Welcome Sherry Yam!

Please join us in welcoming Sherry Yam, MSW, LCSW, to her new role as HEARD’s Research Data Analyst with the UCSF Division of Geriatrics!

Sherry started her new role this morning and will support Dr. Krista Harrison’s HEARD Study. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California, specializing in Mental Health with a focus on Military Social Work. Before that, she completed two bachelor’s degrees at California State University, Los Angeles: a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and a Bachelor of Arts in Music, with piano as her instrument of choice. Her educational journey combines a passion for helping others with a love for creative expression.

In her recent role as Clinical Supervisor at World Relief, Sherry launched the CalAIM Refugee program in California, overseeing clinical standards across four offices. She developed SOPs for culturally responsive care, supervised multidisciplinary teams serving diverse refugee populations, and implemented trauma-informed training for staff. Sherry also managed hiring and onboarding and provided on-call crisis clinical support statewide.

Previously, Sherry was a Clinical Research Coordinator at the Veterans Affairs Stress and Health Research Program, where she managed an FDA-approved Phase 4 clinical trial and two RCTs. She provided training, designed studies, conducted clinical assessments, and led psychophysiology experiments. Sherry supervised more than 15 research assistants, co-taught courses, and supported coordinators across five sites. She also handled grant submissions, IRB monitoring, budget planning, and data analysis, while contributing to the VA National EMDR research workgroup as a certification consultant.

In her new role as HEARD’s Research Data Analyst, Sherry will conduct in-depth interviews and assist in revising data collection instruments, including translating interview guides, surveys, and consent materials into Cantonese and Mandarin. She is involved in outreach and recruitment of study participants and contributes to the coding, analysis, and dissemination of qualitative data.

Sherry can be reached at [email protected]  if you want to congratulate her!

On behalf of Krista Harrison, PhD, Shira Rutman, and the HEARD Team