Dr. Shorkey Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from
Austin Recovery
October 13, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work Professor Clayton T. Shorkey has received the Dr. Larry Wharton Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Alcoholism and Drug Treatment from Austin Recovery.
Dr. Clayton T. Shorkey
Austin Recovery President and CEO Bill Wigmore presented the award at the Sustainer's Council luncheon Oct. 1. The Dr. Larry Wharton Lifetime Achievement Award symbolizes excellence and perseverance in the field of alcoholism and drug treatment. Dr. Wharton was a psychiatrist at the Austin State Hospital and one of the founders of Austin Recovery, now the largest chemical dependence treatment program in Texas.
"Dr. Shorkey was the first to begin teaching classes on alcoholism at The University of Texas School of Social Work. He's helped faculty and students understand the nature of addiction and the fact that this illness can be successfully treated," Wigmore said. "Clay has published numerous research articles about chemical dependence, including some pioneering work on the spirituality of recovery. He's connected Austin Recovery with the next generation of social workers by creating bridges between Austin Recovery and hundreds of students and research fellows who have completed their research work at AR."
Dr. Shorkey received his Ph.D. and M.S.W. degrees from the University of Michigan. He is the senior clinical professor at the School of Social Work and joined the faculty in 1973. Shorkey is director of the social work component of the Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center, which includes training events, Web site resources, and providing technical assistance to chemical dependence treatment agencies.
Shorkey's national Web site for chemical dependence treatment resources includes an indexed bibliography on all articles published related to social work and chemical dependence in the last 50 years, and comprehensive reference material related to chemical dependence treatment on diverse population groups, as well as resources related to major social and psychological approaches to chemical dependence treatment.
About Austin Recovery
Since 1967, Austin Recovery has provided affordable, effective, compassionate drug and alcohol treatment for individuals, families and communities. Austin Recovery also offers free intervention classes, outpatient services, alumni support, family programs, aftercare and community education. For more information about Austin Recovery, call 512-697-8500 or visit the center's Web site.
For more information, contact:
Mollie T. Marchione, Ph.D.
Director of Constituent Relations
512-232-7119
mmarchione@mail.utexas.edu