A Word about Recently Interviewed Dr. Karen A. Plavan of Pittsburgh

Karen is Interim Chairperson of International Christian Recovery Coalition and was just interviewed by Dick B. on www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com. Karen is a nationally known Christian Recovery Leader, heads The Oasis Recovery Center of Western Pennsylvania, and recently resumed work for the Coalition for Leadership, Education, and Advocacy for Recovery (CLEAR). Her interview tells of her extensive teaching on recovery, addiction, and counseling. It's a talk not to be missed. Dick B., Executive Director of International Christian Recovery Coalition.

Here is an article about Karen on the Oasis Recovery Center website:

Karen Plavan, Ph.D.

Dr. Karen Plavan serves as the Executive Director of The Oasis Recovery Center of Western PA. She also provides consulting in organization development and provides individual counseling services. She served on the Graduate Faculty, School of Education, Penn State University and taught at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She also designed a prevention project entitled, “Everything Counts” for the National Media Outreach Center at QED Communications focusing on Addictive Organizations and Communities.
Karen Plavan served as President of the Allegheny County Alcohol and Drug Planning Council for six years and worked for an international project where she conducted training on addiction in developing countries. She also worked as a Management consultant for Strategic Management working with corporate clients. In addition, she worked for Right Management providing out-placement counseling and training in career development.
Karen Plavan also served as the Director for the Coalition for Leadership, Education, and Advocacy for Recovery (CLEAR) at the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation. In this role, she received a grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and Boston University, School of Public Health to lead an initiative in Pittsburgh called “Demand Treatment.” As a part of this initiative, the first Emergency Room Screening project in PA was launched and the first Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference.
She received a B.A. in Speech and Communications, an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Counselor Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a practicum at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic where she later worked in an adolescent psychiatric dual diagnosis program called ADAPT.
Dr. Plavan also worked as an English Second Language (ESL) counselor and worked as the Director of the International Center at Point Park College. She also served as the Pittsburgh Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative which was launched in Pittsburgh in 2000.
In addition to her professional experience, Dr. Plavan has volunteered for a variety of organizations – serving on the Executive Committee for the National Cathedral of SW PA, President of the United Nations Association of Pittsburgh, and the Vestry of St. Andrews Episcopal Church among many other organizations.