# Robert Ashford

> Robert Ashford is a recovery scientist and the co-founder and CEO of RecoveryLink, a Philadelphia-based digital platform that helps people and organizations find and deliver peer-based recovery support around the clock. With a PhD in health policy and an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, he has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, founded the Journal of Recovery Science, and advised SAMHSA and the Philadelphia Mayor's Task Force on the opioid epidemic. He also serves as Executive Director of Unity Recovery, building tools and language that treat recovery as a measurable, fundable field rather than an afterthought.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at RecoveryLink
- **Organizations:** RecoveryLink, Unity Recovery, Journal of Recovery Science
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Social Work (minors in Addiction Studies and Psychology), University of North Texas, Master of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), PhD, Health Policy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia
- **Known for:** Co-founded and leads RecoveryLink, a digital recovery support platform, Authored 50+ peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, Founding editor of the Journal of Recovery Science

## Career timeline

- **early career** — Graduate research fellow at the Treatment Research Institute, working on substance use disorder treatment research
- **mid-career** — Technical assistance manager at JBS International on the SAMHSA MAT-PDOA project
- **2018** — Joined Unity Recovery as a recovery scientist; later Executive Director
- **2020** — Co-founded RecoveryLink with Chris Hart (CIO) and Brent Canode (CMO)
- **2021** — RecoveryLink raised seed funding, including from Penn's $5M Fund for Health
- **2025** — Unity Recovery and RecoveryLink began drafting an AI toolkit for peer recovery specialists

## Achievements

- Co-founded and leads RecoveryLink, a digital recovery support platform
- Authored 50+ peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters
- Founding editor of the Journal of Recovery Science
- National recovery planning partner for SAMHSA
- Grant reviewer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Appointee to the Philadelphia Mayor's Task Force to Combat the Opioid Epidemic
- NAADAC Young Emerging Leader Award (2014)
- University of Pennsylvania Provost's Citation for Excellence in Service (2017)

## Latest updates

- **2025-08** — Announced an AI toolkit for peer recovery specialists, developed across Unity Recovery and RecoveryLink.

## Links

- Website: https://myrecoverylink.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertdashford/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/MyRecoveryLink
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rdashford/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertDavidAshford/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/robert-ashford
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-21