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On Wednesday, February 13th, 2008, the drug abuse treatment field
lost one of its giants and the
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
lost a dear friend. Dr. George Gay, who we all knew as
"Skip" died in Alaska after a brief illness at the age of
77. A true pioneer, Skip served as the innovative director
of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics drug treatment programs
and co-creator of the Rock Medicine program that provides
medical coverage at rock concerts and other events. His JPD
article, "A Dash of Mash," coauthored with Dr. John Newmeyer,
provided a blueprint for such programs throughout the rock
world.
Skip
eventually left the Clinics to become, sequentially, a
physician in the California Department of Corrections, an
associate professor of anesthesiology at UC Davis, clinician
for the Gualala Clinic on California's north coast and
finally a bush doctor in Valdez, Alaska. Through it all, he
maintained his ties with our Journal, writing some of its
most provocative articles and serving on its Editorial
Review Board. Although we are saddened by this loss, we can
say "Goodbye old friend" and know that whatever Skip does
next, it will be spectacular. |
