'Loveline' host Dr. Drew Pinsky to speak at Southeast

The host of the nationally syndicated radio call-in show "Loveline" and star of the VH1 show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" will speak Thursday night as a part of the University Speaker Series at Southeast Missouri State University.

Dr. Drew Pinsky will speak at 7 p.m. at Academic Hall auditorium.

Pinsky has hosted "Loveline" since 1984. His shows offer advice and insights on relationships, sexuality and drug addiction problems.

"We're hoping for a full house," said Joanna Shaver, adviser for the Student Activities Council of Southeast Missouri State University, the largest student programming organization at the university.

"In general he will be talking about relationships and also addiction," Shaver said. "There will also be a question/answer section after his speech."

Pinsky is a medical doctor and is board-certified in addiction medicine. He is the service director of the Chemical Dependency Program/Residential Treatment Center at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., and a staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. He also operates a private practice and is assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine.

"Dr. Pinsky has a very full schedule. We gave him some suggestions for dates, and he got back with us," Shaver said.

Shaver said the organization started planning the University Speaker Series last spring. The planning for Pinsky began in June.

"As part of our University Speaker Series, we have four broad categories. One of them is health and wellness, where Dr. Pinsky fitted in."

Because Pinsky hosts a radio show supporting young adults, he is known by many Southeast students.

"He's kind of popular. I think it's something college students would be interested in," said Vincent Shelhamer, a junior majoring in chemistry at Southeast Missouri State University. "I definitely plan to go there."

Freshman Bri Luker, 18, has also already planned to go to the event with about 60 sorority sisters of Delta Delta Delta.

"One of my sorority sisters already bought the tickets for all of us," Luker said.

Free tickets are available in room 202 at the University Center or in the office of Residence Life at Towers.