About EMO Health
At EMO Health, we partner with organizations, providers, and communities to improve care for individuals affected by substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges. Our work centers on building capacity, enhancing safety, and advancing equity in some of the most complex care environments.
We specialize in residential and congregate care settings, where our expertise in medication management, training, technical assistance, and clinical support helps programs deliver high-quality, sustainable care. By working alongside providers, we strengthen systems and equip teams with the tools they need to respond to today’s most pressing health challenges.
Beyond direct support, we also serve as an education partner, offering applied training opportunities for future public health and pharmacy leaders. Through these collaborations, we expand the reach of best practices and ensure that knowledge translates into better outcomes on the ground.
At EMO Health, our mission is clear: to empower providers, elevate care, and create healthier, more resilient communities.
Our Vision
A future where every community has access to safe, equitable, and effective care for substance use and behavioral health needs, delivered by empowered providers in strong and sustainable systems.
Our Mission
EMO Health partners with organizations, providers, and educators to strengthen public health systems through capacity building, medication management, training, technical assistance, and clinical support.
We specialize in residential, congregate, and community-based care, advancing equity and improving outcomes for individuals with the most complex health and social needs.
Our History
EMO Health was founded by a female Navy veterans with a simple but powerful goal: to close the gap between complex community health needs and the systems designed to serve them. From the beginning, we recognized that individuals affected by substance use disorders, behavioral health challenges, and social inequities often face barriers to safe and effective care. EMO Health emerged as a response—bringing together clinical expertise, systems-level insight, and a commitment to advancing health equity.
In its early years, EMO Health focused on residential and congregate care settings, where the need for stronger medication safety practices and integrated behavioral health support was most urgent. Through hands-on clinical guidance, capacity building, and training, we built trust with providers and began shaping safer, more sustainable models of care.
Over time, our work expanded to include technical assistance, workforce education, and practicum training opportunities for graduate students in public health and pharmacy programs. These partnerships not only strengthened health systems but also helped prepare the next generation of professionals to carry this mission forward.
Today, EMO Health delivers thousands of hours of clinical training, practicum support, and organizational capacity building each year. While our services have grown, our purpose remains the same: to empower providers, strengthen care systems, and improve outcomes for individuals with the greatest health and social needs.
“Substance misuse is a symptom of substance use disorder. The instinct is to take a medication away when it is being misused. Yet, in every other health condition, when symptoms get worse or non-adherence occurs, we add support rather than taking it away. We need to start approaching addiction and mental health the same way.”
— Allison Burns, Founder EMO Health