Our experienced, compassionate staff at Riverside Recovery of Tampa will guide you through every step of the admissions process. Many of them have gone through recovery themselves or are experienced in the mental health and substance abuse field. From your initial contact with our center to your intake assessment, the admissions staff will bring you through our doors and on your way to recovery.
Kirk is a native Floridian who was born at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle. Once his father retired from the Air Force, his family relocated to Tampa. He attended the University of Florida where he played tight end and led the SEC in receiving under the guidance of Steve Spurrier. After a brief NFL career, he left the gridiron behind to join Merrill Lynch as a financial trader. In his 30’s, Kirk’s life fell apart due to addiction. He lost his family, occupation and left a trail of destruction. Once he finally sought help and gave up the use of mind/mood-altering chemicals, he became an advocate for Recovery. He believes that with the right tools and environment, anyone can recover from substance abuse.
Kirk and his partner, Elizabeth Stockton, founded Riverside Recovery with the goal of helping to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance abuse and mental health. Every decision made at Riverside Recovery is made with the purpose of having the Client become the best version of themselves.
Elizabeth was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska. After graduating high school, she moved to San Francisco to attend the University of San Francisco’s McLaren School of Business where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management & Marketing. Throughout the majority of her adult life, she struggled with substance abuse and it took her several attempts at various treatment centers across the country to find success in sobriety. After watching countless friends and loved ones succumb to substance abuse, she made it her mission in life to create a treatment center that cares for clients the way she wanted to be cared for when at a treatment center. In 2016, her mission in life came to fruition when she co-founded Riverside Recovery with her partner and fiance, Kirk Kirkpatrick.
Dr. Sore attended the University of South Florida where he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree. He has been working in emergency medicine for over 35 years and is ABPM Board Certified in Addiction Medicine. For years, he has seen the devastation that substance abuse disorder causes individuals and their loved ones firsthand. The life-saving emergency care he would provide rarely resulted in any meaningful recovery. This led to him developing a passion early in his career for trying to improve these recovery outcomes. He now has the opportunity to make a meaningful difference and the resources available to provide an exceptional level of care in a safe, effective manner. These key components, statistically, have proven to lead to a higher likelihood of long-term sobriety.
Growing up in Hudson, Florida, Samantha has seen firsthand how the opioid epidemic can ravage a community. This sparked a passion for helping those in need and she’s been working with those suffering from substance abuse since she was 18 years old. She’s been with Riverside Recovery since day one and helped grow the facility to what it is today. She always brings solutions to the table and is always advocating in the clients’ best interest.
Vice President of Client Care
Christian is a Registered Nurse who has been with Riverside Recovery for over four years. Throughout this time, he has worked closely with Dr. Sore to help create a medical department and detox unit that puts the clients’ safety and comfort first.
Director of Marketing & Admissions
Jotham is a native Floridian who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida. He worked in Emergency Psychiatric care for eight years before making substance abuse his primary focus. In that time, he witnessed firsthand how co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders can destroy a community. He now specializes in helping clients and their families navigate the path from active addiction to long-term recovery.
Director of Facilities
Michael has worked in the Tampa Bay area in Facilities Management for over 20 years. Prior to joining Riverside Recovery, he was responsible for managing numerous buildings for the American Cancer Society. He is passionate about our clients’ safety and the cleanliness of the facility.
Psychiatric Advisor
Dr. Ryan Wagoner, MD, distinguished as the Division Chief of the College of Medicine’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of South Florida, is a leading figure in the intersection of psychiatry and legal studies. Graduating with his MD from the University of Florida in 2009, Dr. Wagoner has since dedicated his career to advancing mental health through a combination of clinical practice, innovative research, and academia. His scholarly work, notably in forensic psychiatry, explores the nuanced challenges of mental health within legal contexts, contributing significantly to fields ranging from the teaching of paraphilias using film to the legal and forensic aspects of drug abuse.
An esteemed board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Wagoner’s expertise spans a variety of topics, including the use of interpreters during forensic interviews and the psychopathy of juveniles on probation. His dedication to the psychiatric community is further evidenced by his prolific contributions to professional organizations and publications, where he shares his insights on emerging trends and best practices in mental health care. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Wagoner’s role at the University of South Florida not only underlines his commitment to educating future psychiatrists but also his ongoing contribution to enhancing mental health services and forensic psychiatry.
Director of Utilization Review
Christine holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Rutgers University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University. Additionally, she is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), national certified counselor (NCC), and holds a case manager certification (CCM). She has been working in Utilization Review and behavioral health for over 10 years and has a strong drive for patient advocacy. She is committed to helping our clients meet their needs and have their voices heard while navigating treatment and recovery in order for them to become the best versions of themselves.
Lauren graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master’s in Nursing from South University. After a close friend lost her life to addiction, she has made it her goal in life to help others recover from substance abuse. In addition to working in substance abuse, Lauren has worked in numerous Tampa Bay area emergency rooms and specializes in gastroenterology.
Director of Nursing
Noelle graduated from Western Governors University with a BSN and worked on a Progressive Care Neurology unit before joining Riverside Recovery. For years, she was impacted by close friends and family suffering from substance abuse and felt she could make the biggest impact by joining the front lines in the fight against substance abuse.
Clinical Director
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Nebraska-Ohmaha and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida. He’s been working in the substance abuse and mental health fields for over nine years and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2017. As someone who is in recovery, he is passionate about this field as it empowers people to overcome great obstacles and transform their lives in a positive way.
M.Ed, Ed.S, NCC, LMHC, ART® Certified – Program Manager
Tara earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Florida and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Riverside Recovery. Additionally, she is certified in Accelerated Resolution Trauma therapy and a National Certified Counselor. She has been working in the substance abuse industry for over 25 years and loves being an integral part of our clients’ recovery.
Human Resource Manager
