Community Psychiatry
DMH Partner
Dr. Shaner has served as medical director of The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health since 1996. His major responsibility is to help ensure quality clinical services for individuals and their families who receive services through Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) programs. He received his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and his postgraduate training at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. He is certified in General, Child, Geriatric, and Addiction Psychiatry as well as Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Shaner began his employment with the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services in 1982 at LAC+USC Medical Center in the Psychiatric Emergency Service. He was appointed director of that service in 1993 and served in that capacity until moving to the Department of Mental Health when he was appointed medical director. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine, and previously directed the divisions of emergency psychiatry and medical student education.
Dr. Shaner’s office has responsibilities that include development of clinical standards, clinical risks management, managed care, pharmacy, LPS designation, clinician credentialing, physician recruitment, and peer review. Additionally, members of Dr. Shaner’s team work to develop, manage, and advocate for specialized services addressing the unique needs of consumers living with HIV as well as those in need of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse services.
Dr. Shaner is active in a variety of national, state, and local professional associations, including the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and its state and local branches, and the California Society of Addiction Medicine. He is a past president of the Southern California Psychiatric Association and is currently a representative to the APA Assembly. He has earned numerous awards for his work and was honored in 2009 with the Personal Legacy Award by the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission. He received the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) in 2001.
Dr. Shaner is most proud of the clinical standards developed and implemented at Los Angeles County DMH, and of the impact that these have had in supporting the quality of care and journey of recovery for individuals and families who live with mental illness. He continually strives for opportunities for DMH to interface with other healthcare entities in an effort to better serve the mental health needs of Los Angeles County residents.
In his time away from the office, Dr. Shaner enjoys spending time with his spouse, Stephanie Shaner, MD, and his son Evan. He loves the unique experience of being a part of the vibrant Los Angeles County community.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Shaner, R, et al. How Health Reform is Recasting Public Psychiatry, Psychiatric Clinics, Volume 38 , Issue 3 , 543 – 557, September, 2015
AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS FOR:
- Participation in various projects managed through Office of Medical Director