The Tobacco Treatment Training Program is based within LifeLong Medical Care’s East Bay Community Recovery Project. In partnership with Alameda County, we provide specialized training and technical assistance to organizations and health systems that are interested in improving their tobacco treatment services.

Staff

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Program Manager: Tara Geer-Leiker, PhD

Dr. Tara Leiker has a robust, over 20-year, background in behavioral and mental health services, which has included working in treatment facilities and    providing motivational interviewing counseling services to dependent users. After switching gears into program and policy development and management later in her career, Dr. Leiker now has a PhD in Health Services and Public Health Policy. Dr. Leiker is passionate about tobacco treatment and especially ensuring that tobacco policies are put into practice through a health equity lens. She is focused on increasing access to tobacco treatment and awareness and implementation of tobacco policies throughout Alameda County. 

Program Coordinator: Linnea Rivano Barros Ubaldo

Linnea Ubaldo is a non-profit professional with over 6 years of experience in administration and operations and program coordination, including accounting and development work. Linnea is also certified in Trauma-informed Yoga (800 hr.) with over 5 years of experience teaching mindfulness and yoga to youth and adults across the Bay Area in public schools, substance recovery facilities, and juvenile justice facilities. She is a nationally certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and has been trained as a trainer in Motivational Interviewing. She holds a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University and is beginning a Master’s program in Counseling from Western Seminary in the Summer.

Peer Support Specialist: Pamela Jackson

Pamela Jackson is a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, and Certified Hypnotherapist for Smoking Cessation with Lifelong Medical’s Tobacco Prevention and Training Program. Through her specialized training in peer support, health education, tobacco treatment, and hypnotherapy, she helps individuals overcome tobacco dependence, address barriers to quitting, and make lasting changes that improve their health and well-being. Pamela completed the Medi-Cal Peer Support Services course, graduated from the program, and passed the state certification examination. She also completed a hypnotherapy course and earned certification as a hypnotherapist specializing in smoking cessation. By combining compassionate guidance, evidence-informed strategies, hypnotherapy, and practical resources, Pamela empowers people to quit tobacco, strengthen their overall health, and make sustainable, healthier choices.