The Abbey -- A Premier Addiction Treatment Center (Faculty & Advisors)

Dr. Tracy Rydel
Advising Physician

BA, Princeton University
MD, Temple University
Residency, UC San Francisco (UCSF)

Dr. Rydel presently practices medicine at the Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, California.

“The emphasis of my practice is on the improvement of the health of my patients, not just the treatment of their ailments. I work with my patients to make achievable alterations in diet, exercise, and lifestyle to enhance quality of life.”

Joseph L. Lemon, Jr., JD, MBA
Founder

Mr. Lemon developed the inspiration for The Abbey’s Premier Addiction Treatment Center after operating the facility as a Four Diamond-rated, boutique hotel for 16 years. He holds degrees from Brown University (AB), the University of Oxford (MBA), and Stanford Law School (JD). In addition to a variety of entrepreneurial ventures, Mr. Lemon has practiced law (with a focus on venture capital financing) in Silicon Valley. After law school, he served as a Law Clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and he has also argued an appeal before the federal court of appeals. Mr. Lemon has authored numerous articles published by Stanford University, the University of Texas, the University of Minnesota, and the American Bar Association.

“On behalf of my family, it gives me tremendous pleasure to dedicate our historic monastery for the benefit of assisting those who need help in conquering their addictions. Addiction is such a prevalent problem in the legal community that I feel compelled to provide a resource to my colleagues who need a helping hand to enter the road to Recovery.”

Dr. Stan Roberts, DO
Medical Director

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Iowa Lutheran Hospital Family Practice Residency, Dr. Roberts has been practicing medicine since 1984. Dr. Roberts has had extensive experience in the field of substance abuse treatment since 1990. He provides evaluation, detoxification, and medical management of withdrawal and related medical issues. This includes alcohol and other chemical dependencies. Dr. Roberts is also certified to prescribe buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) for the treatment of opiate dependency.

“I have seen first-hand the devastation that substance abuse and addiction have inflicted on individuals, families, and careers. Our purpose is to heal and help transition patients into a new, healthy, clean, and sober lifestyle with our multi-faceted program.”

Ron Perry, CADC
Associate Counselor/Therapist

Ronald Perry is a Board Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor in both Iowa and Illinois and has worked in the field of addictions treatment since 1997. He is recognized for his skills in motivational interviewing, providing individual and group therapy and has a high degree of experience in assessing and leading clients to their appropriate level of service. Ron is an active member in his community recovery groups and is dedicated and committed to the field of recovery.

“Beginning the process of recovery can be scary – and that’s why we’re here to help you through that process. Because, once you have entered recovery, it’s truly like getting the gift of having your life returned to you.”

Dr. Francis Kane, MD
Consulting Physician; Member, Board of Advisors

Dr. Kane has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. A graduate of the University of Missouri (BS, MD), he completed a special rotation in the area of addiction treatment.

“When we treat clients with a history of addiction, it is critical that we continually monitor their overall health and well-being. At The Abbey, we focus not only addiction treatment, but also on enhancing health and improving cognitive and physical functioning.”

Laura Suh
Marketing Assistant

Ms. Suh is a student in the prestigious Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Prior to entering Michigan, she was the valedictorian of Pleasant Valley High School (Iowa). Ms. Suh focuses on the promotion of The Abbey’s services throughout the United States.

“Promoting The Abbey has provided me with an opportunity to combine my career in business management with my personal interest in healthcare and community service.”

Rebecca Dwyer-Elias, LCSW
Associate Counselor/Therapist

Rebecca has over 25 years of experience in the field of mental health and addictions. Her experience has ranged from residential treatment to private practice and teaching. Her passion is helping those who have been subject to abuse, and she utilizes both individual counseling and support groups to aid in their recovery. Rebecca has served as an expert witness in the area of sexual abuse in the states of California, Iowa and Illinois. She has also served as a consultant to a diocese in helping to promote healing with disclosures of sexual abuse by clergy. Recently, she has been the director of an outpatient treatment program. Rebecca is a volunteer for Red Cross, assisting with local and nationwide disasters, including facilitating debriefings for returning volunteers. Rebecca teaches Disaster Mental Health at the University of Iowa and the local Red Cross. She also teaches Critical Incident Debriefings at a local college.

“Substance abuse and mental, sexual, or physical abuse are often ‘co-occurring disorders.’ It gives me great comfort and satisfaction to assist clients not only with their struggles with addiction, but in healing the other wounds that negatively affect their lives.”

Michael D. Shovlain, MHS
Executive Director

Mr. Shovlain has over 30 years’ experience in the field of addiction treatment. For 16 years, he operated his own intensive, out-patient drug & alcohol addiction treatment center (New Life Outpatient Center). He previously served as the Executive Director of the Substance Abuse & Employee Assistant Services for a major hospital (Mercy Hospital) for more than a decade. Mr. Shovlain has also served as an Investigator for the State of Arizona’s Department of Behavioral Health Licensing. He began his career in the Employee Assistance Program for a Fortune 500 corporation.

“I have devoted my entire career to the treatment of individuals who suffer from substance abuse. Helping them has been my life’s work.”

Laurie Burdick, MS
Primary Counselor/Therapist

Ms. Burdick graduated from Maryville College in Maryville, TN in August 1970. She received her Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Social Work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1977. Her work experience includes years working on the inpatient wards of psychiatric hospitals in the Deep South to modern in-patient & outpatient addiction centers. She has had extensive training as a Gestalt Therapist and an Interventionist. Ms. Burdick has been doing family therapy, women’s groups, individual counseling and guest lecturing for over thirty years. She is actively involved in 12 Step Recovery and has a knowledgeable grasp on the dynamics of treatment. In her work at The Abbey, Laurie looks at underlying disorders as well as chemical dependency, to be able to treat those co-occurring disorders. She has a holistic approach to life and the environment, and believes that exercise and serving others is essential to recovery.

“My greatest pleasure is the great joy I receive from watching people grow as they begin a new way of life – spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.”

Jeani Mackenzie
Yoga Master

Ms. Mackenzie began the practice of yoga in 1974. She has studied in India, including at the Ramamani Memorial Institute with BKS Iyengar. Ms. Mackenzie started teaching yoga in 1979. For the past 11 years, she has operated her own school of yoga (Davenport School of Yoga).

“To be truly capable, we must find our stability and grounding. If we muscle our way into new circumstances too quickly, we get knocked off balance. But moving from a deeper sense of self, we choose the things we want in our life that are more substantial and meaningful and give us true security. The practice of yoga can bring you that and more.”