The David E. Nelson Recovery Classic
Honoring David E. Nelson
The David E. Nelson Recovery Classic honors the memory of David E. Nelson’s commitment and service to NCADD-Maryland as Board Chair from 2012 until his passing in 2023. David was a champion for the organization and its mission, making many philanthropic and policy contributions during his years of service. David initiated this tournament 13 years ago and our goal is to continue to grow it in his honor. We are dedicated to preserving his legacy and furthering the cause he was so passionate about.
Tournament Schedule
10:00am-11:30am
Registration
10:45am-11:45am
Patio Cookout
12:00pm-5:30pm
Golf/Shotgun Start, 4-man Scramble
5:30pm-7:00pm
Buffet Dinner & Awards Presentation
Where to Find Us
1101 Stevenson Lane. Towson, MD 21286
Legislative Honor Breakfast
The NCADD-Maryland Annual Legislative Honor Breakfast is a signature event that brings together policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to celebrate progress in behavioral health and recovery across Maryland. Each year, NCADD-Maryland honors legislators and partners whose leadership and commitment have advanced policies that promote prevention, treatment, and recovery for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. The breakfast serves as both a celebration of collaboration and a call to continue building a healthier, more compassionate Maryland.
The 39th Annual Tuerk Conference on Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Returns in 2027!
Conference Aim
We hold our anual Tuerk Confernce to increase the participants understanding of current issues in the field of mental health and substance use disorders. The Annual Tuerk Conference continues to be the premier conference in the Maryland region for providers, administrators, counselors and advocates to learn about the latest information on events and changes that will affect them. It is vitally important for professionals in this field to stay informed about these changes and their impact on patient care.
Remembering Dr. Isadore Tuerk
The annual NCADD-Maryland Tuerk Conference on Addiction Treatment is named after Isadore Tuerk, a psychiatrist who served as Maryland's Mental Health Commissioner for eight years and was a prominent figure in the field of alcohol and drug addiction treatment. A native of Baltimore, Dr. Tuerk oversaw the state's mental hospital system from 1960 to 1968 before leaving public service, and continued practicing psychiatry and teaching at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins medical schools.
Dr. Tuerk grew up in the neighborhood around the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and first came into contact with the school as a child when he delivered clothes made by his tailor father. A 1924 graduate of Baltimore City College, Dr. Tuerk completed undergraduate studies at Hopkins and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1934. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a division psychiatrist in the European Theater, was awarded a bronze star and was discharged in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel.
As a public servant, he fought for more dollars for the state's mental hospitals and pioneered group therapy techniques for alcoholics. All were welcome to the Saturday morning sessions he launched at Spring Grove State Mental Hospital where he became a staff psychiatrist in 1939 and superintendent 10 years later. His son Jonathan recollected that Dr. Tuerk only once threw someone out of the sessions - a man who came in with a bottle of whiskey. out of the sessions - a man who came in with a bottle of whiskey. "It was the only time he ever kicked somebody out of the group and years later he kept asking whether that was the right thing to do."
Dr. Tuerk was an honorary member of the Maryland Society on Alcoholism Treatment and was named its Man of the Year in 1957. Tuerk House, an alcoholic treatment center, formerly a University of Maryland drug and alcohol abuse treatment center, was named in his honor in 1970. In 1981 he received the Gold Key and Honor Award from the Medical Alumni Association and its Service Award in 1987. Dr. Tuerk retired in 1986 and died at the age of 81 in 1989.
International Recovery Day
September 30
Founded by John Winslow in 2019, International Recovery Day is a nonprofit free-standing organization dedicated to promoting all pathways of recovery from addiction worldwide and educating the public about the value of addiction recovery. Having retired from a life-long career in the addiction prevention and treatment realm, John shifted his energies to build bridges within recovery communities. Having experienced widespread support for the concept of an international event linking individuals, families, and recovery communities, a Steering Committee was formed, non-profit status was secured, and a Facebook page was established to build further support, recognition, and connectivity within the global recovery community.