Meet the Team

Nelly Plasencia is a Bilingual Certified Community Health Worker with nine years of community-focused experience. Her most recent role at the Family Health Center of Worcester involved specializing in various chronic conditions, including home visits and asthma management. Throughout her tenure at Community Health Centers, she has contributed to programs for refugees/immigrants, preventative wellness, prenatal care/OBGYN case management, women’s health education, as well as chronic disease prevention/education programs related to diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, Nelly has practical experience in medical assisting and has been involved in contract tracing/case investigation and follow-up work for the Department of Public Health’s Contact Tracing Initiative aimed at combatting and halting the spread of COVID-19. Nellyactively volunteers to enhance patient lives and community health.

Chris is a pharmacist who grew up outside of Worcester, MA. He graduated from pharmacy school at Uconn School of Pharmacy in 2016 and subsequently completed residency at the VA in West Haven, CT. Chris was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1999 leading him to pursue the opportunity of being a diabetes care provider at the VA following school where he worked for nearly 3 years. Currently, Chris works as an pharmacy operations consultant, but still enjoys working with patients whenever possible.

Dr. Emily Vlass, a pharmacist from New Hampshire, earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island. After completing a residency at UMass Memorial Health, primarily at their HealthAlliance Campus in Leominster, she now works as an internal medicine clinical pharmacist at UMass University Campus. Her passion for diabetes management stems from personal and professional experiences with its profound impact on individuals and families, driving her commitment to delivering comprehensive care. Emily finds motivation in making a tangible difference in patients' lives, whether through education, medication management, or lifestyle guidance, aiming to help them achieve their health goals and improve their well-being.