By Dan McCormick, Interim President

Hazelden's presence as a leader in the field of addiction and recovery has been felt for six decades. Our history of innovation and knowledge is second to none.

Hazelden is where the Minnesota Model of care evolved, and it's an organization that literally gave its model away--sharing its perspectives with all who sought to emulate it. It's an organization that acquired Twenty-Four Hours a Day in 1954 and built on that core text to become the world's largest publisher of addiction and recovery materials. Hazelden's commitment to training, education and research has followed.

As interim president and CEO of Hazelden, it's my honor--in even a small way--to help Hazelden build on its legacy of strong leadership. Leadership is not a one-person job, but rather the responsibility of many who share a common mission and vision. It demands a cadre of dedicated individuals who can inspire the voices and faces of recovery.

Ellen Breyer, Hazelden's most recent president and CEO, is one such person. She dedicated the last six years to leading Hazelden. Under Ellen, Hazelden implemented an ambitious strategic plan with key goals. Increasing access to treatment and improving outcomes were the core objectives, and success has been achieved in both areas. Better yet, a solid foundation has been laid to realize even greater gains.

Leadership can be defined in many ways. I see it as the process of creating an environment for individuals to step forward and take action. As you read this issue of the Voice, you'll find evidence of numerous leadership initiatives at work. You'll read about Hazelden's integrated approach to treating patients with co-occurring disorders--the critical mental health component of care that has gone largely unheralded for years. You'll read that we've teamed with leading experts from Dartmouth Medical School to publish a program that clinicians and centers can use to address co-occurring disorders. You'll see that the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps has turned to Hazelden to train its addiction professionals. And you'll read about MORE® (My Ongoing Recovery Experience), our innovative recovery management program for adult primary residential patients.

As the Board of Trustees conducts a national search for a full-time president and CEO, the work at Hazelden continues. The work of leaders like William Cope Moyers, executive director of our Center for Public Advocacy, continues to carry the message that addiction is a disease and treatment works. The work of leaders in our Research, Recovery Services and Publishing divisions continues to identify more evidence-based practices to treat and prevent addiction. And Tim Sheehan, PhD, senior vice president and provost of our Graduate School of Addiction Studies, and his staff continue to educate future leaders in the addiction field.

As Hazelden considers its future directions and commitments, it needs to continue to leverage its leadership position to advance the vision that all who seek recovery will find it and that the stigma of addiction will be overcome. Leaders in any field inquire, inspire, innovate and give shape to new ideas by reflecting on the past, understanding the present, and anticipating the future. No organization is better suited to do this than Hazelden.

Hazelden will seek other leaders who share a common mission and collaborate to form a global voice for addiction and recovery. By remaining true to our mission and values, Hazelden will remain strong. The strength of Hazelden is in our unceasing commitment to helping others and the recognition that our work has only just begun.

Dan McCormick was named interim president and CEO of Hazelden on April 7. He is a managing partner of the Chancellor Group Inc., a health care consulting firm in Minneapolis.

Published Summer 2008, The Voice