Dr. Willi McFarland is the Director of the Center for Public Health Research within the San Francisco Department of Public Health and a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Over the last 30 years, he has worked to end the HIV epidemic in San Francisco and globally. His projects include surveys to measure health disparities in key populations at risk for HIV, longitudinal studies to determine causal associations for adverse health outcomes, and behavioral intervention trials to prevent HIV and other infectious diseases. He is currently the local Principal Investigator for the CDC-funded NHBS surveys. Dr. McFarland also teaches public health research methods and writing for scientific publications (of which he has authored over 400). When he is not writing papers, he is surfing.

Erin Wilson, DrPH is a research scientist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focus for the last two decades has been social epidemiological and intervention research to inform HIV care and prevention interventions for trans women, youth and other key populations impacted by HIV around the globe. She is currently a Co-Investigator for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Study site at the SFDPH.

Moranda Tate joined the Center for Public Health Research as a Project Coordinator. Previously, Moranda has studied alcohol as a risk factor for HIV, high blood pressure medication adherence for African Americans, mindfulness and depression among African American women, and chest deformities among children in Chicago. She is motivated to increase representation for underserved populations through robust research. Moranda is from Atlanta, GA, where she attended Spelman College and studied Psychology and Public Health. She enjoys teaching yoga, repeatedly binging The Office, and going on picnics with her puppy, Luda.

Bow Suprasert started working as a research data analyst at the center for public health research after graduating with an MPH from Johns Hopkins University. She previously worked as a student research assistant at the Harm Reduction Research and Treatment center (HaRRT), while completing her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Washington. At HaRRT, she was involved in a research project dedicated to people experiencing homelessness and living with alcohol use disorder (AUD). There, she found her purpose in improving the quality of life of marginalized populations. At CPHR, she aims to present data that reflect the lived experiences of populations neglected and undersampled in public health research. Through these statistical analyses, she hopes the results will be used to guide future policies and make an impact in these communities.

Raul Ruiz is a Field Supervisor for BLISS who has worked in National HIV surveillance programs and Peer Navigation pilot studies attempting to address gaps in care for trans women in San Francisco. He has presented research findings at the American Public Health Association conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jose Francisco is a dedicated public health professional with extensive experience across community initiatives, non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies. Currently a Research Associate at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, he contributes to studies involving diverse populations and is passionate about driving social impact and addressing health disparities. Known for his innovative problem-solving and empathetic leadership, Jose is committed to supporting underrepresented communities.

Research Associate

Research Associate