Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD(c), RN,  has been selected for the 2015 California Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) community service award.

This CSAM award is presented based on merit and since 1985, it has been awarded to a wide variety legislators, activists, community leaders, etc., all with one thing in common: they have improved the lives of those suffering from the disease of addiction, and by doing so have contributed a valuable service to the community. Recent previous recipients were: Assembly Member Tom Ammiano (2014), Lawrence Neinstein, MD and Michele Kipke, PhD (2013), and Alice Gleghorn, PhD (2012).

Shannon is being recognized with this award for her outstanding work at the Sobering Center where she has successfully demonstrated that this kind of innovative approach can be effective, and for her ability to form ongoing relationships with frequent users and provide the support necessary when they are ready for positive change. For those she encounters through the Sobering Center, she has demonstrated acceptance and compassion and her colleagues reported that she has built trust and engagement with her clients.

This award will be presented to her on Friday, October 23, 2015, at the CSAM State of the Art Conference during the general session.

CSAM is a professional society representing close to 400 physicians dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addictions.  CSAM is a State Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

A key focus of ASAM and CSAM is working, together with the American Board of Addiction Medicine, toward the recognition of addiction medicine as a specialty by ABMS including establishing fellowships in addiction medicine.