Whitney Pollard joined Penn Memory Center in April 2025. She is a GUIDE Care Navigator for the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, where she provides ongoing care navigation and support to individuals living with dementia and their families across Pennsylvania. Prior to this role, Pollard worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, where she managed clinical trials investigating hormonal management of endometriosis and advancing early detection of lung cancer through biomarker analysis. Earlier in her career, she worked at Fox Chase Cancer Center, coordinating cancer prevention studies and providing health education for women coping with breast cancer. She later served as a caregiver to a family member living with cognitive decline, deepening her interest in dementia care and fueling her commitment to supporting families affected by memory disorders. Pollard received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Temple University in 2017 and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). She is passionate about patient-centered care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving access to supportive services for individuals navigating cognitive changes.

Albert.Rosas@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Albert Rosas is a second-year dual-master student studying nonprofit leadership and social work. Currently, he is interning at the Penn Memory Center, and he provides supportive and educational programming for patients and their loved ones impacted by a dementia diagnosis. Albert wishes to pursue consulting after graduation and is interested in philanthropy, fundraising, and strategic planning. Albert earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Earlham College in 2023.

mercedes.desales@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Angel is a second-year student at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Historically their studies have focused on positive psychology, substance use disorders, and familial relationships. With a keen interest in grief, imagination, psychedelic assisted therapy and the integration of positive psychology, they have gained diverse experience working in private adult inpatient rehabilitation settings, school-based drug counseling, and with families during mandated parental and child visits impacted by domestic violence. Their work is grounded in fostering resilience and emotional healing, drawing from both theoretical and applied frameworks. Angel is committed to creating meaningful change through innovative social work practices that emphasize holistic well-being and the power of human connection.

Oliver.Jorgensen@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Oliver Jane Jorgensen (they/them) is a nonbinary social work intern at the Penn Memory Center.  They are a second-year student at The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice, where they are pursuing a dual master’s degree in social work and nonprofit leadership.  Oliver maintains a great passion for integrative health and holistic wellness.  In addition to pursuing education in social work, Oliver is a Trauma Informed C-IAYT Yoga Therapist and an artist, with an MFA in Devised Performance from The Pig Iron School/UArts.  As a Yoga therapist, they have specialized training and experience teaching Yoga in one-on-one settings, to help students find the practices that best support and improve their health and wellbeing.  Additionally, Oliver has a great passion for teaching Yoga to aging populations and modifying the tools of Yoga to make the benefits of practice accessible to all people.  As an artist, Oliver has specialized skills in improvisation, effective collaboration, and using the body to tell stories.  They desire to combine their skills as a yoga therapist and artist with their social work practice, so they can provide the therapeutic benefits of Yoga tools and creative self-expression to others.  Prior to interning at the PMC, they completed their first-year internship at Family Promise of Philadelphia where they provided support services to homeless and precariously housed families.

267-738-7601

Jennifer.Nguyen1@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Jennifer Nguyen is a licensed social worker at the Penn Memory Center. Nguyen provides support and education to patients and their loved ones impacted by a dementia diagnosis. She also supports PMC programming. Nguyen received her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health Counseling from Drexel University in 2017 and her master’s degree in Social Work from University of Pennsylvania in 2023. Nguyen completed her social work training at a post-acute care center in New Jersey supporting older adults in rehabilitation and at an outpatient mental health practice in Philadelphia providing psychotherapy. Prior to PMC, Nguyen also worked at Penn Center for Mental Health for over 4 years providing early intervention services to preschool aged children with developmental delays.

215-520-7468

Rachel.Marx@Pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Rachel Marx is a social worker at the Penn Memory Center. In March 2025, she became the social worker for the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, providing people with dementia and their families across Pennsylvania with access to on-going care planning and support. Prior to that, Marx ran the Short-Term Supportive Counseling program at PMC, providing emotional support and psychotherapy to patients and their loved ones impacted by diagnosis. Marx received her Masters in Social Work in 2023 from Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice. While at Penn, she completed her advanced year fieldwork as a social work intern at the Memory Center. Prior to graduate school, she worked in a variety of capacities in the fields of education and public planning. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2015 from the University of Pittsburgh in Urban Studies and Creative Writing.

267-240-5571
Leah.fein@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Leah Fein is an associate director of social work at the Penn Memory Center. Fein provides support and education to patients and their loved ones impacted by a dementia diagnosis. She also supports PMC programming such as Memory Cafés, caregiver classes, and support groups.

Prior to her working with the social work team, she was an intern with the PMC communications team. Additionally, Fein worked in Pittsburgh at their Area Agency on Aging as a case manager with older adults, arranging their in-home services and supporting transitions of care. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from University of Pittsburgh and her master’s degrees in social work and public health from University of Michigan. She completed her social work training at Michigan Medicine in their geriatric primary care clinic.

267-624-4282
megan.kalafsky@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Meg Kalafsky is the Associate Director of Social Programs. Kalafsky joined the Penn Memory Center in 2019 and provides supportive and educational programming for patients and their loved ones impacted by a dementia diagnosis. Kalafsky earned her bachelor’s of psychology and sociology from Duquesne University in 2011 and master’s of Health Care Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in 2023.

267-239-1968
alison.lynn@uphs.upenn.edu

Alison Lynn is a licensed clinical social worker and the director of social work at the Penn Memory Center.  Lynn has been at the PMC since 2015 providing support, education, and psychotherapy to patients and families affected by a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  Lynn also plans and runs PMC programming such as its monthly Memory café, twice-yearly Caregiver Class, and monthly caregiver support groups; and supervises master’s level social work interns from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice. Lynn holds a bachelor’s of arts in sociology from Kenyon College and a master’s in social work from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her social work training at the Penn Memory Center and the Penn Division of Geriatric Psychiatry. Prior to her work in Philadelphia, Alison worked in admissions at a continuing care retirement community for military officers in Washington, DC.