Podcast posted on November 28, 2025 • Length 66 mins
Clinica Sierra Vista is proud to highlight the first episode of the Destigmatize Mental Health Podcast – Hope in the Valley Series, featuring our very own Dr. Matthew Beare, Program Director of Kern County’s first Addiction Medicine Fellowship.
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Beare joins host Ramon Sanchez and Dr. Ashley Herrera to discuss addiction, stigma, and the work being done across Kern County to bring compassionate, evidence-based care to our community.
At the center of it all is a simple idea: every person deserves dignity, safety, and care, no matter where they are in their journey.
A Leader in Addiction Medicine
Dr. Beare has spent nearly a decade caring for some of the most vulnerable residents in Kern County. Since joining Clinica Sierra Vista in 2016, he has helped build:
- The region’s first street medicine teams (link),
- Kern County’s first Addiction Medicine Fellowship (link),
- A model of care that meets people where they are, whether on the streets, in shelters, or in our health centers.
In the episode, Dr. Beare shares how this approach changed his view of healthcare. Instead of expecting patients to fit into the traditional system, he emphasizes the importance of bringing care to the patient, listening to their needs, and partnering with them in their recovery.
“You cannot come in with a pre-set agenda… You have to meet people where they are and bring care in a way that fits their reality.” – Dr. Matthew Beare, M.D.
What Works in Addiction Treatment Today
A major theme of the podcast is the shift toward evidence-based treatment, especially for opioid use disorder. Dr. Beare explains how medications such as buprenorphine and methadone are life-saving tools that significantly reduce overdose risk and help people stabilize.
He also discusses the importance of breaking old stigmas, especially the idea that recovery must be “abstinence-only.” Instead, he highlights modern, science-based treatments that treat substance use disorder as a real medical condition, not a moral failure.
“Addiction is a complex illness… It deserves the same compassion and medical support as any other chronic disease.” – Dr. Matthew Beare, M.D.
Visit our Substance Use Disorder page to learn more about this topic (link).
Reaching Underserved Communities
Another key part of the discussion focuses on communities of color, where stigma, fear, and lack of information often prevent families from seeking help.
Dr. Herrera and Dr. Beare share stories from outreach efforts in Bakersfield, Delano, and other communities, where many people had never seen naloxone or heard about life-saving overdose-prevention tools.
Their message is clear:
Addiction does not discriminate, and access to care should not either.
Clinica Sierra Vista is committed to continuing this work through mobile services, culturally informed outreach, and care teams who reflect the communities we serve.
A Safe, Welcoming Place for Care
The episode also highlights Clinica Sierra Vista’s Central Bakersfield Clinic at 301 Brundage Lane, where Dr. Beare practices and patients receive primary care, addiction treatment, mental health support, and stigma-free services, all under one roof.
Both hosts praise the culture of kindness and compassion that patients experience there.
“Patients come to us and say, This is the first time I’ve been treated as human” – Dr. Matthew Beare, M.D.
For many, it is the first time they feel truly seen and supported.
Thank You to the Destigmatize Mental Health Podcast
Clinica Sierra Vista extends our sincere thanks to the Destigmatize Mental Health Podcast and host Ramon Sanchez and Dr. Ashley Herrera for inviting Dr. Beare and for creating a space where honest conversations can happen.
Their dedication to breaking stigma, uplifting community voices, and promoting health equity aligns deeply with our mission.
You Can Help
💙 You Can Help: Support our Street Medicine team with donations of bottled water, warm jackets, blankets, hygiene items, or clothing:
KERN COUNTY
301 Brundage Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93304.
FRESNO COUNTY
302 Fresno St., Ste. 101, Fresno, CA 93706.
If you’d like to learn more or support this work, call (833) 678-2781. Together, we can make a difference; one person, one visit, one act of compassion at a time.
For more information about Healthcare & Support Services for the Homeless at Clinica Sierra Vista, visit our Healthcare & Support Services for the Homeless page.
To learn about Dr. Matthew Beare, M.D., visit his profile page.
