The Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment
Karl B. McMillen has gifted $5.3 million to Torrance Memorial Medical Center towards the establishment of the Thelma McMillen Center. His generosity established the Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Treatment, named for his late wife, as a Center of Excellence in the treatment of chemical dependency in adults and adolescents. (Click here to read about Karl B. McMillen.)
Torrance Memorial currently offers a well-respected outpatient chemical dependency program. Most members of the dedicated staff, many of whom draw from personal experience, have been with the program since its inception in 1991.
The need to expand is evident, particularly through outpatient treatments that keep patients in the community in which they live and work. The Thelma McMillen Center has greatly increased the medical center's capabilities, providing a new 10,000-square-foot dedicated facility and more trained staff. There is a private entrance and elevator, flexible treatment spaces, a library and exercise room, nutritional counseling, separate adolescent and adult treatment spaces and ample consultation rooms.
"Our goal is to treat the whole person, not just the addiction," said Morris Gelbart, Ph.D., supervising psychologist, Thelma McMillen Center. "That treatment mode has been shown to be far and away the most effective."
"We couldn't be more thrilled about this incredible gift from Mr. McMillen," said Laura Schenasi, executive vice president, Torrance Memorial Health Care Foundation. "This will allow us to create a premier program that will have a major impact on hundreds of lives throughout our community. We hope this gift will inspire others to realize what their generosity can mean for generations to come. What a wonderful legacy for Thelma McMillen!"
The Thelma McMillen Center for Chemical Dependency Program Goals
The following goals have been established for the new outpatient chemical dependency center:
- Create a Center of Excellence for the treatment of chemical dependency
- Expand the medical center's existing adult chemical dependency program
- Establish an effective community outreach and education program
- Contribute to research and education on chemical dependency
- Establish an adolescent treatment program
For more information on the current chemical dependency program, please call 310-517-4879.