Haruno Suzuki is a Graduate Student Researcher and second-year PhD student at the School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco. She holds a Master of Health Science from the University of Tokyo and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Institute of Science, Tokyo. Haruno has clinical experience as a registered nurse in acute care settings in Japan. In her role, Haruno supports research and program implementation for the Probiotic Administration for Adolescent Depression Study. Her research interests focus on gerontology, specifically the intersection of aging, disabilities, and mental health. For her master’s thesis, she led a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a dementia-friendly educational program using virtual reality technology to promote dementia awareness among the general public in Japan. Her doctoral research explores the risk and protective factors for depression in older adults with visual impairment. Haruno has strong research skills in quantitative methodologies and clinical trials. She is also interested in applying innovative digital technologies to improve mental health outcomes in older adults and support age-friendly communities.