Meet the Team
Sabrina Suico
Project Coordinator
Sabrina is a dedicated community leader with over 20 years of experience advocating for health equity and human rights. In her current role as Coordinator for the Flourish 2 Project at the Public Health Institute, she focuses her passion on critical public health initiatives, including: mental health advocacy, substance use prevention and support, and HIV/AIDS prevention and education.
Driven by a limitless spirit, passion, and commitment, Sabrina views her work not just as a career, but as a calling. She proudly serves as a mother, sister, friend, protector, and a voice for the voiceless, firmly believing that every life holds profound value.
“Some say I am too sensitive, but truth is, I just feel too much. Every word, every action and every energy go straight to my heart."
Avery Shevelev, B.S.
Peer Health Educator
With nearly a decade of experience working within feminist, abolitionist, and gender expansive fields, Avery Shevelev is a community organizer, social worker, and activist. They were born and raised in San Francisco where they worked within SF’s Unified School District to advise on policies regarding protections for queer youth, school shooting safety procedures, and the district's annual arts budget. They hold a Bachelors of Arts from UCSC with majors in Feminist Studies and Sociology. In 2024 they were awarded the The Bettina Aptheker Award for Research or Community Service on Sexual, Gendered, and Racial Violence for their graduating thesis tracing Kim Kardashian's evolving beauty and the political landscape it tends to reflect. In their post-undergraduate work they have obtained their Sex Educator Certification from San Francisco's own Project Survive in collaboration with CCSF. In their current role as one of The Flourish Project’s Peer Educators they enjoy the privilege of working one-on-one with participants to help them visualize and achieve their mental and physical health goals. In their free time they can be found playing The Sims 3, cuddling with their western hognose snake, Saigon, and cooking elaborate meals in hopes of impressing their twin who works in Michelin restaurants.
Peer Health Educator
Sally Luu, B.S.
Principal Investigator
Tooru Nemoto, PHD
Dr. Tooru Nemoto is Research Program Director at the Public Health Institute (PHI). Before joining PHI, Dr. Nemoto was Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF). He has been mainly engaging in substance abuse and HIV prevention studies and service projects for under-served and stigmatized populations, such as transgender and gender non-binary people, men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers in the U.S. and Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. He has been awarded a number of grants and service contracts from NIH, SAMHSA, CDC, HRSA, and private foundations. As Project Director, he recently completed a 5-year SAMHSA funded project providing trauma-informed care and prevention services targeting Asian youths in Alameda County. He co-authored a number of research papers in the field of substance abuse and HIV prevention and health promotion for under-served sexual, gender, and racial minority groups in peer-reviewed journals.
Research Associate
Mariko Iwamato, M.A.
Mariko is a public health program leader and researcher with more than 15 years of experience, leading federally funded community-based research and prevention programs focused on HIV, substance use, and mental health, with particular attention to populations experiencing multiple social and structural vulnerabilities. Her commitment to women’s health is also informed by her professional and volunteer experience working with women’s shelters, where she gained firsthand insight into the social and structural challenges affecting women’s health and well-being. She brings both research and community-based experience to her work in HIV and substance use prevention.
Sally is a second-generation Vietnamese American, born and raised in the Bay Area. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Public Health from the University of California, Merced. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a specialization in Health Promotion at National University to continue expanding her knowledge of health promotion and addressing health inequities among underserved populations.
In her free time, Sally loves going on foodie adventures and exploring new places. She also enjoys almost any spicy food, boba, binge-watching shows, and listening to K-pop, teen pop, and R&B.
Sally has learned that not everyone has supportive role models in their lives, and this realization has inspired her to reach out and support those who may feel isolated in their own bubbles. As a Health Educator, she hopes to create a safe and welcoming environment where others feel comfortable being vulnerable, sharing their mental health stories, and working together to break down the stigma surrounding mental health.
She is grateful for the opportunity to be a Flourish 2 Health Educator and will do her absolute best to support clients throughout their journey with the Flourish 2 Project!
Research Assistant
Min Zheng, B.S.
As an immigrant herself, Min is passionate about building connections within the communities. In her role as a Research Associate at PHI, she focuses on addressing the mental health needs prevalent in these communities. Min earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Human Factors from USC East Bay in 2022. Through her work with the Public Health Institute, she has the opportunity to collaborate with field experts and community organizations. These collaborations continuously enhance her understanding of effective strategies to support and uplift the mental health of the populations. Driven by a strong commitment to her community, Min aims to make a meaningful impact and hopes to contribute to a more healthy and resilient future for these communities.