Amin Azzam is a professor, researcher & psychiatrist at UCSF and UC Berkeley with 27 years of formal education in medicine and curriculum development. He remains clinically active—running long-term psychotherapy groups for patients with chronic illnesses. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, board games, and international travel.
"Through my experiences and studies, I have become most passionate about destigmatizing the most stigmatized aspects of health: mental health and sexual health. I have been an enthusiastic learner, I am an eager listener and I am growing to be an effective leader. I welcome the challenge and opportunity to advance my education and build real connection to better serve my community."
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"Growing up in a community of Southeast Asian refugees, I experienced what it’s like to deal with trauma and mental health issues from a young age. I’ve also had to manage my own anxiety, depression, and postpartum depression, and am grateful that I had peer support and therapy. I know firsthand how important it is to have a safe and supportive community, and that’s why I’m excited about Shimmer’s mission."
"I'm at a point in my life where, thanks in part to a sustained support network, I've developed a perspective to live fully. Here at Shimmer, I want to help foster moments where people feel safe to embrace possibility and gain perspective — whatever that means to them."
"My own experience with mental illness and having a younger brother with Autism have helped me become an individual who is passionate about caring for vulnerable groups within our society. I enjoy providing support to those in need regardless of their culture, background, and life experiences. I value in-depth human connections because they are the most precious part of being alive, and defines what it means to be human to me."
"Throughout my life and now career, helping people feel more whole has always been my driving value. As a macro social worker, I work daily to dismantle structural barriers to equitable growth and mobility, and now as a Shimmer guide I get to work daily to help individuals overcome mental and emotional barriers to becoming the more whole version of themselves they deserve to be."
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