Anaheim : Betty Ford Honored by State Medical Assn.
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Former First Lady Betty Ford, who has become a nationally recognized advocate for the treatment of alcoholism and drug dependency, was honored Sunday by the California Medical Assn., meeting in Anaheim.
Dr. James West, medical director of the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, accepted the award on the former First Lady’s behalf.
The Award for Distinguished Service is given annually to a non-physician for “significant contributions that benefit the health and medical care of the people of California” and includes a $1,000 honorarium.
The Betty Ford Center is a 60-bed recovery hospital for people with chemical dependency and is regarded by many as an outstanding facility. In addition to her role at the center, Ford has been an outspoken advocate of treatment for alcohol and other drug problems. Her own story against addiction was depicted in a television movie last week with actress Gena Rowlands portraying the former First Lady, who was equally frank about publicly discussing her earlier battle against breast cancer.
The CMA resolution honoring Betty Ford declared that her “courage and candor, enabling her to overcome alcoholism, drug dependence and cancer, continues to inspire and educate others.”
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