Transforming How Addiction is Treated

The Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA, Center for Addiction Medicine (SIGCAM) is a fully integrated addiction medicine center—combining evidence-based clinical excellence*, behavioral health, spiritual support, workforce training and community leadership.

*Clinical treatment services are provided through Rosary Hall, a fellow ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System dedicated to compassionate outpatient addiction treatment and support.

At a time when society largely viewed alcoholism as a moral failing and not as a disease, Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA, saw something different: a medical condition afflicting a person worthy of profound respect.

Her radical compassion and steady belief that care must begin with dignity, Sr. Ignatia, a member of Cleveland’s Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA), became a pioneer in addiction medicine in the 1930s. She played a formative role in the early development of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), becoming known as the “Angel of AA.”

Today, her legacy fighting addiction lives on through the Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA, Center for Addiction Medicine.

The Sr. Ignatia Gavin, CSA, Center for Addiction Medicine is built on faith with a dedication to healing and education—so we can continue building hope for anyone struggling with alcohol or drug use. Through extensive renovations to the second floor of the Sisters of Charity Health System building, we’ve created a welcoming environment with a variety of spaces that are rooted in hospitality, healing and connection. Some of these spaces and features include:

The welcome lobby serves as the central point of welcome for SIGCAM, greeting all who seek care through Rosary Hall, attend services in the chapel or participate in gatherings in the community room.

This welcoming new space is available for groups to meet, learn and connect, whether for formal meetings or informal gatherings. Residents of Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, where accessible gathering spaces are limited, will especially be able to utilize this room as a much-needed place for collaboration, conversation and community events.

With the demolition of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, including the beloved Holy Trinity Chapel, the Sisters of Charity Health System and the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine remain deeply committed to creating a new sacred space for worship and reflection within the St. Vincent Charity Health & Healing Hub. This dedicated chapel offers opportunities for Mass, formal prayer services, and quiet personal reflection and devotion—continuing the legacy of faith that has long been central to this healing ministry.

This comfortable lounge and kitchenette area provides a convenient space for preparing and enjoying light refreshments. Whether grabbing a quick coffee or enjoying a light meal with friends and colleagues, the nourishment lounge is a space that encourages interaction and sharing, creating a more dynamic environment of support, nourishing both the body and spirit for all who visit SIGCAM.