UCSF Department of Medicine’s Addiction Care Team (ACT) is hiring a Peer Specialist to join the Division of Hospital Medicine (DHM) at Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG). ACT is an interdisciplinary consultation service for hospitalized patients at ZSFG who use alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. ACT provides compassionate, evidence-based addiction care, focusing on linkage to treatment for people with addiction.
The consult service works with hospital-based medical teams to initiate evidenced-based services for addiction, help diagnose addiction, provide motivational interviewing, offer harm reduction services to patients, and assist in care coordination that is tailored to patients’ goals and needs. The service is staffed by an attending physician, patient navigators, licensed vocational nurses, nurse practitioners, a social worker, addiction medicine fellows, and other trainees.
The population at ZSFG includes low-income medically / psychiatrically compromised individuals who reside in San Francisco. Patients include a large proportion of underserved African-American/Black, Latinx, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, and pregnant and post-partum people.
The Peer Specialist will help ACT patients cope with the difficulties that can arise during hospitalization. This includes supporting patients through difficult feelings (isolation, anxiety, sadness), experiences of stigma, concerns over self-discharge, alcohol, opioid, and stimulant withdrawal, in hospital substance use, and other situations. The Peer Specialist will also help patients identify goals, such as Hepatitis C treatment and housing needs, and connect them with resources when indicated. They will primarily spend time with patients, and be able to provide motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and overall support during hospitalization. They will check on patients during initiations of medications for opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal – as well as other withdrawal syndromes – and support patients with prolonged hospitalizations. They will facilitate connection to clinics for follow-up care and document daily in the electronic health record. The Peer Specialist will work closely with hospital staff, nurses, patient navigators, physicians, and ACT members.
Individuals who are motivated, independent, multi-taskers, function under fast-paced and sometimes stressful environments, and have excellent communication will thrive in this job.
Funding is available through July 31, 2026.
The Peer Specialist serves as a hospital resource and liaison for patients and their families. Assists with navigating hospitalization. Uses knowledge of the unit or clinic to resolve issues and identify ways to increase patient satisfaction. Collaborates with department managers to meet patient expectations, achieve quality outcomes and build a patient focused culture.
The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
To see the salary range for this position (we recommend that you make a note of the job code and use that to look up): TCS Non-Academic Titles Search (https://tcs.ucop.edu/non-academic-titles)
Please note: An offer will take into consideration the experience of the final candidate AND the current salary level of individuals working at UCSF in a similar role.
For roles covered by a bargaining unit agreement, there will be specific rules about where a new hire would be placed on the range.
To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html
- Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) certification
- Experience linking patients to primary care and addiction treatment, helping patients troubleshoot logistical challenges by phone and email after discharge, and accompanying patients to outpatient appointments until they are stable in treatment or linked to an outpatient navigator.
- Spanish, Cantonese, or other language proficiencies
- Experience working with people who use drugs and alcohol in San Francisco or other urban environment
- Experience working in hospital or community-based settings
- In-depth knowledge of the organization and how to get issues resolved
- Bachelor's degree in related area and three or more years of relevant experience and / or equivalent experience / training
- Has experience navigating their own journey with substances, or has been a supportive of a friend, loved one, or family member to a person with a substance use disorder.
- Strong skills to comprehend and assess patient's grievances to quickly locate appropriate resource for assistance
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Ability to communicate and resolve issues effectively with a diverse population of patients, staff and physicians. Abilitiy to effectively and quickly develop rapport with a diverse group of patients and care providers
- Strong commitment to caring for vulnerable and diverse people who may be experiencing homelessness, and have histories of chronic illnesses, substance abuse, and mental health issues
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to develop solutions and recommend changes and follow through with implementation
- Prompt and excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency with Windows-based software including Microsoft word, Excel, Outlook. Knowledge of computer systems and software used in functional area
- Strong knowledge of data collection, compilation, and analytical techniques. Proficiency in mathematical skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team
- Demonstrated record of attendance and punctuality
- Ability to learn and apply medical and scientific terminology and concepts
