Rosecrance Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Gomel has received the George Schwab Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes leaders in the field of substance abuse treatment.
Gomel received the award on Sept. 4, 2014, at the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) Fall Conference. The award is given in memory of George Schwab, President of IADDA from 1979-1980, and symbolizes the sacrifice and commitment of professionals in the alcohol/other drug field. Recipients are selected based on their contributions to IADDA and the alcohol/drug field, including leadership and expertise in the development of public policy.
“Dave Gomel truly is someone who represents the value that George Schwab represented to our field,” said TASC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Palanca. “He values, respects, and ensures collaboration as we together provide service to those systems, communities and individuals who so desperately need us.”
Gomel has more than 20 years’ experience in behavioral health treatment, including a number of years providing direct clinical services and various administrative roles. Gomel started his career with Rosecrance in 1993.
“I fell in love with the Rosecrance mission – it’s what we do every single day. We see people who have that hole in their heart and we try the best we can to fill that hole with the resources we have,” said Gomel.
Dave holds a Master of Science Degree in Health Service Administration from the University of St. Francis and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University. Dave serves on numerous local, state and national boards, trade organizations and behavioral health committees.
“We have a lot of work to do moving forward,” Gomel said in accepting the award. “We have to protect these people, every one of them. That’s our obligation and we can get that done through IADDA.”
IADDA was established in 1967 as the only statewide advocacy organization in Illinois focusing solely on substance use disorder issues. IADDA represents more than 50 prevention, treatment and recovery organizations across the state. Rosecrance is a member agency of IADDA.