Consulting Director of Sobering Program Design, Ph.D, RN, CNL
About Shannon
Dr. Smith-Bernardin joined Horizon as its Sobering Program expert to help guide the agency on operating these service lines to the highest of quality standards. She has worked as a registered nurse since 2006, with expertise in sobering centers for adults intoxicated in public, street health outreach teams, and related emergency medical and community health collaborations. Building from experience at both the San Francisco Department of Public Health and Los Angeles County Department of Health Services and her doctoral work at UCSF School of Nursing, she consults in the development of related programs for communities throughout the United States. Dr. Smith-Bernardin is Associate Professor in the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing in the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences. She is also affiliated with the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative (BHHI) specializing in substance use, the emergency medical system and public health integration, and homeless-related research.
In addition to her role with UCSF, Dr. Smith-Bernardin is the co-founder and first President of the National Sobering Collaborative, aimed at sharing research, best practices, policies, and education towards the formation and sustainability of sobering centers in the care of acute intoxication. Lastly, she provides nurse consulting in the development of street health outreach and and sobering-related programs for communities throughout the United States.
Dr. Smith-Bernardin holds a doctorate from the University of California-San Francisco, a Master’s from Western University of Health Sciences, and a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. She has recently completed a Health Care Leadership fellowship (Cohort 18, September 2020) with the California Health Care Foundation.
Areas of Focus
Sobering center design
Consults on the development of sobering centers for communities throughout the United States.
Street health outreach
Expertise in street health outreach teams and emergency medical and community health collaboration.
Public health integration
Research specialising in substance use, the emergency medical system and public health integration.
Education & Credentials
- Doctorate — University of California, San Francisco
- Master’s degree — Western University of Health Sciences
- Bachelor’s degree — Dartmouth College
- Registered Nurse since 2006
- Associate Professor, UCSF School of Nursing, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Co-founder and first President, National Sobering Collaborative
- California Health Care Foundation Health Care Leadership fellowship (Cohort 18, 2020)
Where Shannon Works
Sobering at Mission Street Recovery Station
Sobering services in Santa Clara County.
New Mexico Medical Sobering Center
Medical sobering in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Everyone is welcome here
Horizon Treatment Services provides substance use and co-occurring mental health care across the Bay Area. Most services are no-cost or covered by Medi-Cal for those who qualify.