Dr. Katherine Upchurch has championed accessible specialty care for underserved populations throughout her distinguished career, making her the embodiment of MAVEN Project’s mission. As one of the organization’s earliest volunteers since 2014, she has advocated tirelessly for patients who would otherwise fall through healthcare system cracks.
Dr. Upchurch’s championship begins with her credentials—former Clinical Chief of Rheumatology at UMass Memorial Medical Center, graduate of Duke Medical School, and recipient of the American College of Rheumatology’s prestigious Master designation. But her true advocacy extends far beyond professional accolades to the patients whose lives she’s transformed through MAVEN Project.
Her advocacy took on personal significance following an unexpected injury that ended her clinical practice. “My retirement happened as the result of a serious injury. I walked away 5 years ago. One day I was working 70 hours a week and the next day I wasn’t,” she recalls. Rather than stepping away from medicine entirely, she channeled her expertise into expanding access to care for those most in need.
Dr. Upchurch has evolved her MAVEN Project role to maximize impact, focusing on developing comprehensive educational programs for clinics in underserved areas. She’s planned six-month curriculum sequences for safety net clinics and delivered monthly rheumatology lectures that empower frontline providers with specialist knowledge.
Her teachings emphasize the critical importance of early intervention. “With certain conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, there’s a window—3 months or so after symptoms—where patients can either be encouraged into remission or partial remission, and the lifelong effects of the disease are far less,” she explains. It’s her goal to help safety net clinicians provide timely care that prevents lifelong disability.
Looking ahead, Dr. Upchurch recognizes MAVEN Project’s growing importance amid potential healthcare policy changes. “It’s possible that Medicaid and Medicare will be vastly reformed,” she observes. “MAVEN Project is going to step up and plug holes that are going to be created as physician networks change. Our work is going to be increasingly important for patients who don’t have access to healthcare.”
Dr. Upchurch embodies the true spirit of generosity, supporting MAVEN Project both through her time as a volunteer and through financial contributions. As the U.S. healthcare system continues to change, MAVEN Project’s network of volunteers will continue bridging critical gaps and bringing specialty expertise to millions of people in the U.S.
