Nolly Swan is a recent graduate of the Clemson University Master's of Science in Historic Preservation program at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston, South Carolina. She is originally from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. This May, she published her graduate thesis titled "A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Preservation Focused Land-Use Reg…

Transformation Specialist Dionne Jones is all about that balanced life! Dionne is Founder and Owner of Age with Vibrancy, LLC, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Age with Vibrancy, LLC “meets women where they are, and takes them to where they deserve to be in their lives.” Dionne takes the whole-body approach to helping women thrive. Get ready to strip away…

Shyla K. Fields is a devoted wife, mother, and dynamic force for change. As a gifted community organizer, she has spent her career fostering inclusivity and collaboration across diverse communities. She currently serves as the Director of the Health Across the Lifecourse (HeAL) Research Area at the Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama…

Hetlena Johnson is a Patient Advocate, Author, Community Organizer, Retired Educator and Lupus Warrior. She is devoted to helping others face the trials of life with an open mind and energy. A cheerleader for handling life’s challenges with laughter and spirited resilience, she believes in living your best life while living with lupus.…

Dr. Gregory Marcelle is a Licensed Professional Counselor committed to helping youth, adolescents, and adults learn how to manage their mental and behavioral health. He is the CEO and Clinical Director of L.E.V.E.L.S Mental Health Services LLC providing therapeutic support, behavior management, and skill building to individuals who struggle with me…

In observance of Parkinson's disease awareness month, we are excited to speak with special guests Michael S. Fitts and Dr. Reversa Joseph. Michael S. Fitts recent retiree, served as assistant dean for user access and diversity at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Libraries). He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011 at age 38. In…

JT Logan is a serial entrepreneur, business coach, author, musician, minister, and father. He is the Founder and CEO of FOURDEEP – a full-service advertising and marketing agency founded in 2011 with offices in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC. JT and the FOURDEEP team have built brands for Fortune 500 companies, global non-profit organizations, uni…

The Reverend Dr. Mia Hash Sloan focuses on curating spiritual well-being spaces across a broad range of religious and spiritual ideologies. She is a third-generation minister that has worked within the congregation and community for over 20 years. She has truly made a religious, spiritual and social impact in her community. Rev. Dr. Mia specializes…

Kayla Nixon is a Richmond, VA based public health communicator, community builder, and advocate dedicated to empowering Black women through information, connection, and action. A uterine cancer survivor since 2019, she founded Uterine Care Collaborative in 2024 to educate Black women on uterine health conditions, improve access to resources, and am…

In celebration of Women's History Month, we have a special message from our very own Dr. P! Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 37 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity…

Dr. Tania Small joined Bristol Myers Squibb as Senior Vice President, Global Medical Affairs in January 2024. Tania brings a strong scientific track record leading Medical Affairs teams in driving innovation that improves the experience and supports better outcomes of people living with cancer and rare diseases. She has successfully built and led g…

Rev. Lamont Anthony Wells is the Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Colleges and Universities and the President of the African Descent Lutheran Association.By Pernessa C. Seele

Victoria A. Smalls, a Gullah Geechee native of St. Helena Island, SC, is Founder & CEO of Smalls Cultural Resources, where she champions Gullah Geechee communities across the United States and their global ties to Africa’s Diaspora. With more than two decades of experience, she has served as a state Commissioner on the SC African American Heritage …

Check out a very special message from our very own Dr. P! Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 37 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the Unit…

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 37 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa to eradicate health disparities by pr…

Pamela D. Price currently serves as the Deputy Director for The Balm In Gilead, Inc., managing the various health initiatives of the organization. Under her leadership, the organization provides support to faith institutions in areas of program design, implementation and evaluation, which strengthen their capacity to deliver programs and services t…

D. Lamar Handy, a native of Athens, GA, founded The DL Handy Foundation to be a change agent for the community and to lend a helping hand for empowerment and mental health awareness. The DL Handy Foundation provides supportive outreach services and vital resources to those in need in the Northeast Georgia and surrounding metro Atlanta area through …

Yolanda is the Owner, President and CEO of Eudora Enterprises, LLC where she functions in the knowledge, understanding and workings of the Proverbs 31 woman. She purchases real estate and invest in other capital ventures. “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are …

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 37 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa to eradicate health disparities by pr…

Rev. Domanic A. Smith is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and the organizing pastor of The Ezekiel Church and Ministries in Dundalk, MD. Aside from his pastoral leadership role, Rev. Smith is the Coordinator of Community Pastoral Outreach for the LifeBridge Health System, Department of Population in Baltimore, and leads LifeBridge Health in all of i…

Tamira M. Moon is a community driven visionary leader and national health equity strategist committed to activating the ethos of "good trouble, necessary trouble," to address health disparities and social determinants of health while promoting Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Aside from her work in the public health space, she is the Founder…

Dawn is the Founder of Green Living, Inc. based in Richmond, VA. She is the author of Facing My Giants: Overcoming Obstacles for Optimal Health where she shares her journey with chronic illness, hoping to inspire and uplift those who are going through similar challenges and create a sense of community and empowerment for individuals navigating the …

Meet Tomalisa Washington, the ultimate multitasker and real-life superwoman! She juggles more hats than a circus performer as an executive director, wife, mom, first lady, doctoral student, mentor and community leader. Raised in Mobile, AL, her roots are now planted in Tuscaloosa, AL. As a product of teenage parents, life wasn’t handed to her on a …

By Pernessa C. Seele

This week on Dr. P on the Pod, we dive into a critical discussion about Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)—a common yet often overlooked heart condition that can lead to serious complications if left untreated. AFib, a type of irregular heartbeat, affects millions of people, particularly African Americans, who are more likely to experience severe outcomes …

The Reverend Doctor Ayo Jordan, a native of Washington, DC, was raised and educated in Virginia. Her spiritual relationship began when she accepted the Lord as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at Hungary Road Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia. Dr. Ayo received and acknowledged the consecrated opportunity to be used by God and was li…

Obadiah Galley, Ph.D. is a dedicated mental health counselor, coach, educator, and health and wellness advocate with a passion for supporting individuals in achieving holistic well-being. He integrates therapeutic techniques with coaching strategies to empower his clients to navigate life's challenges effectively. Alongside his counseling practice,…

Join Dr. Pernessa Seele, Founder/CEO of The Balm In Gilead, as she touches on a range of issues impacting the health of Black communities.By Pernessa C. Seele

Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact. Ma…

In observance of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month, Dr. P and Kellee Bacote discuss the impact of cognitive illness in African American communities. Ms. Bacote is the Lead Community Outreach & Recruitment Project Manager at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Cleveland Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.…

Julius Turner is an Audio & Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Music Producer based in Richmond, VA. He is the Founder of TWOTL Music Productions.By Pernessa C. Seele

In observance of Memory Sunday on June 9th, which draws attention to the impact of Alzheimer's in our communities, Dr. P talks with Denisha DeLane. Ms. DeLane has 20+ years of community engagement experience on a variety of social justice, health advocacy and social service initiatives. She is a serial entrepreneur and creative who enjoy mediums th…

Salathiel DeLoach is the President and CEO of the DeLoach Lupus Foundation Savannah, GA Inc. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in business and is currently a member of leadership in the capacity of a Human Resources manager. She enjoys the ability to change the stigma that most people have about those that work in this role. She believes it’s impo…

In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on May 18th, Dr. P and Louis Shackelford discuss the search for an HIV vaccine. Louis Shackelford is the Director of External Relations in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Leadership and Operations Center at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. As External Relations Project Manager,…

Lady Takeisha Brown serves as the Assistant Pastor of Ablaze Church in Richmond, VA with her husband, Bishop Marvin Brown, Sr. She is a Marriage and Family Counselor with over 17 years of Pastoral Counseling serving individuals and couples seeking pre-marital counseling, relationship counseling, and marriage counseling. These services are offered t…

In observance of Mental Health Month, Dr. P is joined by Dr. Pervis Taylor III for an in-depth discussion of Black men's mental health concerns. He and Dr. P discuss real-time challenges and solutions for Black men and the women who love them. Dr. Taylor, an award-winning celebrity life coach, holds a master's degree in psychology from Columbia Uni…

In observance of Stress Awareness Month, Dr. P. sits down with Cary Goodman, founder of Black Men's Wholeness, an initiative to heal the impact of stress on Black men's lives. Cary L. Goodman, a native of Richmond, VA, has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy prog…

Phil Gee was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in 2015, one year after retiring from a very successful thirty-three-year career holding a number of engineering, manufacturing and supply chain senior level positions. Since his PD diagnosis, Phil and his wife, Julia (who first met in the 1st grade & have been married for 36 years), have b…

Natasha Aldridge is a Perinatal Health Justice Equity Advocate and Family Support Professional with a mission to ensure that every pregnant, postpartum, and birth family has access to and receives safe, equitable, high-quality care. Ms. Aldridge has served over 70 families with Full Spectrum Community Doula Support and assisted over 400 women with …

A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying O…

Jay Ell Alexander is motivated by her passion for sparking a change in the minds and bodies of others through her entrepreneurial spirit. As owner and CEO of The Vaughn Strategy, a branding and public relations firm and Black Girls RUN!, a national running organization, she leads a powerful movement that has resonated with a huge audience. Over the…

Don't miss The Balm In Gilead's Multiple Myeloma Spotlight on our website! This week's guest, Dr Joseph Mikhael MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, leads the M-Power project in the African American community for the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Dr. Mikhael is a Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational G…

Marvell L. Terry II (he, him, his) is a powerhouse educator, grassroots activist, and cultural organizer from Memphis, Tennessee. HIV advocacy and cultural organizing are personal for him; It was the moment he received a positive diagnosis of HIV that jump-started his more than decade-long career that has had a local, state, and national impact. Ma…

In this episode, Dr. P is joined by lawyer and activist Dafina Ward, JD. Dafina Ward, J.D. is an attorney and non-profit strategist with nearly fifteen years of experience addressing HIV and health equity issues in the southern United States. Working in partnership with a range of advocates—from grassroots leaders to federal decision-makers—she is …

In this episode, Dr. P has a stimulating discussion with two insightful guests: Pastor Gerard Duncan and Jude Ngang. Pastor Gerard Duncan is the senior pastor of Prayers By Faith Family Ministries in Gainesville, Florida. He works closely with faith leaders to increase awareness of health and wellness within their churches and the communities they …

A charismatic praise & worship leader, Washington, D.C.-based Dr. Stephen Hurd wears all the hats one can possibly wear as a contemporary gospel artist. He has done spoken word pieces, sung many more, directed choirs and arranged vocals, led countless praise & worship workshops, and written several songs that are regularly sung at Sunday services, …

Victoria A. Smalls, a native of St. Helena Island, SC, serves as President & CEO at Smalls Cultural Resources, championing Gullah Geechee communities across the southeastern United States. With a focus on climate, land, and ocean justice, Smalls Cultural Resources is dedicated to preserving Gullah Geechee heritage through history, art, language, an…

Fitness and nutrition expert Michelle D. Hare shares how we can succeed on our path to a healthier lifestyle. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Michelle is a longtime dance and exercise enthusiast. She obtained a B.S. and M.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and also received a second B.S., with honors, from the City University…

Rev. Dr. Sande Bailey-Gwinn is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foundations for Living, based in Jefferson, GA. Foundations For Living is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating Transformational Moments through Inspiration and Education that will empower Low to Moderate Income families and all clients to envision, discover, implement…

Yolanda Reed is the Owner, President and CEO of Eudora Enterprises, LLC where she functions in the knowledge, understanding and workings of the Proverbs 31 woman. She purchases real estate and invests in other capital ventures. “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arm…