Michelle Wright, LCSW, ACM, CCM

I have been employed in the Duke system for 16 years. I have worked in hospital case management/discharge planning for 20 years. I obtained my MSW from USC and worked in SC for several years. I was fortunate enough to be able to move back to NC to be closer to my family. I enjoy working with patients and their families to obtain needed resources and improve their health. 

Michele Walker, BSN, RN

I have been a nurse for 27 years; 26 of those were spent as a bedside nurse in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I have also spent some time working in the Operating Room. I am thankful for the opportunity to now serve patients from outside the hospital and assist them with all of their healthcare needs.

Kristen Gerhart, BSN, RN, CCM

I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania and since graduating high school have continuously moved south.  I attended Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing for my BSN and then moved to North Carolina.  It was easy to immediately become a Durham and Duke fan!  I enjoy new adventures and challenges, being active and trying new foods. My favorite vacation spot is the beach.

Kendra Lawrence, BSN, RN-BC

I was born and raised in Durham, NC. I am a graduate of Winston Salem State University School of Nursing. My nursing career includes experience in ambulatory care as well as geriatrics. I absolutely love being a nurse and advocating for my patients. My goal is for each patient that I encounter to have the best experience possible.

Kelsey Markie, MSW, LCSW

I grew up just down the road in Pittsboro, North Carolina and am excited to be back in the area after living in Baltimore, Maryland for the last 13 years. I have been a licensed social worker for over 12 years and have spent my career working in healthcare. I am a strong advocate for trauma-informed care in medicine and am passionate about helping patients navigate and engage the healthcare system so they can thrive both physically and mentally. 

Kathryn Keicher, MSW, LCSW

I’m a Durham native with 18 years of clinical social work experience. My background is in maternal fetal health care, pediatrics, and infectious disease. I enjoy partnering with patient families to meet their health goals and building strong relationships with health care teams.

Kara-Ann Hensey, MPH, BSN, RN, CEN

I am a registered nurse who “grew up” in the Emergency Department. I love making a meaningful connection with patients and their families, explaining how to use the health care system to care for yourself in the best way possible. Healthcare access and health literacy—along with the importance of discharge instructions—are what lead me to obtain my MPH with a concentration in Leadership in Practice. Being a point-of-contact to help make decisions and understand health concerns, as well as EMPOWERING others in their medical journey, brings me JOY!

Justine Sperber, MSW, LCSW, CCM

Born in Brooklyn, NY, I am a city girl at heart. I attended New York University for my undergraduate degree, and I lived in NYC until 2005 before I moved south. Since relocating to the Triangle in 2006, I have since formed deep and loving roots in Durham. I began working in community behavioral health in 2007, obtained my Master’s in Social Work in 2013, and received my clinical license in 2015.

Julie Ramsey, MSN, RN, CNOR(E), CCM

I earned my MSN from Winston-Salem State Univeristy as an advanced nurse educator. Most of my nursing career has been in the perioperative setting as a certified operating room nurse and clinical educator. My experience as a kidney transplant coordinator inspired me to pursue a more patient-centric nursing roleMy most unusual nursing job was teaching health occupations to high school students—what a privilege!  My leisure activities center around creating art—photography, painting, pottery, and jewelry making.