Dr. P On The Pod

It’s a birthday celebration on Dr. P on the Pod! Join us as we surprise and celebrate Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, our fearless leader, whose vision and dedication continue to inspire healthier communities.  Our special surprise guests are Faye Edwards, owner of Faie African Art in Chicago, Illinois, and Desmond Maurice Dease, Dr. Seele’s nephew, who is currently stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army....

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Julius Turner, an accomplished music technology educator, audio production specialist, and recording engineer with more than 25 years of experience in music production, live sound, recording, and music instruction. He is a Full Sail University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Production. He has taught and mentored youth, aspiring musicians, and...

What does it take to stay committed to the work of building healthier communities? In this episode of Dr. P on the Pod , Dr. Pernessa C. Seele and Dr. Cary Goodman reflect on The Balm In Gilead’s mission, the power of partnership, and the commitment needed to turn purpose into lasting action. Join them for a conversation about the people and relationships that keep the work moving forward.

Joining us today is Deputy Director Pam Price, RN, who reminds us that every conversation about data centers is also a conversation about health. She will help us understand how rising utility costs and environmental pressures can affect families—particularly those in rural and lower-income communities—and why the full economic and health costs of development must be considered from the beginning....

A special message from our very own Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 38 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 promoting health education and services withi...

Dr. Taquina Davis is a public health educator, researcher, and consultant. She serves as Managing Partner at Health E Strategies and as an adjunct professor. She brings over 15 years of experience to Health E Strategies, demonstrating her ability to collaborate effectively with various sectors. She is skilled in managing and assisting with advocacy, health, racial equity, community engagement, and...

Gertie Houston Williams is an accomplished and progressive operations executive with extensive years of experience in corporate, human service management, program management and event planning. Worked at major corporate, non-profit entities and Faith-Based communities in executive and senior leadership positions.

Dr. Janelle K. St. Louis is a pharmacist, educator, ministry leader, community advocate, and candidate for Chesapeake City Council who is passionate about serving God by serving people. She currently serves as a Clinical Pharmacist serving our active duty, veterans, and their families. She is also an Adjunct Professor, helping to educate and mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals....

In this special episode, Dr. P shares a heartfelt reflection on what the Fourth of July truly means to her. More than a celebration of America's independence, it is a time to honor the ancestors whose resilience, sacrifice, and contributions helped build this nation. Dr. P shares the importance of family, community, and preserving the legacy of those who paved the way for future generations.

Dr. Eden Biltibo is a Hematology/Oncology clinical fellow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Dr. Camille V. Edwards is a board-certified primary care physician at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Dr. Joselle Cook is a hematologist/oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, M...

Larry Overton is the Founder & Director of Overton Estates in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Overton Estates stands on land that has remained in the same family for more than a century. This land was not inherited casually — it was earned through determination, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in ownership, education, and community. Overton Estates is not preserved as a relic of the past — i...

Ivy Snead is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with more than eight years of experience serving diverse populations, including individuals with brain injuries, mental health disorders, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, and conduct disorders. A proud product of Richmond and Goochland, Virginia, Ivy attended Old Dominion University. She is passionate about creativity, wellness, a...

Dr. Sherri Garrett, a native of Cedartown, GA, grew up as an Army brat. She is the daughter of the late Sgt. Lloyd Garrett and the late Clara Garrett. After graduation from Clark College in 1976, Sherri began her career as a teacher at Cedartown High School, Polk County, Georgia. During that time, she earned a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum /Supervision from the University of West Georg...

Pamela D. Price currently serves as the Deputy Director for The Balm In Gilead, 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 that contribute to the elimination of health disparitie...

Pastor C.J. Matthews, II serves as Executive Pastor and Pastor in Succession of Mt. Sinai-Friendship United Church in Cleveland, Ohio, where he ministers alongside his father, Rev. Dr. C. Jay Matthews. In this unique role, he is both honoring a rich pastoral legacy and preparing to carry that vision forward for the next generation. A dynamic and innovative thought leader, Pastor C.J. is known for...

Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque, Ph. D., is a seasoned leader in higher education, ministry, nonprofit innovation, and community transformation. She spent two decades in student services leadership at institutions including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, Mills College, and the University of California, guiding students toward academic success and personal confidence. Answering her call t...

Dr. Shayla Walker is a licensed clinical social worker, professor, workshop facilitator, and public speaker. With bachelor and master degrees in social work (BSW and MSW) and a PhD in Transformative Social Change, she brings over a decade of experience addressing mental health, belonging, racial justice, and restorative healing. Known for blending scholarship with authentic lived experience, Dr. W...

Maya Dionne is a bestselling author, widow coach, and CEO/Founder of Purpose2Platform LLC and Widows DO Bounce Back LLC. With over 20 years of experience in IT and writing, she blends technology, creative strategy, and behavioral psychology to empower writers in building their platforms in one business; and helping widows create lives they truly love in the other. Through Purpose2Platform, Maya he...

Sharvette Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Productions, is more than a business leader and marketing consultant; she’s THE PLATFORM BUILDER®. Her vision, ingenuity, and extensive 25-year background in corporate America at Capital One Bank, coupled with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University, have crystallized her reputation as a foremost authority in the marketing landsc...

CiNease Freeman is a Richmond, Virginia-based colorectal cancer survivor and advocate, diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in June 2022 at the age of 28. She is active in raising awareness, particularly around the rise of young-onset colorectal cancer, and is featured in national campaigns.

Dr. Cary L. Goodman has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy programs, outreach and development. For over 18 years, he has been dedicated to establishing and expanding health programs across the United States by building the capacity to address health disparities that greatly impact congregations and the communit...

Elmer Dixon, a longtime activist for racial justice, grew up a witness to the Civil Rights Movement and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Seattle, WA in the 60s. He was one of the founders of Seattle's chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1968. Only 17 at the time, he helped to shape a new world, a new place, a new country, where all people were respected, regardless of color and po...

Edna Elaine Glover is a retired schoolteacher from South Carolina School Districts. Teaching social studies to high school students, her career spanned 30 years. Ms. Glover grew up in the era of segregated schools and the Jim Crow South. She was among the few African American teachers that were hired to teach in integrated schools post segregation. Ms. Glover received a Bachelor of Arts from South...

Miyoshi Juergensen, PhD (she/her/hers) is an educator, scholar, and practitioner whose work centers Black educational history, teacher leadership, and equity-driven school and community improvement. A former classroom teacher and district leader, Dr. Juergensen brings more than two decades of experience in education and a deep commitment to understanding how Black educators have historically built...

Erin Poyant is the founder of #hATTRNextGen™, a community-driven movement focused on raising awareness of V122I hereditary amyloidosis within the Black community. Inspired by her late father’s journey with the disease and her own experience as a gene carrier, Erin’s work centers on honoring legacy while encouraging earlier understanding and more informed family health conversations. In another cap...