Gina Upchurch is the founding Executive Director of Senior PharmAssist. She was born in Durham was raised in Reidsville, NC. Gina received her pharmacy and public health degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she currently holds adjunct appointments after completing her pharmacy residency in geriatrics. In Durham, she serves on the Board of Directors for Project Access of Durham County and Aging Well Durham, and she is a past co-chair of the Partnership for a Healthy Durham. Outside of local coalition-building, Gina serves on NC Institute of Medicine’s Healthy Aging Task Force, Duke University Health System’s Geriatrics Coordinating Council, the NC Healthcare Quality Alliance Board of Directors, and the Public Policy Committee of the American Geriatrics Society. Currently, she is working with colleagues at Duke to help three other communities across North Carolina adopt the Senior PharmAssist model with the support of a grant from the National Institute of Health/National Institute of Aging. She is a recently appointed member of the MedPAC, a non-partisan commission that advises the U.S. Congress on Medicare policy. She was a science teacher as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana and goes back regularly in non-COVID times.
Marilyn graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and completed two post-graduate residencies before working for two years as a clinical pharmacist at a community health center. She is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and joined the Senior PharmAssist staff in May 2003. As clinical services director, she coordinates the pharmaceutical care services provided by our program, ensuring that the participants, caregivers, and healthcare providers we work with are well-served.
Katrina Nesmith joined us in November 2019 as our Community Services Director. She has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from South Carolina State University, a Master in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University, and a Master in Healthcare Management from Colorado Technical University. She has worked in various areas of social work over the past years. Katrina brings experience in Public Health, Alcohol and other Drugs, School Social Work, Home Health, and Community Alternatives Program for Children and Disabled Adults (CAP/C/DA).
Sheri is a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and a graduate of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at UNC-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy (2017). She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis where she participated in research sponsored in part by NIH’s Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) training program. While she appreciates the complexities of biomedical science, she thrives in roles where she can use her knowledge to directly improve the lives of the people around her. Driven by the vision of a world with fewer health disparities, she takes pride in assisting participants in optimizing their health, providing Medicare insurance counseling, and sharing information about Senior PharmAssist at community events around Durham.
Alexis attended the University of South Florida and University of North Carolina where she gained 5 years of public health experience. Her primary study in college included public health infection control and epidemiology with additional interest in community work, health education and health equity. She previously volunteered and worked within state government roles serving aging adults and further explored aging research as she completed her graduate studies. Alexis’ passion for connection, health promotion and wellness for aging adults remains a significant part of her role as she serves as SPA’s Health Resource Coordinator.
Nathalie earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and teaching certification from Wesleyan University. She has worked in several industries prior to joining Senior PharmAssist, first as a volunteer and then as an employee. Nathalie is an ardent advocate for seniors, and an enthusiastic supporter of SPA’s mission to help older adults live their best lives.
Adam joined the Senior PharmAssist team in September 2023. After earning his Master of Divinity from Gardner-Webb University, Adam spent several years in nonprofit management with a focus on community engagement, operational effectiveness, and customer service. During this time Adam helped to implement and oversee several evidence-based health initiatives and various wellness programs. Adam has since expanded his repertoire through work in the private, for-profit sector and with local municipalities. He is also an ordained minister. Adam is excited to work with Senior PharmAssist’s Community Referral Specialists and the rest of the staff to expand our impact in Durham and beyond!
Jessica earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2001 and then completed a one-year specialty residency in geriatrics at the UNC Geriatric Evaluation Clinic. She stayed on as a clinical pharmacist until January 2005 and then joined our staff in February 2005. She is a board-certified geriatric pharmacist and works 24 hours per week.
* These photographs by Satsuki “Sunshine” Scoville
