1. Eric (Rick) W. Zehr, MS, CAADC, PCGC, MISA II, born on July
9, 1962, most recently served as Vice President of Ancillary
Services at Proctor Hospital where he oversaw all ancillary
departments for Proctor Health Care, Inc. including the
operations of the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery.
He received his Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
from Illinois State University in 1987 and is a Certified
Advanced AODA Counselor (CAADC), certified Problem and
Compulsive Gambling Counselor (PCGC), and board
registered at the Mental Illness Substance Abuse II (MISA
II) level through the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
Professional Certification Association (IAODAPCA). The American Compulsive Gambling
Counselor Certification Board, Inc.; the National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc.; and
the American Academy of Healthcare Providers in the Addictive Disorders recognize him
as a compulsive gambling counselor certification trainer. He is the Past President of the
Illinois Hospital Addiction Treatment Administrators Forum and a member of the Illinois
Hospital Association Behavioral Health Constituency Steering Committee.
Mr. Zehr has treated addicts since June 1987. He has helped develop the Illinois
Institute for Addiction Recovery into a leading comprehensive, multiple and specialty
addiction treatment provider. In May 1993, he helped develop and implement the first
specialized, comprehensive gambling addiction treatment program in Illinois and in
1996 helped develop and implement the nation's first comprehensive Internet addiction
treatment program. In 2003, he helped develop the nation’s first and most
comprehensive Chronic Pain with Addiction treatment team and program.
He has educated Fortune 500 companies, universities and municipalities on how to
identify and treat addictions. He has made local, national and international radio,
television, film (documentary) and print appearances, including "CBS This Morning",
Newsweek magazine, Radio Islam, E! Network and The Times of London, while
educating the general public on addictions. He is editor/publisher of Paradigm
magazine, an award winning publication distributed internationally to educate
healthcare professionals on behavioral medicine issues and treatment techniques.
He has provided consultation to the writers and producers of Chicago Hope for the
development of Mark Harmon's character (a pathological gambler) and assisted media
including Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Working Woman, National Public Radio, CAPA
TV in Barcelona, Spain, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, ABC's 20/20, CBS'
48 Hours and The Early Show, Fox Sports News, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, Redbook
magazine, the Seoul Broadcasting Corporation in Seoul, South Korea, The South China
Morning Post (Hong Kong), the BBC London, E! Network and WCBS New York on
addiction related stories.