DR. RUBY BAYAN
Dr. Bayan, dressed in her signature kimono, stands in the lobby, where she had the name of Co-Founder John McMannus prominently painted on the wall.
Dr. Ruby Bayan: A Legacy of Compassion and Leadership
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Dr. Bayan’s dedication to all who have worked at Waterfront Recovery has also been a cornerstone to our success. The culture that has been built is directly attributed to her compassion, understanding, patience, and investment to all staff at Waterfront Recovery since our doors opened in 2017. She has always made time to meet with anyone, regardless of how busy her day is, and always without judgment. Because of such personal devotion, Dr. Bayan will be greatly missed by staff who have come to love her as a professional mentor and nurturing, supportive friend.
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Dr. Ruby Bayan, an accomplished Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatrist, began her medical journey in the Philippines, where she earned her medical degree before relocating to California to further her training. Her distinguished career is marked by a steadfast commitment to advancing mental health and addiction recovery services.
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Dr. Bayan’s most notable achievement is co-founding Waterfront Recovery Services in Humboldt County, California, alongside John McManus. Together, they envisioned a groundbreaking approach to treating Substance Use Disorder, emphasizing compassionate, high-quality care. Seven years later, their vision has become a reality, and Dr. Bayan is now retiring, leaving the organization in the capable hands of those she mentored and inspired.
Her contributions to the community have been profound. Waterfront Recovery Services has transformed countless lives, reunited families, and trained staff members who have gone on to make meaningful impacts across the region. As Dr. Bayan embarks on the next chapter of her life, her legacy of hope and healing will continue to resonate through the lives she touched and the organization she built.
Tributes to Dr. Bayan, Co-founder & Medical Director
I don’t know where to begin. There are few people in our lifetime that will ever embed their character on one’s spirit to be felt as long as they live, and this is what Dr. Bayan has done for me. In the years I have been lucky to work for, and alongside Dr. Bayan, words cannot begin to define the impact she has not only had on my life, but who I am as a person. As I have navigated my time here at Waterfront Recovery there have been professional challenges alongside personal ones, and she has always been there for me without hesitation. My gratitude for all of the guidance and support she has provided me is beyond a lifetime of appreciation. But what makes her so special is that I am not the only one to feel this way. With her life having been dedicated to helping all people, I am so happy that she will now have that time for her family. Dr. Bayan’s presence at Waterfront will surely be missed, but her legacy will be felt for decades to come.
Jeremy Campbell, Executive Director
Dr. B is truly a force to be reckoned with—not just because of her strong personality, but also because of her remarkable skill and expertise. She’s like a ninja, able to uncover things in people that they didn’t even know were there. Her ability to see into someone’s heart and mind is unparalleled, and she has a knack for saying just the right thing to lift your spirits.
The type of training we received under her guidance is incomparable. I’ve learned so much from her—not just academically, but also through hands-on experience. She seamlessly combines what we learn in school with practical skills, and then layers on her incredible wisdom in both medical and clinical settings. Working with her has helped us all grow and evolve in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
I don’t know anyone who has a boss like Dr. B. She genuinely cares not only about her clients but also about her staff. She’s created a family-oriented culture here, one that is rooted in love, respect, and teamwork. This sense of unity is a direct reflection of her leadership and her heart. She has taught us what it means to support one another, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t share with her.
It’s hard to imagine what things will be like without her here. However, I know the legacy she leaves behind will never fade. She is truly legendary, and I love her with all my heart.
Jamaica Bartz, Chief Operations Officer
Dr Bayan is very special to me. I’ve been here five years and I remember doing my interview with her and Nickie and being so scared seeing this lady in a kimono, you know? She gave me the opportunity and the chance to become an employee after only being clean for a year. She gave me the opportunity to get my life back together. Since then, I’m one of her chickadees. I love Dr. Bryan. I love her to pieces. She’s there no matter what. Like if you ever have problems or need someone to talk to, you know what I mean. She’s there for you. Genuinely there for you. She calls sometimes just to see how I’m doing or how things are going and everything. She checks up on us and she can tell whem we’re stressed. She can tell when someone needs to talk. Dr. Bayan is very special. She’s someone that I hold in my heart.
Stacy Smith, Director of Admissions
Dr. Bayan
Photos: TOP - Dr. Bayan with board chair, Jon Sapper CENTER - Dr. B with Ellie Bustin, sister of Co-founder John McMannus BELOW - Dr. B with Nurse Practitioner Jackie Coghill
More From the Staff at Waterfront
I feel blessed to have been able to work with Dr because she’s taught me so much and I just care about her so much. She’s a woman who is from another country and she’s a boss. I’ve just learned so much from her. She she empowers me and I love her.
Not only that but she’s a great mother and a great grandmother and a leader and like John McManus, she’s a legend. That’s how I feel, that’s good lol!
Rebecca Camilla, Lead Counselor
I was one of Dr‘s little chickadees. She’s a blessing to have in your corner. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself she loved me when I didn’t love myself. When I graduated from Waterfront . . . six months later she gave me the blessing of working with her. Working with her has honestly been what has kept me alive, kept me going, kept me happy and made me feel grounded and safe. She will be missed. She’s a lovely, lovely woman.
Michele Asbury, Admissions
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Dr. Bayan, I just wanted to say thank you for being you. You are a very special and unique person who was able to see through or beyond the stigma that being an addict gives to most of us. When I came into Waterfront Recovery as a patient, I got to see from all the staff That even though I was an addict, it was most definitely possible to rise above my addiction and change my life. I remember telling you that I was going to come back after graduation to work here. You told me you would love to have me here and that changed my life forever. I want to thank you for seeing whatever you did in me and helping, give me the courage to change my life for the better and also taking a chance on me when you did. It won’t be the same without you around here.
Thanks again, your chickadee,
Michael Wentworth, Front Office
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Dr Bayan is very special to me. I’ve been here five years and I remember doing my interview with her and Nickie and being so scared seeing this lady in a kimono, you know? She gave me the opportunity and the chance to become an employee after only being clean for a year. She gave me the opportunity to get my life back together. Since then, I’m one of her chickadees. I love Dr. Bryan. I love her to pieces. She’s there no matter what. Like if you ever have problems or need someone to talk to, you know what I mean? She’s there for you. Genuinely there for you. She calls sometimes just to see how I’m doing or how things are going and everything. She checks up on us and she can tell whem we’re stressed. She can tell when someone needs to talk. Dr. Bayan is very special. She’s someone that I hold in my heart.
Stacy Smith, Director of Admissions
Dr. Bayan has been nothing short of inspirational around this facility. She came out of retirement to do this job. She and John [McMannus, cofounder] started this together seven years back. When he passed, she kept the flame burning and kept all the plates spinning around here to make everything workable for the rest of us. She’s really involved in every aspect of this place, and she’s very kind and nurturing and loving towards the clients. Dr. B always has time for people. She’s just a positive force around here. She’s well loved.and has always been there for me personally too. She’s there if I need help or have questions that don’t pertain to work —whether it’s personal or advice as a friend as well as a boss.
Jesse Pearson, Kitchen Manager
I have five and a half years clean now and Dr. Bayan had a lot to do with that. She’s so warm and welcoming . . . my favorite thing is when she says “my chickadees.” It makes me feel so good and so loved as a staff member. In our one on one conversations, she always has a way of making you feel warm and welcome. Even if you screw up, she still has a way to make you feel really good about yourself . And then she’ll say, “OK, let’s work on this .” She moves on and builds you back up, never leaves you feeling broken or like you’re getting chewed, out so warm and wonderful. I love Dr. Bryan and I’m really grateful for what she’s provided as far as learning and as a mentor. Her encouragement has built me up and made me more confidant. i went from not being able to stand in a grocery line for a very long to now having service commitments and working in a pretty heavy titled office with confidence and initiative. and not ask so many questions is a lot is a major result probably a Dr. Bryan and other staff here she just makes me feel so good. I love Dr. Bayan.
When I went into Dr. Bayan’s office as a client at WRS and sat on the medical bed, that nervousness, high blood pressure feeling was not there. It was more of a dialogue where she picked out what she needed as far as medically or for psych. It was like a conversation. She has a way of getting the information she needs, but also like making you feel comfortable and I appreciate that about her now.
Estelle Mitchell, Case manager/HR/Office Assistant to the Executive Director
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Dr, Bayan had a passion in life that led her to develop WaterFront Recovery Services. Getting to know Dr.Bayan has been a blessing— I have learned my job by working with her. I feel privileged to have had private conversations with her where she has shared her journey in life with me. She has shaped a part of who I am.today. Dr. Bayan has shaped many many lives that will be changed forever. Thank You Dr.Bayan.
Michelle Shively, SUD Counselor
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Dr. Bayan's passion is truly inspiring, and her service unrivaled. I have never witnessed a physician who dedicated the amount of time and energy towards helping their patients as she does. She is a role model and mentor whose lessons will always remain close to my heart on my path forward in addiction medicine.
Thank you,
Antonio Godoy, SUD Counselor
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Dr. Bayan has helped me in several ways; She helped me when I was transferring as an intern and in case management . . . she’s been really open to share knowledge with us the entire time that I’ve been here and I appreciate her.
Louis Christiansen, SUD Counselor
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Dr. Bayan has put so much time and passion into this program from staying late to review hundreds of pages of medical records, doing crisis intervention, listening to peoples’ life stories, to taking phone calls at 3 in the morning. She genuinely cares about her patients, staff, and the community. I know I’m not alone in saying that I have learned so much from Dr. Bayan because of her dedication to this organization and developing her staff.
Joel Grosh, SUD Counselor
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Dr. Bayan is the elite professor on addiction. She knows her stuff and she totally knows how to communicate what she knows with others, particularly the people who are here in recovery.
Eugene Biggins, Counselor in training