Dr. Garrett O’Connor, Former CEO of The Betty Ford Institute, Honored with “Pioneer In Recovery” Award by Cirque Lodge

LOS ANGELES, CA (DECEMBER 17, 2013) – At an intimate gathering of esteemed colleagues, industry professionals and alumni at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, Cirque Lodge Alcohol and Drug Rehab Treatment Facility (www.CirqueLodge.com) presented their first “Pioneer in Recovery” award to internationally renowned psychiatrist and former CEO of the Betty Ford Institute, Dr. Garrett O’Connor, for his outstanding work in treating chemical dependency and addiction.

In a ceremonial speech, Cirque Lodge founder Richard Losee paid tribute to Dr. O’Connor’s visionary methods saying, “Dr. O’Connor’s work with early addiction models, experiential teaching methods and his collegial nature have been the beacon that we have followed.”

Dr. O’Connor noted that many clients with entertainment careers suffered from public exposure while seeking treatment in Malibu, CA. He discovered the spectacular privacy and setting afforded by Cirque Lodge and recommended its solace to individuals dealing with the challenges of chemical dependency.

“It was Dr. Garrett O’Connor’s realization that opened up the entertainment industry to other treatment options,” said Gary Fisher, Director of Operations for Cirque Lodge. “This is how he affected residential treatment and it was one of the primary reasons we honored him as a ‘Pioneer in Recovery.'”

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Dr. O’Connor graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in 1960 and studied psychiatry at John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to his work with the Betty Ford Institute, he founded the Clinical Diagnostic Evaluation Program at the Betty Ford Center and taught in the Departments of Psychiatry at John Hopkins and UCLA. Dr. O’Connor is a prior president of the California Society of Addiction Medicine and holds numerous other titles and honors.

About Cirque Lodge

Founded in 1999 by Richard Losee, Cirque Lodge is an alcohol and drug treatment facility located beneath the magnificent Cascade Cirque in Sundance, Utah.  The Lodge offers a 12-step program to recovery, paired with cognitive and experiential therapies such as equine, hiking and fishing, to help residents replace feelings of shame, fear and hopelessness with a healthy, joyous and productive way of life.

For more information about Cirque Lodge or to interview Dr. Garrett O’Connor, contact Eileen Koch of Eileen Koch & Company INC., a full service Branding, Marketing and PR firm at 310.441.1000 or email Eileen@eileenkoch.com.