 Aung Thu, MD, ASAM
Medical Director
Dr. Aung Thu was appointed Medical Director of the Hemet Valley Recovery Center in December 2004. He has served as an attending physician at the Recovery Center since it’s opening and has been mentored by the pioneering addictionists Drs. Galletta and Harsany for many years. He is certified as an Addictionist by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is board certified in Internal Medicine, and is a Qualified Medical Evaluator, (QME). Dr. Thu graduated from the Institute of Medicine, Yangon, Myanmar in 1993. He completed postgraduate training in England and completed internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. During his training, Dr Thu was selected as Intern of the Year and was selected Chief Resident in his final year of residency.
Dr Thu is a member of the American Medical Association, California Medical Association, Riverside County Medical Association, American College of Physicians, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and the American Society of Echocardiography. Dr Thu maintains a busy private practice in Internal and Addiction Medicine and is on Active Staff at Hemet Valley Medical Center and Menifee Valley Medical Center. He serves as Chairman of the Addiction Medicine Committee of the Medical Staff and provides expert consultation services in Addiction Medicine throughout the Medical Center. Dr Thu is consistently rated as “outstanding” by the patients of the Recovery Center on discharge surveys and follow up questionnaires. |
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 John Harsany, MD, FASAM
Associate Medical Director
Dr. Harsany is a graduate of the University of Alabama with an MS degree in Chemistry and is also a Graduate of the University of Alabama School of Medicine with a M. D. degree. He was a member of the Air Force Reserve as a Medical Officer for his squadron. After completing his Internal Medicine residency at the Gorgas Ancon Hospital, Canal Zone and at the University Hospital, Alabama, he is board qualified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Harsany has been the Regional Medical Director for the Riverside County Alcohol and Drug Programs since 1988. He has been named Fellow by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and is a certified Addictionist. Dr. Harsany serves as the Medical Director of several medical facilities and has been the Associate Medical Director of the Hemet Valley Recovery Center since 2001. Dr. Harsany maintains a busy internal medicine private practice with an emphasis on Geriatrics and Addiction Medicine. |
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 Steven Collier, RN, CD
Executive Director / Co Founder
Steven Collier RN is one of the co founders of the Hemet Valley Recovery Center and owner of Addiction Medicine Services Inc. He has been working in the behavioral health field since serving as a command Drug Exemption Officer in the U.S. Navy in 1978. A graduate of California State University Los Angeles, Mr. Collier holds a BA in Health and Safety Studies as well as a certificate as a specialist in Drug and Alcohol Problems also from Cal State. Obtaining a degree in Registered Nursing from Saddleback College, Mr. Collier has held a Registered Nursing License since the early1980’s.
From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Collier worked as a Clinical Instructor for the Care Units at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and then served as the Nurse Manager of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center also at Cedars Sinai from 1986 to 1988. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Collier was the Nursing Supervisor at the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center ( ADTC), Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Collier was the Program Manager of the Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center Recovery Services Unit. While establishing the Recovery Services unit at Loma Linda, Mr. Collier was part of the clinical team that established treatment protocols for the treatment of pain patients who had become addicted to narcotic analgesics. Mr. Collier also established treatment centers at San Antonio Community Hospital and the Knollwood Center between 1994 and 1999. Focusing on Behavioral Medicine, he became the Director of Assessment and Admissions at Canyon Ridge Hospital in 1999. After opening the Hemet Valley Recovery Center successfully in 2001, Valley Health System contracted with Mr. Collier to assume the role of Director of Behavioral Health Services to over see the opening of the 28 bed Center for Behavioral Medicine at Moreno Valley Community Hospital and to pursue the growth and development of the Behavioral Health unit at Hemet Valley Medical Center. Throughout his career, Mr. Collier has committed himself to providing hospital based acute care treatment for those suffering from Addictions and related illness. |
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 Wendy Kramer, RN, BSN
Nurse Manager
Wendy received her BSN from Loma Linda University. She has worked for the Hemet Valley Recovery Center since it opened in July 2001. Prior to that she worked for Focus on Recovery, an addiction treatment center which specialized in treatment of Dual Diagnosis patients.
Wendy also has extensive experience in the special education department of the local school district, as well as serving as the Day Shift Charge Nurse at the Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center Adolescent/Children's treatment unit. Currently she is a certified pain specialist. Wendy oversees all of the nursing staff and has put together a competent and compassionate staff; all dedicated to excellent patient care. |
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 Shannon L. Jacobs, B.S., CADC
Chemical Dependency Family Counselor
Shannon Jacobs received her B.S. in Cultural Geography from Southern Oregon University in 1996. Shannon has worked in a myriad of roles, such as Wilderness Instructor for Outward bound Discovery, a wilderness expedition school for at-risk youth and their families. After obtaining her Florida State Teaching credential, she developed programs and acted as Education Coordinator for Outward Bound Families in Need Service (FINS) in Florida. More recently, Shannon obtained her State Alcohol and Drug Counselor certification in 2004 while acting as clinical staff case manager for the Jackson County School district in Oregon and has received training in the Functional Family Therapy Model while working with OnTrack, Inc. Shannon continues to develop the family program at Hemet Valley Recovery Center and facilitates a series of groups, education workshops, and process groups called the Four Day Intensive Family program for families of the chemically dependent. Shannon’s goal is to some day create a marriage of wilderness expedition therapy and chemical dependency treatment for both the chemically addicted and their families. |
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 Rosemarie Miller, A.S. A.A., RADI, LVN
Older Adult Program Coordinator
Rosemarie Miller has been with Hemet Valley Recovery Center since April 2005 and is the lead facilitator of the Older Adult track. Rosemarie obtained both an Associates of Science degree in alcohol and drug studies and an Associates of Arts degree in Social Behavioral Sciences from Mt. San Jacinto College. In addition, Rosemarie has been a Licensed Vocational Nurse for twenty-four years. Her nursing experience includes geriatrics, cardiology, and emergency medicine. She completed her internship here at Hemet Valley Recovery Center and is currently working towards a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. Rosemarie is a Registered Alcohol and Drug Intern with the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC). She is a member of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse counselors (NAADAC). Rosemarie has a unique blend of counseling and nursing skills that offers the older adult a compassionate, non-confrontational approach to chemical dependency treatment. |
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 William F. Staton, Jr., M.A., CADC
Program Director
Bill Staton has a Master of Arts degree in addiction counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson Unviersity. Bill joined the Hemet Valley Recovery Center in 2002 as a Program Director. He directed the Pacifica addiction rehabilitation program in Riverside prior to working at Hemet Valley. Before coming to CA in 1999, he directed a day treatment program in New Jersey that targeted homeless and underprivileged addicts
He has studied family counseling and therapy providing the basis for the development of the family treatment services at all the programs in which he has worked. In addition, his years of working with dual diagnosed patients have enabled him to identify patient psychiatric needs, other than addictions. Since starting in the field, Bill has taught addiction courses at universities and training programs.
Currently he is an adjunct faculty member at Mount San Jacinto College. Bill became a Certified Alcoholism Counselor in 1978, and was upgraded to a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor when the addictions treatment field merged the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction. He is dedicated to assisting people that are suffering with addictions and their families, and he always has an extra minute for those who are hurting. |
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 Mary M. Schultz, HHP, MT
Holistic Health Provider
Mary Schultz graduated from the Body Mind College in 1993 and earned certification as both a Holistic Health Practitioner and Massage Therapist. Ms. Schultz is also certified to practice Reiki, Hypnotherapy, Neurolinguistics and Cranio Sacral Therapy. Affiliated for 7 years with the Chopra Center for Well Being, she taught the practice of Meditation, Creating Health, and Balanced Well Being. Ms. Schultz is also a certified Louise Hay Mind/Body educator.
Dedicating her life to helping others, Ms. Schultz continues to assist individuals in accessing their own power to create positive change in their lives, release emotional blocks, and encourage self-healing. Within her holistic practice of balance in mind, body, and spirit, Ms. Schultz teaches the practice of meditation as a powerful way to discover, express, and heal the inner self. She is able to facilitate, through her extensive knowledge of alternative therapies, an individual’s own personal healing journey. |
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 Carlina Howard, COTA
Adjunctive Therapist / Certified Pain Specialist
Carlina has worked at the Hemet Valley Recovery Center since its opening day. She developed the units Adjunctive Therapy Program and is a key staff advocate for patients enrolled to the Chronic Pain and Addiction Treatment Track. Carlina completed training at the Loma Linda University Occupational Therapy Program and is certified as a COTA in California. She has over 10 years experience in the Behavioral Health field and brings a wealth of practical knowledge to our team. Carlina's goal is to educate our patients to develop various skills and modalities to improve the quality of life while living with chronic pain. |
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 Paul Neitzert, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Neitzert received a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University and a doctorate in Psychology from Pepperdine University. He completed his pre-doctoral clinical internship at Camarillo State Hospital and his post-doctoral training through a fellowship with the Department of Veteran's Affairs Los Angeles forensic outreach program. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including private practice, in outpatient clinics, as a staff psychologist in public and private hospitals, and as a college and university instructor. He has worked with a variety of clinical populations and is particularly proud of his work with victims of trauma and stress. Dr. Neitzert is a licensed psychologist and provides consultation and group therapy at the Hemet Valley Recovery Center. Personal Statement: One of the pleasures of my work with the Recovery Center is the feeling of being part of a therapeutic community. When a patient chooses to genuinely engage the treatment process to enhance their health, regain control and return to the joy and business of life, the experience becomes truly profound. |
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 Kristin Ethier, B.A.
Certified Acupuncturist (CA)
Kristin Ethier earned her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and Masters of Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. She is a California state licensed acupuncturist and a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Kristin is also a certified hatha yoga instructor and practitioner of the traditional massage of Thailand. While in practice in San Diego, she was as a volunteer doula for UCSD hospital in San Diego, assisting mothers in birth and delivery. On the other spectrum, she provided acupuncture as palliative care for patients in San Diego hospice. Currently, she has a private practice serving the mountain community of Idyllwild, CA as well as being part of the staff of Hemet Valley Recovery treating chronic pain/detox patients. Kristin is committed to both the education and care of her patients, partnering with them in cultivation of greater health and well being. |
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 Carrie Lynn Cimperman, M.A.
Certified Acupuncturist (CA)
Miss Carrie Lynn Cimperman is a California Board certified licensed Acupuncturist and is also nationally certified in Acupuncture and Herbology by the NCCAOM (National Certification commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).
Following her undergraduate studies in health science and health education at Pennsylvania State University and Slippery Rock University outside of Pittsburgh, Carrie decided to move to San Diego to pursue studies in Oriental medicine. Carrie graduated from the Pacific college of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, CA in 2003 with a Master's degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine. She offers her experience in treating many disorders with acupuncture, micro-current and electrical stimulation, nutritional advice, and cupping techniques. Currently, Carrie practices in a private clinic in Temecula and also at an addiction treatment retreat in Escondido. |
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