’s. Pavlov, Nobel Prize winning physiologist, psychologist, and physician, worked with classical conditioning which led to the first experimental model of learning. His idea of “conditioning,” as an automatic form of learning, became a key concept in the development of behaviorism, the underlying approach to modern psychology.
Dr. Elkins’ continuing research seeks the answers to critically important questions. How best to improve treatment practices to increase and sustain aversion to alcohol and other drugs? How well is our modality performing? Vitally important outcome studies are required to validate new treatments for opioids like oxycontin. Dr. Elkins is entrusted with continuing the critically important work of Dr. James W. Smith and Dr. P. Joseph Frawley. These two doctors’ outcome treatment studies of Aversion Therapy with pentothal interviews, continue to be the very foundation of our success at Schick Shadel.
Without continuing modern research, and using rigorous scientific methods to advance our empirical knowledge, we have only anecdotal assumptions, with these most likely to be found inaccurate. Much of this research has the potential to immediately and profoundly improve people’s lives. This leads us to the obvious next question.
Why is your donation important?
You, our alumni, and your families are the key to moving the hospital’s research to the next level. Please help us continue this important work of funding research with the University of Washington as well as observational studies within the hospital.
Eighty percent of all charitable gifts come from individuals during their lifetime and another ten percent from their estates. Corporations and foundations give the remaining ten percent.
Who benefits? Every one of us. The alumni, who stand on the shoulders of those who have laid the foundations for our unique treatment, have benefited the most. Our families, our colleagues, our communities benefit from our being present and accounted for. I’m often reminded of the sentimental film by Frank Capra, It’s A Wonderful Life, where Jimmy Stewart is allowed to see how the world would have been without him. In the end his guardian angel says “George, you’ve been given a great gift.“
He was given his life back. Help us through your gift to the foundation, give others back their lives. Everyone benefits.
Remembering James W. Smith, M.D.
Addiction Medicine Pioneer 1928-2007
This November marks the first anniversary of the passing of Dr. James W. Smith, the longtime Chief of Staff at Schick Shadel Hospital. Dr. Smith made a very big difference in the lives of his patients, staff, friends and family. During his 47 years at the hospital, Dr. Smith distinguished himself as a pioneer in the field of addiction medicine. He treated each of the thousands of patients under his care with dignity and respect, firm in the belief that their addiction was not caused by moral failing or weakness of character, but by a disease that when properly treated has a 70 percent success rate.
As the director of the foundation, I would like to thank you for last year’s generous support of the mission we all share as graduates. When you give to the Dr. James W. Smith Memorial Research Fund, you make a difference in the lives of everyone that comes in contact with Schick Shadel Hospital’s unique treatment — not just the people wearing green scrubs, but also their children, spouses, colleagues, and friends.
Much more needs to be done.
Schick Shadel Hospital is the only facility in the nation using a medical treatment for physiological addiction to alcohol and other drugs. As graduates, we know the effectiveness of the treatment. Much more needs to be done to conduct research, educate medical providers and the public, and expand the hospital’s capacities. In the last issue of Connections we introduced Dr. Ralph Elkins as Schick Shadel’s Research Director. Among numerous projects, Dr. Elkins will be overseeing Aversion Therapy outcome studies. These will enable the hospital to identify improvements to our medical modality.
Make a difference for those who come after.
If you’re serious about making a difference in the lives of those who come after you, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the James W. Smith Memorial Research Fund. The James W. Smith Fund will continue to support the ongoing mission of the Schick Shadel foundation and the hospital for research and education, but we need your help. Please help by making your check out to the James W. Smith Annual Fund. We have included a self-addressed envelope for your life saving gift. The Schick Shadel Hospital Foundation is a 501(C) (3) charity and all gifts are fully tax deductible.
How to contribute to the James W. Smith Memorial Fund:
Giving Options:
- Cash donations: mail your gift check in the envelope provided
- Call The Schick Shadel Foundation at 800-272-8464 or e-mail jok@schickshadel.com.
- Donate online: go to www.schickshadel.com/foundation and click on DONATE
Types of Giving:
- Sponsor a room
- $10,000 for a single room
- $5,000 for a double room
- Monthly pledges of any amount
