About - Balm In Gilead

Kimi Watkins-Tartt

Kimi Watkins-Tartt serves as Director of the Alameda County Public Health Department. In this capacity she provides overall direction and planning and leads the department’s work in its pursuit of Health Equity in Alameda County and a Culture of Equity within the Department. Ms. Watkins-Tartt has worked for many years within the local public health community in the areas of public health administration, policy development, and community health planning. She has held many roles within Alameda County Public Health including Deputy Public Health Director and Director of the Department’s Community Health Services Division.

She has a long standing passion and commitment to health equity and social justice, is a founding member and current Co-Chair of the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) and serves as Vice Chair of the Health Equity and Social Justice Committee of the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO).

Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris

Glenda F. Newell-Harris, M.D., is a physician, global leader, and community and patient advocate. Specializing in internal medicine, she has devoted her career to addressing health disparities and advocating for equal access to treatment and quality health care for children and their families. Her research and opinions on new advances in medicine and controversial medical issues have made her a valued medical expert. Dr. Newell-Harris is frequently invited to participate on national and regional panels to engage in discourses about complicated medical and health topics and patient navigation. Having served as a national organization leader, regional medical officer managing correctional medicine, health commissioner, president and secretary of regional and local medical societies, she is a much sought-after speaker sharing her expertise, engaging audiences and providing strategic leadership to youth groups and non-profit organizations on women’s health, preventive care and patient advocacy. Throughout her professional leadership and voluntary service, Dr. Newell-Harris has been an unrelenting advocate for equity in access and treatment to global health care. This commitment has been demonstrated in services provided worldwide, from the United States to Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.

Dr. Claybon Lea

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr.

Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield and Suisun City, CA where he has served since 1999.

A widely known and highly sought after preacher, teacher, lecturer, and leader, Dr. Lea has been blessed to travel the world sharing his gifts to the glory of God. A believer that “a call to preach is a call to preparation”, Dr. Lea has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Morehouse College (where he was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers), a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with highest honors having written his dissertation on The Hermeneutics of Desmond Tutu.

Dr. Lea serves on several boards and committees on local, state, and national levels. He is the immediate past Vice-President of the Far-West Region of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and a life member of the NAACP. In addition, Dr. Lea is the author of “Lessons from a Dying Savior”, “Giant Lessons From David: Managing the Journey of Success”., and a contributing author to the forthcoming “Handbook for Contemporary Preaching, 2nd edition”. He is the father of four remarkable children: Claybon III, Jillian, Christopher, and Jessica; and a new, proud grandfather to Claybon IV.

Nakitta C Foxx

Nakitta C. Foxx, is a devoted wife, mother, dynamic singer, and anointed worship leader. She is a premier lead vocalist for the Kurt Carr Singers, and the director of Praise and Worship at The Fountain of Praise in Houston, TX.

Yelak Biru

Yelak Biru’s journey is one of resilience, strategy, and unwavering determination. Diagnosed with myeloma at age 25, 28 years ago, he transformed his personal battle into a relentless pursuit of a cure. As a patient advocate, Yelak championed better resources and support for those facing similar challenges, leveraging his voice to bridge the gap between patients and research.

With a background in computer science, Yelak recognized the power of data to drive research initiatives and personalized care, ensuring treatments can be tailored to individual needs.

Drawing on his corporate experience at Fortune 50 companies, Yelak brings strategic acumen and leadership skills to his role as CEO and President of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF). Under his guidance, the IMF has experienced remarkable growth, expanding research funding, forging global partnerships, and advocating for equitable access to care.

Yelak’s unique ability to understand and articulate patient and research perspectives makes him a bridge builder, connecting patients’ emotional urgency with researchers’ scientific rigor. His leadership embodies the unwavering spirit of the myeloma community, driving collective progress toward a future free from this disease.

Denisha DeLane

Denisha DeLane has 20+ years of community engagement experience on a variety of social justice, health advocacy and social service initiatives. She a serial entrepreneur and creative who enjoy mediums that support educating underserved communities and addressing socio economic conditions. Denisha is the Founder of Faith in the Bay – the leading faith-based website, connecting Northern California on news, worship events, gospel concerts and family friendly entertainment. She recently served as the Faith Community Outreach Director for Barbara Lee’s Senatorial campaign.

Rev. Jeremy McCants

Rev. Jeremy “Pastor Jey” McCants, MDiv.

Rev. Jeremy J. McCants, MDiv. serves as the Interim Pastor at Imani Community Church in Oakland, CA. He is a native of the little town of Senoia, Georgia. He is a 2013 Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, and he is a 2016 graduate of The Divinity School at Duke University, earning a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Baptist Studies.

Rev. Jeremy first honors his call to ministry and the Black Church. He served as the Minister of Prophetic Justice at the historic Allen Temple leading the work of preserving and proclaiming the faith of the people in areas of social justice.

On the professional side, he serves as a Faith Rooted Organizer for FAME (Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy), an interfaith component to economic justice campaigns led by EBASE (East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. Rev. McCants also serves as the Chair of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Oakland Branch of the NAACP and as the Community Liason on the Board of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Samuel Merritt College.

Lastly, Rev. Jeremy McCants defines himself as Southern Gent dedicated to the liberation of all God’s creation through the life, love and light of God expressed through Jesus Christ and his favorite Scriptures is Luke 2:52, “… and Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people (NLT).

Murali Janakiram, M.D., M.S.

Murali Janakiram, M.D., M.S., is a strong believer in City of Hope’s approach to treating the whole person, personalizing care to address each patient’s individual needs. He finds great satisfaction in helping his patients and is excited about contributing to scientific advances that will define the future of cancer care.

I am passionate about the care of patients with myeloma and my goal is to bring cutting edge clinical trials and current therapies including – MRD to guide limited duration therapy, use of immunotherapy including Bispecific antibodies and CART cells to treat myeloma. A clinical trialist and investigator with over 50 peer-reviewed publications, reviews and book chapters, I develop risk-based approaches for the treatment of multiple myeloma. My research interests are two fold – how to sequence immunotherapy and how to prevent myeloma relapsing after immunotherapy. I am the Principal investigator of investigator initiated clinical trials to test these concepts. Apart from this I am also involved in research in understanding and improving side effects of immunotherapy in elderly patients with myeloma.

“Every person is different and I believe individualizing treatment according to physical and social circumstances will result in the best outcomes.”

Sandra Byrd Chappelle

Sandra Byrd Chappelle is a speaker, author, award-winning health and human services executive, and consultant. She founded Strategic Solutions Partners, a consulting firm that provides catalytic support to nonprofit, private, and government entities addressing complex issues. Her firm specializes in capacity building for organizations integrating values-based leadership, health equity, the social determinants of health, and authentic community leadership into change-making efforts.

Ms. Byrd Chappelle’s distinctive leadership style, a blend of vision and strategy, has been instrumental in catalyzing numerous first-of-a-kind systemic and policy change efforts. These initiatives have led to significant improvements in health access, health equity, and authentic community leadership. Sandra is a fellow of the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health and a fellow of the Funder’s Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities’ Professionals Learning About Community, Equity and Smart Growth (PLACES). She has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Collaboratives for Health Equity, Environmental Health Watch, the Community Leaders Forum for the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Health Policy Institute of Ohio. She is also the President of the Center of Achieving Equity, a network of professionals whose efforts are focused on facilitating equitable access to social, economic, and environmental resources and opportunities.

As an accomplished writer and storyteller, Sandra’s work has been featured in prestigious publications such as the American Journal of Public Health and the Practical Playbook II: Building Multi-Sector Partnerships That Work. She is also the author of the highly anticipated book, Conscious Leadership: 7 Biblical Values to Build Sound Policy and Organizational Culture, which further showcases her deep understanding of leadership and policy development.

Sandra is a licensed and ordained minister blessed to have a loving daughter, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren. An advocate for healthy living, she is in the process of launching a healthy lifestyle coaching community for women over 35.

Pastor Frederick Knuckles

Pastor Frederick Knuckles attended the American Baptist College, Ashland Theological Seminary and the International Bible Institute & Seminary. He holds the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and the Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling.

Born in Cleveland Ohio, he is married to Lady Bregina Knuckles, a noted Worship Leader and Minister and together they parent four children and seven grandchildren. A gifted communicator, life coach, teacher and Friend.

His achievements and recognitions are noteworthy. He has been honored as an Outstanding Contributor to Education, an Outstanding Communicator and Minister of the Year, as well as an African American Role Model by several organizations. He is listed in Who’s Who in Religion and a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

He serves as Pastor of the New Fellowship Baptist Church of Cleveland Ohio and Moderator of the Progressive Baptist Association Cleveland and Vicinity and serves as the chief visionary for its corporate affiliates.

Pastor Knuckles oversees a project in Cuyahoga County to reduce the rate of infant mortality in the city of Cleveland and surrounding areas by providing education and referrals through local churches.

Dr. C. Jay Mathews I

Dr. C. Jay Mathews, I, is the senior pastor of Mt. Sinai-Friendship United and has served in ministry for nearly forty years. Before accepting his current position, he was the Chaplain at the Cuyahoga County Youth Development Center as well as the youth pastor and assistant pastor of Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Under his leadership Mount Sinai has grown to become a non-traditional church in the city of Cleveland. Dr. Mathews is a civil rights activist and is one of the leading children, juvenile and family advocates in our community. He has served as a member of The Greater Cleveland Partnership, He is the Past President of the United Pastors in Mission, and he has also served on the board of United Way Services’, the Adoption Task Force and was Chairman of One Church One Child.

He was chairman of the local NAACP’s Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. He was a member of the Governor’s, Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. Dr. Mathews was the Chairman of the Technical Assistance Committee for the Housing Commission of the National Baptist Convention U. S. A., Inc. Dr. Mathews currently works with SCIT, a partnership with The Cleveland Clinic to stop cancer and bring health awareness to the community.

Dr. Mathews also developed a concept called” “Faith, Fitness and Finance.” The goal is to empower believers with tools to develop in those three life skills. Dr. Mathews is currently developing a comprehensive strategy to end youth and young adult violence within the community.

As past President of SCLC, Dr. Mathews was involved in several Stop the Violence Campaigns. Dr. Mathews has joined a national network of churches to build “Healing Communities,” which specifically targets Returning Citizens, those incarcerated and their families. Dr. Mathews along with United States Marshall Peter Elliot and former Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Douglas Weiner, developed a national re-entry model called “Fugitive Safe Surrender.” This concept was based upon three things: 1) Officer Safety, 2) Community Safety 3) and the acceptance of responsibility of the person with an existing warrant. Dr. Mathews is a graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies, a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry. He is married to Pastor Jacquelyn D. Farris Mathews and is the proud father of two daughters, two sons and nine grandchildren.

Dr. Randy Vince Jr.

Dr. Randy Vince Jr. recently began a new position at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University as an assistant professor of Urology and the Director of Minority Men’s Health. He was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and as the oldest of four siblings, he developed a passion for athletics. Dr. Vince attended Towson University, where he was a Varsity Letterman in Football. At Towson University, he double majored in MB3 (Molecular biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics) and Chemistry. He later attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, where he earned his M.D. and subsequently completed a Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health Systems residency. He developed a passion for Urologic Oncology after his grandmother’s passing in medical school. While at the University of Michigan, he earned a master’s degree in computational medicine and bioinformatics. He has a keen interest in using precision medicine to combat the concept of racial biology and evaluate the intersectionality of environmental exposures and gene expression on tumor biology.

Dr. Vince actively participates in research and community outreach events to promote health equity and eliminate healthcare disparities. He has a personal philosophy that he applies to his career and life, leadership through service, and he is extremely excited to serve the people of Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Rev. Mark David Ribbins

Cleveland native Rev. Mark David Ribbins is pastor of the Avon Avenue Baptist Church, on the city’s southeast side. The church is located in the same community where he worked for many years in the Christian book store that his family owned and operated, Ribbins studied mass media communications at Cleveland State University, which led to a career in television, radio, and internet broadcasting, most notably with jazz radio station 107.3 The Wave. After answering his call to ministry in 1997, Rev. Ribbins returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from Temple Bible College & Seminary. Prior to his pastorate at Avon, he served as an associate minister at Calvary Hill Baptist Church and Imani United Church of Christ. He serves as a board member with the McCreary Center for African American Religious Studies, as well as the with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Most recently, he works as a cancer education and outreach worker for the Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic. A diehard football fan and music lover, his greatest joy is found spending time with his wife Celeste Glasgow Ribbins, and their daughter, Julia.

Jayshawn Champion

Jayshawn Champion is a songwriter, producer and vocalist based in East Cleveland, OH. He is the Vice President of Boy Wonder Records with Eric Nolan of the Legendary O’Jays. He has been writing hit records for 25+ years; having written songs for Ginuwine, Usher, Faith Evans, Fred Hammond and countless other records crossing genres.

Dr. Kevin W. Cosby

For more than 40 years, Dr. Cosby has served as the Senior Pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church, the largest African American Church in the state of Kentucky, as well as the largest private Black employer in the state.

In 2005, Dr. Cosby was inaugurated as the 13th President of Simmons College of Kentucky. In 2007, he led the once fledgling college to reclaim its original campus, lost during the Great Depression, and has since expanded to three campus locations. Under Dr. Cosby’s visionary leadership, the college earned national accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and expanded its degree programs. Dr. Cosby uncovered the rich history of Simmons, which was established by former slaves, and in 2014, Simmons was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Historically Black College & University. During his first decade there, Dr. Cosby refused to take a salary to stabilize the college and returned more than $700,000.

Dr. Cosby was the convener of The Angela Project, so named after the first enslaved person to step off the slave ship in Jamestown, VA in 1619. The Angela Project was a three-year conference that led up to the 400th year commemoration of Slavery in America in 2019. Dr. Cosby explained, “The purpose of The Angela Project was to reengage the church in activism, to get back to our roots as proponents of justice.”

He is one of our nation’s most influential leaders: He was inducted into the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians at the Kentucky State Capitol (2015); At the request of Muhammad Ali, he served as one of the eulogists at his Funeral (2016); and he was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College (2017).

Dr. Cosby has an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH; and a second doctorate – a Ph.D. in Public Policy (a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar) from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, OH.

Dr. Cosby is the author of six books, including a Biblical commentary on the American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) entitled: “Getting to the Promise Land”, published by Westminster John Knox Press in the Spring of 2021.

Dr. Cosby is married to the former Barnetta Turner. They have two adult children (Christine Nicole and Kevin Christopher).

Pamela D. Price

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 disparities.

In addition to her role as Deputy Director, she also serves as the Director for The National Brain Health Center for African-Americans. As the Center’s director, she co-developed a six-part educational curriculum for nurses and allied healthcare professionals aimed at addressing knowledge gaps related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias affecting African Americans. She also co-authored and facilitates an accredited training for healthcare providers and clinicians; aimed at increasing cultural competencies related to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia in African Americans among providers.

Mrs. Price holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Public Health and has more than 20 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, and healthcare. She has served as a member of the U.S. Army Nurse Corp and excelled in both government and non-governmental agencies providing leadership and guidance on program management, quality improvement, and project development. Mrs. Price has conducted hundreds of training sessions across the country with various nursing associations, healthcare organizations and conferences.

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele is the Founder, President and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. She is a phenomenal trailblazer celebrating over 36 years of mobilizing faith communities in the United States and Africa to help eradicate disease and improve health status throughout the African Diaspora.

Born in the heart of the south, this Lincolnville native always shared a special love for South Carolina. With roots this thick it was only natural for Dr. Seele to nurture her hometown, where she created The African American Church Community Garden and Food Security Food Project.

Dr. Seele received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979, respectively, later receiving her Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY, in 2007.

As a pioneer and community activist, Dr. Seele managed to bridge together public health & faith-based models for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Time Magazine 100 named Dr. Seele One of the Most Influential Persons in the World in 2006; Essence Magazine, in its 35th anniversary issue, named Dr. P one of the 35 Most Beautiful and Remarkable Women In The World. Clark Atlanta University honored Dr. Seele with the 2008 Pathway of Excellence Award, citing her as one of its most outstanding graduates of all time. In May 2010, Dr. Seele was named one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century of Women E-News in New York City.

In October 2017, His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, bestowed the Pierre Toussaint Medallion upon Dr. Seele.

Dr. Seele published her first book, Stand Up to Stigma! How to Reject Fear & Shame in 2017. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Jason Clayborn

Jason Clayborn is a national gospel recording artist and songwriter from Louisville, KY.

Clayborn’s gospel music roots run deep, He is the grandson to Wilma Clayborn who was the first female gospel music disc jockey for the local gospel radio station. She also owned one of the only gospel music record stores in the state. At an early age, Clayborn began singing and playing drums in the local church and in the National Convention of Gospels Choirs and Choruses (NCGCC).

Clayborn has written several hit songs for other artists including: VaShawn Mitchell’s “I Worship You” and “Over and Over,” which featured gospel music legend, Kim Burrell; Wess Morgan’s “Get Me Thru” which sat on the Billboard Charts for several weeks; Ricky Dillard’s “I Survived It” and Hezekiah Walker’s “You’re All I Need” and “Better”. Clayborn’s “Better” went on to peak at number one on the Billboard charts for 18 weeks. It also garnered Clayborn nominations for a Dove Award (won), Stellar Award, Soul Train Award, Billboard Award, and Grammy Award.

Clayborn serves is the worship director at St. Stephen Church in Louisville, KY.

Cary Goodman

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 programs, outreach and development. For over 16 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 communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnership to impact sustainability.

Currently, Cary is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc. where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases the impact African American communities. A highly skilled strategist and national speaker adept at leading relationship building and engagement opportunities, he has forged various faith based and public health community partnerships and coalitions. With a sincere passion to empower black men, Cary founded Black Men’s Wholeness, an initiative designed to engage black men in conversations focused on areas that reassures wholeness such as trauma, emotional and mental health, and fatherlessness.

An ordained minister, Cary deems himself a “connector” where he focuses on the significance of outreach and engagement, establishing coalitions, collaborating, and relationship building in order to increase accessibility and sustainability to strengthen congregations and communities.

Josiah Petersen, MD, PhD

Josiah Petersen is currently an Associate Medical Director within Clinical Development and Translational Medicine at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Vertex, he was an Attending Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital. He completed his MD/PhD at the University of Pennsylvania with a focus in Molecular Virology and competed his Pediatrics Residency at the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Craig Emmitt Cole, MD

Craig Emmitt Cole, M.D. is a board-certified Hematologist who received his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology at Michigan State University and the College of Lyman Briggs. He received his doctoral degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Cole conducted post-fellowship laboratory research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. He then served as an attending hematologist at Gunderson Health System University at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He then returned to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology before coming back to Michigan State University in 2019.

With a focus on hematology and multiple myeloma, Dr. Cole’s has worked extensively with patient advocacy groups to empower, educate, and bring equitable care to everyone. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, International Myeloma Society, and International Myeloma Working Group.

Dr. Cole currently serves as Director of Clinical Cancer Research at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine-Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.

JaBaris Swain, MD MPH

Dr. JaBaris Swain started his career in the pharmaceutical industry in July 2020 when he joined Janssen Pharmaceuticals as a clinical lead physician in Translational and Experimental Medicine in the Cardiovascular & Metabolism Therapeutic Area. In this role, JaBaris was responsible for developing and executing the program’s early clinical development strategy and completing two First-In-Human studies. Additionally, JaBaris designed and conducted a phase 0 study to examine a novel imaging technique for the non-invasive assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics, which has the potential to provide an early signal of pharmacodynamic effects and accelerate early clinical development of new compounds in Pulmonary Hypertension. Finally, JaBaris supported clinical pharmacology studies as the Study Responsible Physician for the two major pharmacology programs.

Clinically, Dr. Swain is a finished cardiothoracic transplant surgeon-scientist and global health scholar with prior expertise in humanitarian cardiac surgery, cardiology education, and international public health. His work has focused on augmenting access to clinical education and care delivery for cardiovascular diseases within resource-limited settings such as Rwanda and Haiti. He has lived in these areas and supported several projects to strengthen healthcare infrastructures for critically vulnerable populations in resource-constrained settings. He has also provided surgery and critical care to patients in these regions.

JaBaris received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, and a master’s in public health with an emphasis on Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his clinical training in general surgery at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and an advanced fellowship in cardiopulmonary transplantation & mechanical circulatory support at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). During his clinical training, JaBaris was involved with translational research, exploring gene therapy for heart failure in a large animal model within the lab of Dr. Charles R. Bridges. In addition to this training, JaBaris is currently enrolled in the Executive MBA Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In his “free time,” JaBaris continues to mentor residents and fellows at the Pearlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania as a clinical associate surgeon in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. He also currently volunteers as a medical director at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity in north Philadelphia—a grassroots health center established to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable populations of greater Philadelphia.

Rev. Leon D. Slatter

Rev. Leon D. Slatter is the pastor of Cadentown Baptist Church in Lexington, KY.

Dr. Kevin W. Cosby

For more than 40 years, Dr. Cosby has served as the Senior Pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church, the largest African American Church in the state of Kentucky, as well as the largest private Black employer in the state.

In 2005, Dr. Cosby was inaugurated as the 13th President of Simmons College of Kentucky. In 2007, he led the once fledgling college to reclaim its original campus, lost during the Great Depression, and has since expanded to three campus locations. Under Dr. Cosby’s visionary leadership, the college earned national accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and expanded its degree programs. Dr. Cosby uncovered the rich history of Simmons, which was established by former slaves, and in 2014, Simmons was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Historically Black College & University. During his first decade there, Dr. Cosby refused to take a salary to stabilize the college and returned more than $700,000.

Dr. Cosby was the convener of The Angela Project, so named after the first enslaved person to step off the slave ship in Jamestown, VA in 1619. The Angela Project was a three-year conference that led up to the 400th year commemoration of Slavery in America in 2019. Dr. Cosby explained, “The purpose of The Angela Project was to reengage the church in activism, to get back to our roots as proponents of justice.”

He is one of our nation’s most influential leaders: He was inducted into the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians at the Kentucky State Capitol (2015); At the request of Muhammad Ali, he served as one of the eulogists at his Funeral (2016); and he was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College (2017).

Dr. Cosby has an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH; and a second doctorate – a Ph.D. in Public Policy (a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar) from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, OH.
Dr. Cosby is the author of six books, including a Biblical commentary on the American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) entitled: “Getting to the Promise Land”, published by Westminster John Knox Press in the Spring of 2021.
Dr. Cosby is married to the former Barnetta Turner. They have two adult children (Christine Nicole and Kevin Christopher).

Dr. Lauren Whitehurst

Lauren Whitehurst received her. B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from James Madison University in 2011 and 2013, respectively and her PhD in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2018. She completed a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center for Health and Community and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco in 2020. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky. She is the Director of Team Science at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Core Faculty in the Center for Health Equity Transformation, and affiliated faculty in the Department of African American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky.

Jamaal Richie, MD

Dr. Jamaal Richie is a board-certified Family Medicine physician at UofL Health – Urgent Care Plus– in West Louisville’s Parkland neighborhood. He grew up just blocks from his medical practice and is committed to giving back by providing exceptional medical care to fellow residents and anyone in need.

Dr. Richie prioritizes improving health in underserved communities and ensuring accessibility and awareness of cancer screenings among African Americans and empowering patients to take control of their health.

Dr. Richard D. King

Dr. Richard D. King is an Associate Professor of Neurology in the College of Medicine at the University of Kentucky. Dr. King earned his MD and PhD in neuroscience from Baylor College of Medicine and continued his training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham & Women’s Hospital, University of Texas, and the University of Utah. In 1994, he was awarded an MSTP scholarship and received the Rich Dickason Outstanding Physician Scientist award in 2002. His research interests focus on computer-based neural imaging methods and he is the site co-director for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

Cece Dunn

Cece Dunn is a Producer, Lead Vocalist, Mentor, and Arranger who has seen the world because of her gifts. Cincinnati, OH is where she was born into a family full of singers, musicians, preachers, and songwriters. She recalls leading songs and teaching choirs as a child at her local church and conventions. She has even served as a Director of Worship for houses of worship that needed her sound for the house. Because of her upbringing, you’ll feel the power that’s in her heart as she brings harmony to every listener and song she’s part of. Now residing in Louisville, KY, Cece has been part of many award winning and nominated projects. You will often find Cece singing on your TV screen, on your favorite radio station, or live at a conference or event. Cece strives for excellence while giving her all.

Craig Emmitt Cole, MD

Craig Emmitt Cole, M.D. is a board-certified Hematologist who received his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology at Michigan State University and the College of Lyman Briggs. He received his doctoral degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Cole conducted post-fellowship laboratory research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. He then served as an attending hematologist at Gunderson Health System University at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He then returned to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology before coming back to Michigan State University in 2019.

With a focus on hematology and multiple myeloma, Dr. Cole’s has worked extensively with patient advocacy groups to empower, educate, and bring equitable care to everyone. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, International Myeloma Society, and International Myeloma Working Group.

Dr. Cole currently serves as Director of Clinical Cancer Research at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine-Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.

Jovonta Patton

Jovonta Patton is a Six-time #1 chart-topping Billboard recording artist, composer, producer, and entrepreneur. “A reedy baritone, Jovonta’s singing voice, while firmly rooted in the modern gospel tradition, is readily accessible, offering an edifying approach he calls ‘pop-gospel,’ which proved successful on his self-released album Finally Living, making him the first independent gospel artist to have a #1 album on the Billboard gospel charts.” (Thom Jurek, AllMusic.com) Born and raised in Minneapolis, Jovonta thrived while regularly attending church with his mother, where he developed a love for God, a passion for worship, and a strong interest in gospel music.

He started singing at age four at Berean M.B. Church and began writing songs at age six. By the time he was in middle school he was directing the church choir. He displayed a gift of leadership, and as a teen was asked to revive a choir for a local high school. The momentum led him to found Deliverance For Youth (DFY), a youth choir impacting the Midwest region. His influence with youth brought about another calling as a gang and gun violence prevention activist as well as being instrumental in getting millennials to the polls to vote.

He established a reputation of community service and garnered attention from then Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who declared July 31, 2016 Jovonta Patton Day, an honor previously granted to artists such as Prince and Adele. A savvy marketer, in 2018 Patton issued the independent single “Way Maker” to the internet during Super Bowl week.

Promoting it exclusively through social media, it became the #1 digital gospel song and was included on the album “The Best Me,” a project with guest appearances by Grammy award-winning icon Kirk Franklin and Hollywood film producer Devon Franklin. Patton also has millions of plays on YouTube for his viral version of “My Hands Are Lifted Up.” His streams and digital sales are unmatched on Spotify and Apple Music, and he is one of CD Baby’s highest paid artists across all genres.

He has sung with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, and Erica Campbell, to name a few, and hosted the KMOJ gospel radio show “Praise With Jovonta” for several years. With more recognition in the music industry, Patton has been invited by the NFL and NBA to sing the national anthem at televised playoff games and has led private worship sessions before games for The Golden State Warriors, gaining the support of NBA star Kevin Durant.

Patton is an ordained minister and started the Pop Up Church trend called “The Wave,” a non-traditional church service that “pops up” around the country in colleges and vacant spaces as the Lord leads, to edify millennials and to offer salvation. A husband and a father of three small daughters, he also worked in Atlanta, Georgia, and served as a worship leader at one of the largest Black mega churches in the nation, The House of Hope Atlanta, the well-known setting of “Calvary Fellowship” from the Oprah Winfrey-produced hit show GREENLEAF.

Jovonta has redefined what it means to “create your own lane” as an indie artist and is venturing into the lane of author, releasing his first book on finances soon.

Stacy A. Johnson, MD, PhD

Dr. Stacy Johnson is an Associate Medical Director in Clinical Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA. Prior to joining Vertex, Dr. Johnson worked as an Assistant Professor in the division of nephrology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, TN. While at UTHSC, Dr. Johnson helped to train medical students, residents and nephrology fellows. She served as the medical director for the acute dialysis unit and plasmapheresis service at Regional One Hospital – Memphis’ only level 1 trauma center and main safety net hospital, catering to many uninsured patients. Dr. Johnson has over 10 years of experience practicing nephrology in diverse clinical settings.

Superintendent Pastor William Land

Superintendent Pastor William Earl Land, Sr. has led St. Albans Church of God in Christ in Saint Paul, Minnesota, since 1983, guiding the congregation with humility and a commitment to faith. Born and raised in Saint Paul, his journey to ministry was unconventional, shaped by personal struggles and redemption through colleagues who encouraged his spiritual growth. He credits his marriage’s success to his and his wife’s shared love for God, a value he extends to his leadership at St. Albans. Although he never pursued formal theological training, Pastor Land’s wisdom and integrity have made him a respected figure, with his teachings focusing on humility, learning, and a genuine love for all people. In addition to pastoring, he has authored two books and founded a radio program, reinforcing his mission to share the word of God.

Cary Goodman

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 programs, outreach and development. For over 16 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 communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnership to impact sustainability.

Currently, Cary is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc. where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases the impact African American communities. A highly skilled strategist and national speaker adept at leading relationship building and engagement opportunities, he has forged various faith based and public health community partnerships and coalitions. With a sincere passion to empower black men, Cary founded Black Men’s Wholeness, an initiative designed to engage black men in conversations focused on areas that reassures wholeness such as trauma, emotional and mental health, and fatherlessness.

An ordained minister, Cary deems himself a “connector” where he focuses on the significance of outreach and engagement, establishing coalitions, collaborating, and relationship building in order to increase accessibility and sustainability to strengthen congregations and communities.

Maya Harris

After years of running her own ventures, Maya Lynn Harris realized that her greatest passion was to help women monetize their skills and talents. As a business startup coach, Maya teaches women how to plan, implement, and execute a sustainable, purposeful business. However, she also recognized the need for entrepreneurs like herself to have a safe space to grow their businesses as a community. So, she founded W.O.M.B. (Woman-Owned Minority Business), a professional networking and empowerment organization that empowers Black and Brown women entrepreneurs to leverage their connections to build purposeful, profitable businesses.

Maya is also the author of What’s Your Oil? Unmasking Your Hidden Talents and co-author of the Amazon Best-Seller, Unchain My Legacy: How Owning Our Choices Frees Us and Those We Love. She has two wonderful sons, Mandell and Bryce, and resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder, President and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer celebrating over 35 years of contributions to technical support that has strengthened the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa in order to promote health education and services that eradicate health disparities throughout the African Diaspora.

Born in the heart of the south, this Lincolnville native always shared a special love for South Carolina. With roots this thick it was only natural for this visionary to nurture her hometown, where Dr. Seele created The African American Church Community Garden and Food Security Food Project.

Dr. Seele received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979, respectively, later receiving her Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY, in 2007.

As a pioneer and community activist, Dr. Seele managed to bridge together public health & faith-based models for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Time Magazine 100 named Dr.Seele One of the Most Influential Persons in the World in 2006; Essence Magazine, in its 35 Anniversary issue, named Dr. P one of the 35 Most Beautiful and Remarkable Women In The World. Clark Atlanta University honored Dr. Seele with the 2008 Pathway of Excellence Award, citing her as one of its most outstanding graduates of all time. In May 2010, Dr. Seele was selected as 21 Leaders of the 21st Century of Women E-News in New York City.

October 2017, His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, bestowed the Pierre Toussaint Medallion upon Dr. Seele.

Publishing her first book Stand Up to Stigma! How to Reject Fear & Shame in 2017. Dr. Seele is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

London Wills, Ph.D., MBA

Dr. London Wills started his career in the pharmaceutical industry in October 2001 as a sales representative with Janssen Pharmaceutical. After a successful tenure in sales, London was promoted to District Sales Manager, Area Business Manager, Director Strategic Accounts and current serves as the National Policy & Advocacy Director, Health Equity. In this position, London had the opportunity to help create the J&JIM health equity strategy across the enterprise to address health disparity gaps. These efforts have led to reaching over 1 million people of color in a short period of time to improve access, educational awareness, and stress the importance of prioritizing their health. Recently, London served as lead to design and develop the relaunch of My Health Can’t Wait, a platform with resources and sponsored community wellness events to help patients on their health journey.

London received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Old Dominion University, an MBA from Hampton University, Ph.D., in Health Care Administration from Northcentral University, and an mini MBA from Rutgers University in Health Immersion. While in college, spent time identifying ways to give back. This led to London starting a career working in an underserved community. London as a twenty-year-old helped build a business plan to build convenience stores in underserved communities.

In his spare time, London volunteers with a number of organizations such as The Dream Academy and Kappa League to advance needs of youth in grades 4th-12th to reach and realize their greatest potential. With The Dream Academy, London led efforts to raise over $400k in scholarships to aid deserving underserved youth to enroll private in schools where they can achieve their highest potential in STEM focused curriculums. London also serves on the Old Dominion Advisory Council, which provides guidance in the creation of continuous improvement of the College through the Strategic Plan, and participate on subcommittees/task groups that help provide direction for the operations of the Strome Collee of Business. Additionally, EAC members form the core of the College’s Executive Mentor Program. Lastly mentors over 50 career professionals to help them reach their greatest potential.

Dr. London Wills is a seasoned pharmaceutical industry executive with over two decades of experience. He currently serves as the National Policy & Advocacy Director, Health Equity at Johnson & Johnson. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of health equity strategies across the company, with a focus on addressing health disparities and improving access to care for underserved communities.
Dr. Wills’s career began at Janssen Pharmaceutical, where he held various sales positions. He quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership and strategic acumen. His success led to his promotion to District Sales Manager, Area Business Manager, Director Strategic Accounts, and ultimately, National Policy & Advocacy Director, Health Equity.

In his current role, Dr. Wills has played a pivotal role in shaping Johnson & Johnson’s health equity strategy. He has spearheaded initiatives to reach over 1 million people of color, providing them with essential resources, educational awareness, and support to prioritize their health and well-being. He also led the development and relaunch of My Health Can’t Wait, a comprehensive platform offering valuable resources and sponsored community wellness events to empower patients on their health journey.

Dr. Wills’s commitment to health equity extends beyond his professional endeavors. He actively volunteers with organizations such as The Dream Academy and Kappa League, dedicating his time and expertise to mentoring and empowering underserved youth. He has been instrumental in raising over $400,000 in scholarships to support underserved students in pursuing STEM-focused education.

Dr. Wills’s educational background is equally impressive. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Old Dominion University, an MBA from Hampton University, a Ph.D. in Health Care Administration from Northcentral University, and an mini MBA from Rutgers University in Health Immersion. His academic pursuits have provided him with a strong foundation in business, healthcare, and social justice, enabling him to effectively address the complex challenges of health equity.

Throughout his career, Dr. Wills has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. His dedication to health equity, coupled with his leadership, expertise, and passion for mentorship, makes him an invaluable asset to both Johnson & Johnson and the communities he serves.

Chao Mwatela

Chao Mwatela was appointed as the first-ever Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the City of Rochester in 2021, a role established to further equity and inclusion within city government. In this position, she is responsible for leading initiatives to create a culture that values diversity and ensures equitable policies, projects, and programs across the city. Mwatela has extensive experience in promoting inclusion, having served as a multicultural academic advisor at Rochester Community and Technical College and as a community co-designer for the downtown Discovery Walk project. She is completing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Winona State University-Rochester. Mwatela works with the Rochester city government to build a community where all members can thrive through intentional efforts toward equity and inclusion.

Dr. Brooke Cunningham

Dr. Brooke Cunningham was appointed as the commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health in January 2023, where she leads the state’s efforts in public health. Before her current role, she served as the assistant commissioner for the Health Equity Bureau, focusing on health equity initiatives and overseeing various programs, including the COVID-19 Health Equity Team and the Office of American Indian Health. Dr. Cunningham is a general internist, sociologist, and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, with a research focus on reducing racial health disparities. She holds doctorates in medicine and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania and has completed multiple fellowships in health services research and bioethics. Dr. Cunningham’s clinical work is centered at the Community-University Health Care Clinic (CUHCC), where she serves a diverse patient population in Minneapolis.

Dr. Ronda Chakolis

Dr. Ronda Chakolis graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy in 2009 and obtained her master’s degree in public health from American Public University in 2020. She has over 12 years of experience in Pharmacy Benefit Management and more than five years as a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) pharmacist. Dr. Chakolis also serves as a part-time staff pharmacist at CVS Health and is active in community projects addressing health disparities, such as infant mortality and opioid abuse. In addition, she serves as a pharmacist member on the Minnesota Department of Human Services Drug Formulary Committee. She was appointed to this role by Governor Tim Walz in 2022.

LaPrincess Brewer, MD, MPH

Dr. LaPrincess Brewer is a cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where she is the first African-American woman cardiologist on staff. Her research focuses on reducing cardiovascular health disparities in minority populations, particularly among African-Americans, through community-based interventions like the NIH and AHA-funded FAITH! (Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health) trial. Dr. Brewer’s work has garnered numerous awards, and her advocacy has been featured in prominent media outlets, earning her recognition as a 2019 ChangeMaker by Minnesota Public Radio News and a 2020 History Maker at Home by the City of Minneapolis.

Kimberly Brown

Kimberly Brown grew up singing and directing in her father’s church, First Trinity COGIC. She also spent 15 years as a member of the Grammy-Award-Winning group, The Sounds of Blackness, before starting her solo career. Music has always been a vital part of her life.

Kimberly loves helping others and is an avid volunteer in her local Twin Cities communities, and with the American Heart Association. After years of hosting many projects and working with many ministries, she founded, “The Kimberly Brown Network”, and immediately launched 2 new programs, “The Grad Blessing Bag Project”, and “Get Up, Get Movin’. Her network is also known as “Kindness in Motion”, a title given to represent who she is and what she does.

She has always had a heart for people, and frequently cooks
meals for senior citizens, and those sick and shut-in along with other small blessings. Those that know her, know her work and her community accomplishments. She received the 2022 Twin Cities American Heart Association’s Community Impact Award for her engaging community work.

Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr.

Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr. has been the esteemed Pastor of Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis since 1984, a church founded by his grandparents in 1931. He holds a Bachelor’s in Pastoral Studies and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology, with multiple honorary doctorates recognizing his contributions to theology and education. His leadership extends beyond the church into the community, where he’s received several awards for his commitment to justice and education and serves on multiple advisory boards. As the Diocesan over the 7th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., Bishop Howell continues to guide and inspire. He and his wife, Bettye, are proud parents and grandparents, cherishing their family of two children and seven grandchildren.

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Errol Coutain

Errol Coutain is a dedicated Patient Educator at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, based in Atlanta, GA. With a background in pre-med studies, he holds dual degrees in Biology and Life Science, with minors in Chemistry and Sports Medicine. With 20 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical/Medical Device Industry, Errol has expertise in various therapeutic areas including Cardiovascular, Vaccines, Women’s Healthcare, Pain Management, and Hematology. His versatile professional journey spans roles in sales, sales management, consulting, marketing, and education. Errol’s passion lies in supporting, training, and educating patients, embodying the motto “Patients First.”

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele

Dr. Browne is the Senior Medical Executive, Health Systems Strategy and the Leader of the Health Equity Advisory Council for Janssen Cardiovascular and Metabolism Medical Affairs. In his role, Dr. Browne leverages his deep knowledge and expertise to lead collaborations with executive leadership at US healthcare systems in their efforts to achieve the quintuple aim (i.e. improving the quality of cardiovascular care, promoting cost effectiveness, enhancing the patient and health care provider experiences and striving to eliminate health disparities).

Dr. Browne graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Medicine. He then completed an internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He remained on staff as an attending physician at Harvard Medical School before completing his fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia, where he served as chief cardiology fellow in his final year.

After finishing his fellowship in cardiology, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin his career as a clinical cardiologist at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute and Atrium Health. During his tenure there, he served as Medical Director and was directly involved in the planning and execution of strategic plans for the cardiovascular division of the organization. He also participated in several cardiovascular clinical trials during that time. His role involved spending a significant amount of time educating and lecturing to medical residents and students on all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Browne then became a senior cardiologist at Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dr. Browne previously served as the team cardiologist for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association for several years. During that time, he worked with the National Basketball Association on the formulation of protocols to ensure the safety of their athletes.

Dr. Browne currently serves as a council member of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. In this position, he is actively involved in the formulation of strategies to reduce health care disparities in cardiovascular patients.

Robert P.

Dr. Browne is the Senior Medical Executive, Health Systems Strategy and the Leader of the Health Equity Advisory Council for Janssen Cardiovascular and Metabolism Medical Affairs. In his role, Dr. Browne leverages his deep knowledge and expertise to lead collaborations with executive leadership at US healthcare systems in their efforts to achieve the quintuple aim (i.e. improving the quality of cardiovascular care, promoting cost effectiveness, enhancing the patient and health care provider experiences and striving to eliminate health disparities).

Dr. Browne graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Medicine. He then completed an internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He remained on staff as an attending physician at Harvard Medical School before completing his fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia, where he served as chief cardiology fellow in his final year.

After finishing his fellowship in cardiology, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin his career as a clinical cardiologist at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute and Atrium Health. During his tenure there, he served as Medical Director and was directly involved in the planning and execution of strategic plans for the cardiovascular division of the organization. He also participated in several cardiovascular clinical trials during that time. His role involved spending a significant amount of time educating and lecturing to medical residents and students on all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Browne then became a senior cardiologist at Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dr. Browne previously served as the team cardiologist for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association for several years. During that time, he worked with the National Basketball Association on the formulation of protocols to ensure the safety of their athletes.

Dr. Browne currently serves as a council member of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. In this position, he is actively involved in the formulation of strategies to reduce health care disparities in cardiovascular patients.

Kim McFarland

Kim McFarland is a gospel recording artist who originally started by singing with Rev. Milton Brunson. She is currently the Minister of Music for Unity Fellowship Church.

Bishop Horace E Smith

Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. is a man gifted with a passion for God’s Word coupled with a love for God’s people. He has a contagious spirit of generosity that overflows in every facet of his life. As pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church and an attending physician specializing in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital), Dr. Horace E. Smith has treated bodies and souls for more than forty years.

Bishop Smith’s vision is uncompromisingly clear with one central principle—to build and develop the kingdom of God by empowering God’s people. In August of 2004, Bishop Smith was elevated to the office of Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. The P.A.W. has over 1.5 million members worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He served in this position until his two terms expired in 2010. (For more information on the PAW visit www.pawinc.org

Bishop Smith’s belief in God and the power of salvation and healing extends to his medical profession as a concerned and committed pediatrician for critically ill children. He served as Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell/Thalassemia Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) for over 20 years, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and is recognized world-wide as an outstanding pediatrician in his field. Some people believe that God and science don’t mix; that faith and medicine are worlds apart.

Through prayers and faith in God as a healer, Dr. Smith has seen God’s healing power reverse the course of illness in the lives of his patients. It is this culmination of faith and medicine that has brought about the 2010 release of his first book, Blood Works: the insights of a Pastor and Hematologist into the wonder and spiritual power of blood. Bishop Smith has been honored by numerous organizations including the Children’s Miracle Network, and featured in the local and national newspaper, magazine and television media. He currently serves on the boards of the historic Wabash YMCA, the Family Institute at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center-Community Health Advisory Board.

Bishop Smith has been happily married to Susan Davenport Smith since 1976. They met at the University of Illinois where Susan graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy. They have three beautiful daughters: Lauren Elrod, Rachel Horton, and Emily Green along with their sons-in-law Brian Elrod, Courtney Horton, Patrick Green, and seven grandchildren.

Reverend Dr D. Darrell Griffin

Reverend Dr. D. Darrell Griffin, D.Min. is a Senior Pastor, a certified Ministry Coach and Enneagram Trainer who is committed to educating, empowering and transforming the lives of God’s people.

Since January 2000, Dr. Griffin has served as the Senior Pastor of the Oakdale Covenant Church of Chicago, Illinois. Under Dr. Griffin’s visionary leadership, Oakdale continues to be recognized as a haven of hope and spiritual transformation in the community and has become known as “A Great Church, with Great People, Serving a Great God.” His commitment to a holistic ministry has manifested itself through the tremendous growth of Oakdale, the expansion of Oakdale Christian Academy and Child Care Center, the establishment of the Oakdale Community Development Corporation to impact the needs of the Brainerd/Washington Heights community, and the Reconnecting Center which assists in connecting Oakdale to the needs of our brothers and sisters on the continent of Africa.

Dr. Griffin’s unique leadership has successfully reached youth and families through the establishment of Oakdale Youth Church, Dr. Griffin has led the Oakdale congregation in a multi-million dollar renovation of Oakdale’s sanctuary and the acquisition of additional properties to accommodate the ongoing growth of this vibrant ministry. His wonderful transition and change skills have successfully created a congregation for every generation.

Dr. Griffin’s distinguished ministerial experience extends back to his years of service as the Assistant Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, New York, pastored by Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III.

Dr. Griffin was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and educated in the Kenosha public school system. He continued his education at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Marketing (May 1987). In June 1992, Dr. Griffin completed his Masters of Divinity Degree at the Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He successfully completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching at North Park Theological Seminary (May 2006). Dr. Griffin is the author of Navigating Pastoral Leadership in the Transition Zone: “Arriving in the Middle of the Movie” (Chicago: MMGI Books, 2012) and it has become a resource to assist congregations and pastors through challenging maze of a transition in pastoral leadership. Dr. Griffin has also published several articles on transition in The Covenant Quarterly(August 2007) and The African-American Pulpit Journal (Spring 2008). Dr. Griffin is a trained spiritual director earning his certification from North Park Theological Seminary’s Center for Spiritual Direction (August 2009).

From January 1997 to December 1999, Dr. Griffin served as the fourth Pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Under his pastorate, Antioch doubled its membership, established the Antioch Development Corporation, a comprehensive program to help revitalize the Bedford Stuyvesant Community, the Antioch QUEST Institute, which provided career education and computer technology training for youth, adults and seniors, The Caring Educators in Action, a support group for community teachers and administrators and the Antioch Educational Resource Center which collected and distributed educational supplies to community teachers and students in need.

This gifted preacher and leader continues to be invited to speak at churches, corporations, and educational organizations throughout the country.

Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson

The Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson, is a millennial, Womanist preacher and justice advocate who answered her call to ministry at the age of 13. Dominique earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government from Georgetown University, a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Theology both from Candler School of Theology. She earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Gospel and Culture. Her dissertation, “iHomiletic™: Preaching that Clicks,” is a groundbreaking research and consulting service to assist faith leaders with developing impactful ministry that employs technology and social media linguistics. She currently is a doctoral student at Christian Theological Seminary in the African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric Ph.D. program.

Dr. Robinson is the John Hines Assistant Professor of Preaching at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. She is an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and a member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Tamara Taggart, PhD

Dr.Tamara Taggart is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. She is also the Associate Core Director for the District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research.

Dr. Taggart conducts socioepidemiologic studies to examine the social-structural (e.g., structural racism, intersectional stigma, and neighborhoods) and cultural identity factors that influence health behaviors, and then uses CBPR approaches to develop and implement interventions to improve HIV-related outcomes and reduce substance use/abuse among racial/ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents and emerging adults. Her current work focuses on three areas: (1) Applying a community engaged framework to examine systems level factors associated with HIV prevention and treatment; (2) Utilizing activity space assessments and biopsychosocial models of stress to examine the mechanisms connecting discriminatory neighborhood environments and HIV-related behaviors; and (3) Investigating the role of religion, spirituality, and religious institutions on HIV syndemics. Integrating techniques, theories, and concepts from epidemiology, psychology, and sociology, the ultimate goal of Dr. Taggart’s program of research is to reduce health disparities and improve the health of adolescents and adults.

Elder Will Francis

Elder Will Francis is movement director for Be the Church Network and CEO of Lives and Souls Global and The HUB Community Development, an integrated care ministry that works in community to help alleviate determinates of health. Most recently, he and his team served over 75,000 meals and provided housing support for over 300 individuals and families through their Hotel to Housing Program. Their mission is to provide help, restore hope, and allow hearts to heal.

Elder Will Francis has dedicated himself to serving Christ in practical ways in the city, which led him to the heart of Atlanta.

He was ordained and licensed in 2014, accepting his calling to minister to the lost, last, least, leftover, left out and left behind.

Cedric D. Pulliam, PhD

Dr. Cedric Pulliam has served for nearly 13 years as a public servant in the U.S. federal government with a focus on foreign diplomacy, global and public health (HIV), global human rights and gender equality, international development, and multilateral diplomacy – he has rooted his federal career in the objectives of access, community, diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout his work. He values the role of community, ensuring their voices are heard and seen within policies and programs, and continues to volunteer within the public health corps within his local community – the epitome of a community-oriented public health practitioner.

Most recently, Cedric has served at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the Senior Advisor for the Chief Medical Officer for the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy. He also served at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a Senior Public Health Advisor and Project Officer in the Division of HIV Prevention. While at the U.S. Department of State, he served as the Senior Human Rights and Key Populations Advisor as well as the Multilateral Diplomacy Officer for Partnerships at the Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, which is the office that executes and manages the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). His tenure at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) included serving as a Program Specialist in the Office of HIV/AIDS – Bureau for Global Health and Office of Donor Engagement – Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning.

Dr. Pulliam has also served at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Congressional Research Service, Federal Highway Administration, and the US Department of the Air Force. Cedric is a psychologist who practices within the healthcare systems and substance use fields. He founded CDP Consulting, LLC, which was started in 2014 to assist recent veterans in career and professional development and transitioned into a public health and health equity consultancy company in 2018. Through CDP Consulting, LLC, Dr. Pulliam provides health equity and patient advocacy consulting to several industry, government, and nonprofit entities within the Atopic Dermatitis, HIV, IBD and Crohn’s Disease communications, clinical research and patient access and quality of care.

Dr. Shane Scott

Pastor, Change Agent, Coalition Builder, and Community Advisor, Dr. Shane B. Scott is a powerful and anointed messenger, teacher and speaker. With a prophetic voice and unique perspective into Christian living, he is passionate about offering diverse groups a meaningful lens for examining and empowering their lives while motivating changed people to change the world.

A native of Richmond, CA, Dr. Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL, a Master of Divinity degree, with an emphasis in Pastoral Care and Community Development from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA. and he earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary in New York City, NY. Dr. Scott also holds a certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

Dr. Scott is committed to the work of discipleship, mission, and transformation of the soul of the communities in which he is blessed to serve. He began his work in ministry as the youth minister of the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco and Youth & Young Adult Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Vallejo, CA. Dr. Scott previously served as the Senior Pastor of the Saint Rest Baptist Church in Fresno, CA, where, under his leadership, the church experienced phenomenal spiritual growth, increased church membership, cultivated strategic partnerships and developed a Life Center that is an agent of change in the Fresno community. Dr. Scott now proudly serves as the senior pastor of the historic Macedonia Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA.

Stacy W. Smallwood, PhD

Dr. Stacy W. Smallwood is an associate professor and founding director of the Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. Dr. Smallwood’s graduate instruction is in health promotion, education, and behavior, and his specialized training is in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention. His research focuses on promoting equity in health and well-being among marginalized communities, with the belief that scholarship and activism should work together to promote empowerment. His interests include HIV prevention, sexual health, LGBT health, discrimination and health, and community engagement and organizing within marginalized communities. In particular, he is interested in the effects of psychosocial and structural factors on HIV risk among sexual minority people of color. He also consults with community-based HIV prevention organizations on the evaluation of their evidence-based interventions. He serves is a past chair of the HIV/AIDS Section for the American Public Health Association. He currently serves as the vice-chair of the One Boro Commission, the city commission for diversity and inclusion in Statesboro, GA.

Dr. Smallwood earned his MPH and PhD from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. He also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the I. DeQuincey Newman Institute for Peace and Social Justice in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina.

Evelyn H

Evelyn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July 2014 while traveling abroad. A bone marrow biopsy uncovered the multiple myeloma after being misdiagnosed three times. She underwent surgery to stabilize a lesion in her hip and began a treatment regimen. When her multiple myeloma numbers began fluctuating in 2015, Evelyn saw a new hematologist who changed her treatment to a triple drug regimen and lowered her numbers to a stringent complete response after which she had a stem cell transplant in November 2015. She was on physician advised maintenance therapy until a relapse in January 2021. After her second stem cell transplant led to a complete response her doctors advised she take maintenance therapy which she continues today.

Evelyn was a pharmaceutical training program manager prior to her retirement. Today, she enjoys traveling and spending her free time with friends and family members. Evelyn has been a patient speaker at numerous health events. She volunteers her time as a Myeloma Mentor with the MMRF where she talks with others diagnosed and living with multiple myeloma to help them navigate their journey and provides encouragement based on her own experience.

Darlene Katz

Darlene has twenty-one years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

As a member of the Patient Voice and Experience team, she has the unique position of witnessing patients’ journeys through an empathetic lens. In this role, she collaborates across the enterprise to amplify the patient voice through various projects.

Darlene is a positive force in the workplace and uses her passion to encourage others to succeed because patients are waiting for new solutions every day.

Darlene loves spending time with her family and enjoys hockey and traveling. In her free time, she listens to her eclectic music playlists.

Darlene Katz

Darlene has twenty-one years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

As a member of the Patient Voice and Experience team, she has the unique position of witnessing patients’ journeys through an empathetic lens. In this role, she collaborates across the enterprise to amplify the patient voice through various projects.

Darlene is a positive force in the workplace and uses her passion to encourage others to succeed because patients are waiting for new solutions every day.

Darlene loves spending time with her family and enjoys hockey and traveling. In her free time, she listens to her eclectic music playlists.

Evelyn H

Evelyn was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July 2014 while traveling abroad. A bone marrow biopsy uncovered the multiple myeloma after being misdiagnosed three times. She underwent surgery to stabilize a lesion in her hip and began a treatment regimen. When her multiple myeloma numbers began fluctuating in 2015, Evelyn saw a new hematologist who changed her treatment to a triple drug regimen and lowered her numbers to a stringent complete response after which she had a stem cell transplant in November 2015. She was on physician advised maintenance therapy until a relapse in January 2021. After her second stem cell transplant led to a complete response her doctors advised she take maintenance therapy which she continues today.

Evelyn was a pharmaceutical training program manager prior to her retirement. Today, she enjoys traveling and spending her free time with friends and family members. Evelyn has been a patient speaker at numerous health events. She volunteers her time as a Myeloma Mentor with the MMRF where she talks with others diagnosed and living with multiple myeloma to help them navigate their journey and provides encouragement based on her own experience.

Davida J. White, MD

Davida J. White, M.D. is a healthcare leader with administrative and clinical experience in government, academic, and biopharmaceutical industry settings. She is currently Johnson and Johnson’s Senior Director and Head of the Cardiovascular and Metabolism Field Medical Affairs team. Before joining J&J, she was a US and Global Medical Affairs leader for several large and midsized biopharmaceutical and medical device companies for over 16 years. Dr. White has been dedicated to improving patient outcomes across multiple therapeutic areas, including women’s health, cardiovascular and metabolism, oncology, and several others.

Prior to entering the biopharmaceutical field, Dr. White served as the Director of Community Health and Outreach Services (Department of Health and Human Services) for the State of New Jersey. She led several state-wide disease management programs and healthcare initiatives during her appointment. As a recognized leader in medical affairs, she serves as an advisor and lectures regularly for several medical affairs professional organizations and community programs.

Dr. White earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Hampton University and completed her medical degree at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She then completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY.

Sponsored by Johnson and Johnson

Craig Emmitt Cole, MD

Craig Emmitt Cole, M.D. is a board-certified Hematologist who received his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology at Michigan State University and the College of Lyman Briggs. He received his doctoral degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Cole conducted post-fellowship laboratory research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. He then served as an attending hematologist at Gunderson Health System University at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He then returned to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology before coming back to Michigan State University in 2019.

With a focus on hematology and multiple myeloma, Dr. Cole’s has worked extensively with patient advocacy groups to empower, educate, and bring equitable care to everyone. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, International Myeloma Society, and International Myeloma Working Group.

Dr. Cole currently serves as Director of Clinical Cancer Research at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine-Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.

Craig Emmitt Cole, MD

Craig Emmitt Cole, M.D. is a board-certified Hematologist who received his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology at Michigan State University and the College of Lyman Briggs. He received his doctoral degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Dr. Cole conducted post-fellowship laboratory research at the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center of Medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School. He then served as an attending hematologist at Gunderson Health System University at the Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He then returned to the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology before coming back to Michigan State University in 2019.

With a focus on hematology and multiple myeloma, Dr. Cole’s has worked extensively with patient advocacy groups to empower, educate, and bring equitable care to everyone. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, International Myeloma Society, and International Myeloma Working Group.

Dr. Cole currently serves as Director of Clinical Cancer Research at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine-Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.

Avery Ince MD PhD

Avery Ince MD PhD is a Vice President in Medical Affairs at Janssen North America. Prior to this, he served as the US Scientific & Medical Affairs Strategy Head at Janssen NA and, before that, was the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Janssen China. Avery got his start in industry with Merck where he designed Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials in Rahway, NJ before leaving the US to lead large medical teams in Asia-Pacific.

Before joining industry, Avery completed Internal Medicine residency and Endocrine fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and held a faculty position with clinical, teaching and research responsibilities at Harvard Medical School. Avery earned his M.D. as well as a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, both at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University. Avery, his wife and their teenage daughters have recently returned to the US after living in China for 9 years, and they currently reside in Philadelphia, PA.

Avery Ince MD PhD

Avery Ince MD PhD is a Vice President in Medical Affairs at Janssen North America. Prior to this, he served as the US Scientific & Medical Affairs Strategy Head at Janssen NA and, before that, was the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Janssen China. Avery got his start in industry with Merck where he designed Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials in Rahway, NJ before leaving the US to lead large medical teams in Asia-Pacific.

Before joining industry, Avery completed Internal Medicine residency and Endocrine fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and held a faculty position with clinical, teaching and research responsibilities at Harvard Medical School. Avery earned his M.D. as well as a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, both at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University. Avery, his wife and their teenage daughters have recently returned to the US after living in China for 9 years, and they currently reside in Philadelphia, PA.

Laura Wells, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, OCN

Laura joined Janssen as an Oncology Clinical Educator (OCE) in November 2020 and has worked on both the Hematology and Solid OCE teams. Her passion and most of her clinical experience is in the Hematology space. Laura is a Board-Certified Adult/Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNCCharlotte and a Master of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. She has over 26 years of oncology experience across inpatient/outpatient settings spanning across patient care, nursing leadership and patient management as a Nurse Practitioner. Laura previously worked Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC, where her focus included inpatient and outpatient care of the adult Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) population. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Laura served as a mentor to oncology APP fellows, new APPs to the hematology/BMT team and education to the nursing staff.

Robert Pew

Robert Pew was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January 2014 after his primary care physician noticed a steady decline in his white blood cell counts. After his diagnosis, Robert received chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Robert lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has four adult children. He’s been an entrepreneur, a pastor and worked in the medical device business. Robert is thankful for all the support he’s received during his multiple myeloma journey, especially for the doctors and nurses who take the time to answer all his questions. He enjoys talking to other multiple myeloma patients undergoing treatment and helping them understand the journey they may face, providing words of encouragement and reflecting on his own experience.

Willis Steele

Rev. Steele holds a Master of Professional Studies in Urban Ministry and Master of Divinity from NY Theological Seminary. He entered his ministry journey at the Abyssinian Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, where he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry In 2004. He is currently Pastor of Faith Mission Christian Fellowship, Camarillo, CA with his wife Rev. Gay Tompson- Steele. Rev. Steele has served for more than 20 years as a patient advocacy leader in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry. He is currently Worldwide Director of Patient Advocacy – Hematology @ Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Princeton, NJ where he leads Multiple Myeloma (MM) advocacy strategies for MM and Cell therapy for MM; develops strategy and execute tactics, manages budgets, and serves as a key liaison to internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with US and Global strategies, health equity, and embedding diversity in clinical trials engagement.

Maya Harris

After years of running her own ventures, Maya Lynn Harris realized that her greatest passion was to help women monetize their skills and talents. As a business startup coach, Maya teaches women how to plan, implement, and execute a sustainable, purposeful business. However, she also recognized the need for entrepreneurs like herself to have a safe space to grow their businesses as a community. So, she founded W.O.M.B. (Woman-Owned Minority Business), a professional networking and empowerment organization that empowers Black and Brown women entrepreneurs to leverage their connections to build purposeful, profitable businesses.

Maya is also the author of What’s Your Oil? Unmasking Your Hidden Talents and co-author of the Amazon Best-Seller, Unchain My Legacy: How Owning Our Choices Free Us and Those We Love. She has two wonderful sons, Mandell and Bryce, and resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Laura Wells, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, OCN

Laura joined Janssen as an Oncology Clinical Educator (OCE) in November 2020 and has worked on both the Hematology and Solid OCE teams. Her passion and most of her clinical experience is in the Hematology space. Laura is a Board-Certified Adult/Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNCCharlotte and a Master of Science in Nursing from East Carolina University. She has over 26 years of oncology experience across inpatient/outpatient settings spanning across patient care, nursing leadership and patient management as a Nurse Practitioner. Laura previously worked Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC, where her focus included inpatient and outpatient care of the adult Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) population. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Laura served as a mentor to oncology APP fellows, new APPs to the hematology/BMT team and education to the nursing staff.

Willis Steele

Rev. Steele holds a Master of Professional Studies in Urban Ministry and Master of Divinity from NY Theological Seminary. He entered his ministry journey at the Abyssinian Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, where he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry In 2004. He is currently Pastor of Faith Mission Christian Fellowship, Camarillo, CA with his wife Rev. Gay Tompson- Steele. Rev. Steele has served for more than 20 years as a patient advocacy leader in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry. He is currently Worldwide Director of Patient Advocacy – Hematology @ Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Princeton, NJ where he leads Multiple Myeloma (MM) advocacy strategies for MM and Cell therapy for MM; develops strategy and execute tactics, manages budgets, and serves as a key liaison to internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with US and Global strategies, health equity, and embedding diversity in clinical trials engagement.

Maya Harris

After years of running her own ventures, Maya Lynn Harris realized that her greatest passion was to help women monetize their skills and talents. As a business startup coach, Maya teaches women how to plan, implement, and execute a sustainable, purposeful business. However, she also recognized the need for entrepreneurs like herself to have a safe space to grow their businesses as a community. So, she founded W.O.M.B. (Woman-Owned Minority Business), a professional networking and empowerment organization that empowers Black and Brown women entrepreneurs to leverage their connections to build purposeful, profitable businesses.

Maya is also the author of What’s Your Oil? Unmasking Your Hidden Talents and co-author of the Amazon Best-Seller, Unchain My Legacy: How Owning Our Choices Free Us and Those We Love. She has two wonderful sons, Mandell and Bryce, and resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, Ph.D.

Biblical scholar, author, academic administrator, public intellectual, first African American woman to earn a doctorate in Old Testament Studies (Princeton Theological Seminary), and an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Weems is one of the founding scholarly voices in womanist Biblical interpretation. A former Professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School (Nashville) and Spelman College (Atlanta), Weems’ esteemed and insightful publications, commentaries, and articles on interpreting the Bible in contemporary times, modern faith, race and religion, women in the church, and womanism and faith make her a widely sought-after academic lecturer and inspirational speaker.

She has numerous books, commentaries and articles on the Bible and prophetic religion to her credit. She has written multiple articles and essays for academics, preachers and lay audiences on topics of faith, prophetic religion, Christian ethics, biblical notions of justice, women’s spirituality, and the Bible and human sexuality. She is the first black woman to deliver the Yale University Lyman Beecher Lecture (2008). Dr. Weems is featured in “Black Stars: African American Religious Leaders” (2008), a collection of biographies of some of the most important Black Religious Leaders over the last 200 hundred years, including such impressive figures as Adam Clayton Powell, Elijah Muhammad, Sojourner Truth, Howard Thurman, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Fenwa Milhouse

Dr. Fenwa Milhouse is a board-certified urologist, the co-owner of her own practice, Down There Urology in Chicago, and the star of TLC network’s “Dr. Down Below”

Dr. Milhouse uses social media to destigmatize urological conditions, as well as demonstrate the importance of representation in Urology. Known by the world as “Your Favorite Urologist”, she has been featured on several media outlets including Yahoo Style, HuffPost, Essence Magazine, CNN, Insider, Cheddar News, WGN, Sex with Dr. Jess, and regularly on Blackdoctor.org.

She was named Top Urologist in Chicago in 2023 by Women in Medicine. She currently sits on the board of the Chicago Urological Society, and is an active member of several professional societies including the American Urological Association and the Society of Urodynamics and Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction.

Lionell Sabb, PhD, and Mrs. Cynthia Sabb

Dr. Lionell and Mrs. Cynthia Sabb are celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary this year. Both are natives of Orangeburg, SC, where they still reside.

Dr. Lionell, an intensive foster care social worker, and Cynthia, an insurance and property manager, are the proud parents of a daughter who is a neonatologist and a son who is an IT specialist.

In December 2022, Dr. Lionell was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which culminated in surgery. Immediately, Cynthia intensified her role as the family’s caregiver and provided round-the-clock care for Dr. Lionell, in spite of her own health challenges.

REV. DR. NATHANIEL T. BROOKS

Rev. Dr. Nathaniel T. Brooks is an established intergenerational millennial leader and thinker. For several years, he has been a faithful servant and leader of several educational, community, and religious organizations that include: Board Chair at The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Editorial Board Member at the Institute of Youth Ministry (IYT) – Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Council Member for the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission; ans Black Theology & Leadership Institute Fellow – Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Brooks is also President/CEO of the Change- It-Foundation, a non-profit consultant firm established to support churches and businesses in areas of leadership, team development, and professional coaching. Dr. Brooks has done international missionary work in various developing countries: Kenya, Liberia, St. Croix, Haiti, and Guyana, South America.

Dr. Brooks was licensed in 2004 and ordained in 2007 into the Gospel ministry by his pastor and mentor, Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Sr., New Psalmist Baptist Church (Baltimore, MD). Dr. Brooks served at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Herndon, VA., as Youth & Young Adults Pastor and later as the Executive Pastor, and Minister to Youth & Young Adults at the Park Church (Charlotte, NC) where he oversaw three multi-campus ministries of 1,000+ Youth & Young Adults weekly. Currently, Dr. Brooks serves as the Senior Pastor of the Greater Saint John Baptist Church, Birmingham, VA.

As Senior Pastor, in five years, Dr. Brooks formed a food bank ministry in the church’s high crime and poverty-stricken neighborhood which successfully fed 9,000+ families, seniors, kids and the homeless population during the global pandemic. Dr. Brooks grew the church and oversaw a $400,000 revitalization capital campaign for its dilapidated educational building & fellowship hall. This campaign was completed funded by faithful members and community partners without adding any debt to the church.

Dr. Brooks is a graduate of Norfolk State University, cum laude (B.A.); Virginia Union University – Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology (M.Div.); a Doctorate of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min), and a post-graduate certificate of Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

In addition, his academic honors include: Golden Key International Honor Society, College Bound Foundation Scholar, Alpha Kappa Mu (English Honor Society), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Kern Family Foundation Scholar, Stern Foundation Scholar, The Samuel DeWitt Procter School of Theology Dean’s Scholarship, and the Memorial Baptist Church Foundation Scholarship.

Dr. Fenwa Milhouse

Dr. Fenwa Milhouse is a board-certified urologist, the co-owner of her own practice, Down There Urology in Chicago, and the star of TLC network’s “Dr. Down Below”

Dr. Milhouse uses social media to destigmatize urological conditions, as well as demonstrate the importance of representation in Urology. Known by the world as “Your Favorite Urologist”, she has been featured on several media outlets including Yahoo Style, HuffPost, Essence Magazine, CNN, Insider, Cheddar News, WGN, Sex with Dr. Jess, and regularly on Blackdoctor.org.

She was named Top Urologist in Chicago in 2023 by Women in Medicine. She currently sits on the board of the Chicago Urological Society, and is an active member of several professional societies including the American Urological Association and the Society of Urodynamics and Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction.

Lionell Sabb, PhD, and Mrs. Cynthia Sabb

Dr. Lionell and Mrs. Cynthia Sabb are celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary this year. Both are natives of Orangeburg, SC, where they still reside.

Dr. Lionell, an intensive foster care social worker, and Cynthia, an insurance and property manager, are the proud parents of a daughter who is a neonatologist and a son who is an IT specialist.

In December 2022, Dr. Lionell was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, which culminated in surgery. Immediately, Cynthia intensified her role as the family’s caregiver and provided round-the-clock care for Dr. Lionell, in spite of her own health challenges.

REV. DR. NATHANIEL T. BROOKS

Rev. Dr. Nathaniel T. Brooks is an established intergenerational millennial leader and thinker. For several years, he has been a faithful servant and leader of several educational, community, and religious organizations that include: Board Chair at The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Editorial Board Member at the Institute of Youth Ministry (IYT) – Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Council Member for the Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission; ans Black Theology & Leadership Institute Fellow – Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Brooks is also President/CEO of the Change- It-Foundation, a non-profit consultant firm established to support churches and businesses in areas of leadership, team development, and professional coaching. Dr. Brooks has done international missionary work in various developing countries: Kenya, Liberia, St. Croix, Haiti, and Guyana, South America.

Dr. Brooks was licensed in 2004 and ordained in 2007 into the Gospel ministry by his pastor and mentor, Bishop Walter Scott Thomas Sr., New Psalmist Baptist Church (Baltimore, MD). Dr. Brooks served at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Herndon, VA., as Youth & Young Adults Pastor and later as the Executive Pastor, and Minister to Youth & Young Adults at the Park Church (Charlotte, NC) where he oversaw three multi-campus ministries of 1,000+ Youth & Young Adults weekly. Currently, Dr. Brooks serves as the Senior Pastor of the Greater Saint John Baptist Church, Birmingham, VA.

As Senior Pastor, in five years, Dr. Brooks formed a food bank ministry in the church’s high crime and poverty-stricken neighborhood which successfully fed 9,000+ families, seniors, kids and the homeless population during the global pandemic. Dr. Brooks grew the church and oversaw a $400,000 revitalization capital campaign for its dilapidated educational building & fellowship hall. This campaign was completed funded by faithful members and community partners without adding any debt to the church.

Dr. Brooks is a graduate of Norfolk State University, cum laude (B.A.); Virginia Union University – Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology (M.Div.); a Doctorate of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min), and a post-graduate certificate of Youth and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.

In addition, his academic honors include: Golden Key International Honor Society, College Bound Foundation Scholar, Alpha Kappa Mu (English Honor Society), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Kern Family Foundation Scholar, Stern Foundation Scholar, The Samuel DeWitt Procter School of Theology Dean’s Scholarship, and the Memorial Baptist Church Foundation Scholarship.

Crystal Aikin

The incomparable Crystal Aikin is a world-renowned Gospel singer-songwriter from Tacoma, Washington, and the winner of the first season of BET’s Sunday Best.

Crystal’s musical journey began way before Sunday Best with her participating early in the choirs and singing groups at her local church. Eventually she found herself taking on more and more lead singing and directing duties. She credits her musical influence to gospel artists like Yolanda Adams, Lisa Paige-Brooks, The Clark Sisters, The Winans family.

Her energy and charismatic presence wows audiences worldwide. Crystal travels extensively leading worship and sharing her ministry. Additionally to her musical journey, she is still a Registered Nurse.

You can stream Crystal Aikin’s new single “He Can Handle It” on all digital media platforms.

Bishop Brian D. Moore

Bishop Brian D. Moore is a native of Mt. Vernon, New York. In September 1989, Bishop Moore relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he founded the first-ever African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in that city. The church, Abundant Life Tabernacle A. M. E. Zion Church, is located in historic downtown Charleston.

Since 2000, Bishop Moore has served as the Senior Pastor of the Life Center Churches in Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC. He is also the presiding prelate of The Life Center Fellowship of Interdependent Churches and Ministries, Inc., a fellowship of interdependent churches and ministries in the southeastern United States.

Bishop Moore also serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Inc.

Bishop Moore is married to Jametta Chandler Moore, and they have two children, Chandler David and Chayla Danielle.

Vertex

Dr. Ogo Egbuna is a passionate physician scientist with nearly two decades of clinical, academic, and drug development experience. Originally from West Africa, he completed medical school at the University of Nigeria before emigrating to the United States, where he completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai followed by clinical fellowships in nephrology and kidney transplant medicine at the University of Rochester and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, respectively. Dr. Egbuna then completed a Masters in Clinical Investigation from the Harvard/MIT School of Health Sciences and Technology and was on faculty teaching residents, caring for patients, and conducting National Institutes of Health-funded research at the Harvard Medical School.

Throughout his early career, Dr. Egbuna received several honors and awards for his exceptional academic and clinical work and received over a dozen invitations to give oral presentations on topics ranging from kidney disease clinical research to disparities in access to kidney care and transplantations for underserved minorities. He spent ten years at Amgen as a Clinical Research Medical Director for both early and late phase clinical development programs, interacting with a wide range of medical, regulatory, and business stakeholders. During this time, he also began teaching and mentoring medical students as an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Currently, Dr. Egbuna is the Vice President, Clinical Development and also the Global Clinical Development Lead for Vertex Pharmaceutical’s APOL1-mediated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) program, which aims to develop a potentially curative treatment for the underlying cause of APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease. In addition to his role at Vertex and his professorship, Dr. Egbuna also offers pro bono advice to the leadership of KidneySolutions, a kidney disease and dialysis center in Lagos, Nigeria, on standardization and implementation of policies and clinical procedures as well as the use of modern technologies for dialysis and electronic medical records.

Ogo Egbuna, MD, MSC, FASN

Dr. Ogo Egbuna is a passionate physician scientist with nearly two decades of clinical, academic, and drug development experience. Originally from West Africa, he completed medical school at the University of Nigeria before emigrating to the United States, where he completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai followed by clinical fellowships in nephrology and kidney transplant medicine at the University of Rochester and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, respectively. Dr. Egbuna then completed a Masters in Clinical Investigation from the Harvard/MIT School of Health Sciences and Technology and was on faculty teaching residents, caring for patients, and conducting National Institutes of Health-funded research at the Harvard Medical School.

Throughout his early career, Dr. Egbuna received several honors and awards for his exceptional academic and clinical work and received over a dozen invitations to give oral presentations on topics ranging from kidney disease clinical research to disparities in access to kidney care and transplantations for underserved minorities. He spent ten years at Amgen as a Clinical Research Medical Director for both early and late phase clinical development programs, interacting with a wide range of medical, regulatory, and business stakeholders. During this time, he also began teaching and mentoring medical students as an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Currently, Dr. Egbuna is the Vice President, Clinical Development and also the Global Clinical Development Lead for Vertex Pharmaceutical’s APOL1-mediated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) program, which aims to develop a potentially curative treatment for the underlying cause of APOL1-mediated Kidney Disease. In addition to his role at Vertex and his professorship, Dr. Egbuna also offers pro bono advice to the leadership of KidneySolutions, a kidney disease and dialysis center in Lagos, Nigeria, on standardization and implementation of policies and clinical procedures as well as the use of modern technologies for dialysis and electronic medical records.

Yelak Biru

IMF Patient, President & CEO Yelak Biru drives the organization’s mission of improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure. He sees his role as a way “to pay it forward and carry the baton as far and as fast as possible so those who come after me, those who come after us, can go even further.”

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the young age of 25, Yelak has lived with the disease for more than two decades. His journey as a patient brought him to the IMF, first in support groups and then as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.

With his leadership, the IMF has continued to conduct more than 50 ongoing research studies worldwide, to foster support and education for patients and caregivers, to advocate for equitable healthcare access, and to enhance alliances around the globe. His vision is “to find a cure for myeloma so no one dies from the disease by the year 2035.”
 
Yelak’s decades-long passion for improving the lives of myeloma patients combined with his 25 years of working in Fortune 50 corporations (PepsiCo and Walmart), expertise and deep know-how of technology and HR Analytics, as well as his unique understanding of people, team building, strategy, and operations make him the perfect fit to lead the International Myeloma Foundation—the 32-year-old organization always puts patients at the center of all its endeavors.  

Yelak possesses domain expertise in People Analytics and cross-functional skills in supply chain, finance, marketing, and Data Analytics and Strategy development. He has a track record of leading large, diverse, and geographically disparate teams in a global, matrixed business–IT setting; championing data-driven agile product development; and leveraging user experience design principles. He is a change agent with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, to collaborate across lines of business, and to deliver strategic initiatives. 

Yelak’s extraordinary set of life experiences—as a 27-year myeloma survivor; an IMF board member; a dedicated member of the National Cancer Institute’s Myeloma Committee, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, National Cancer Research Advocate organizations; a co-author of published research; a prolific speaker on patient care and myeloma research issues; and his collaborations with both for-profit and non-profit organizations—has afforded him a deeper understanding of the challenges, disappointments, and triumphs that myeloma patients and their care team face on a day to day. 

Born in Ethiopia, Yelak completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in Computer Science from the University of North Texas. He and his wife, along with their two dachshunds, live in Los Angeles, California. 

Joseph Mikhael MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP

Dr Mikhael is a Professor in the Applied Cancer Research and Drug Discovery Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope Cancer Center. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) and Director of Myeloma research at the HonorHealth Research Institute. Dr Mikhael specializes clinically in plasma cell disorders, namely multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. He is the PI of many clinical trials, primarily in relapsed multiple myeloma, and his other clinical research interests include pharmaco-economics, communication skills, and media relations.

Dr Mikhael has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles in these fields and lectures internationally on a regular basis. Dr Mikhael recently led the first ever ASCO Guidelines in multiple myeloma and serves on the editorial board of JCO. Dr. Mikhael is deeply committed to health disparities in myeloma and leads the diversity efforts of the IMF, namely the M-Power project in the African American community. He is also the chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at TGen. Dr. Mikhael is heavily involved in training future researchers and mentors junior faculty worldwide. He also spends nearly 20% of his time in the third world developing collaborations in myeloma and finding ways to enhance access to novel agents.

JaBaris Swain, MD MPH

Dr. JaBaris Swain started his career in the pharmaceutical industry in July 2020 when he joined Janssen Pharmaceuticals as a clinical lead physician in Translational and Experimental Medicine in the Cardiovascular & Metabolism Therapeutic Area. In this role, JaBaris was responsible for developing and executing the program’s early clinical development strategy and completing two First-In-Human studies. Additionally, JaBaris designed and conducted a phase 0 study to examine a novel imaging technique for the non-invasive assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics, which has the potential to provide an early signal of pharmacodynamic effects and accelerate early clinical development of new compounds in Pulmonary Hypertension. Finally, JaBaris supported clinical pharmacology studies as the Study Responsible Physician for the two major pharmacology programs.

Clinically, Dr. Swain is a finished cardiothoracic transplant surgeon-scientist and global health scholar with prior expertise in humanitarian cardiac surgery, cardiology education, and international public health. His work has focused on augmenting access to clinical education and care delivery for cardiovascular diseases within resource-limited settings such as Rwanda and Haiti. He has lived in these areas and supported several projects to strengthen healthcare infrastructures for critically vulnerable populations in resource-constrained settings. He has also provided surgery and critical care to patients in these regions.

JaBaris received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia (USA) and a master’s in public health with an emphasis on Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). He completed his clinical training in general surgery at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and an advanced fellowship in cardiopulmonary transplantation & mechanical circulatory support at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). During his clinical training, JaBaris was involved with translational research, exploring gene therapy for heart failure in a large animal model within the lab of Dr. Charles R. Bridges. In addition to this training, JaBaris is currently enrolled in the Executive MBA Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In his “free time,” JaBaris continues to mentor residents and fellows at the Pearlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania as a clinical associate surgeon in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery. He also currently volunteers as a medical director at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity in north Philadelphia—a grassroots health center established to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable populations of greater Philadelphia.

Dr. Khaalida Forbes

With 25 years of combined academic and vocational experience in ministry, psychology, and leadership, Dr. Khaalida Forbes has dedicated her entire life to the service of people. Her calling journey led her to receiving a Masters of Clinical Social Work, and a Masters of Divinity degree from Howard University, as well as a Doctorate of Ministry degree in Prophetic Preaching from United Theological Seminary. Her mantle lies in fostering deep transformation through the teaching and preaching of the word of God.

Dr. Forbes is the Founder of Khaalida Forbes Enterprises. This firm seeks to offer opportunities for transformation in the emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual aspects of people’s lives. Through the tools of therapy, empowerment sessions, leadership development, and customized consulting, the belief is that one’s emotional health can be strengthened.

She is also the Co-Founding Pastor, alongside her husband Pastor Chris Forbes, of Truth City Church in Hyattsville, MD.

Rev. Dr. John Faison

Rev. Dr. John R. Faison, Sr. is the Senior Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church (The Grove), a growing, multigenerational, multisite church with campuses in Nashville, TN and Franklin, TN. The Grove endeavors to be “A GROWING church for GROWING people whom Christ will use in GROWING His Kingdom.”

A native of Boykins, Virginia, Pastor Faison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, a Master of Arts in Practical Theology from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Pastor Faison is a highly sought-after communicator of the Gospel. Young and seasoned alike have been blessed by his message of allegiance and authenticity, as well as his willingness to deal with relevant issues. Pastor Faison’s dexterity with different audiences stems from his broad spectrum of experiences. In addition to his 26 years of ministerial experience, he is also a decorated veteran, having served as an US Army officer for eight years. Pastor Faison is a recognized voice at events throughout the country, including the Hampton University Ministers Conference, the Clinton Global Initiative, the Samuel D. Proctor Conference, NAACP Leadership 500, the Word Network, and universities throughout the nation.

Pastor Faison is blessed with influence that extends beyond the local church. He is a passionate advocate for community transformation and development, as seen in his work as an HIV/AIDS National Ambassador with the NAACP (theblackchurchandhiv.org), mentor in public school districts, and advisor to several community organizations. In denominational life, he serves as the Assistant to the Bishop of Social Action for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. In Nashville, he serves as President of The Grove Community Development Corporation and a member of the Boards of Trustees at Belmont University and Leadership Nashville. Committed to theological formation, Pastor Faison is an adjunct professor and doctoral mentor at Payne Theological Seminary. Fraternally, he is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Boule). He is a Class of 2023 inductee in the 37th Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers, Sponsors and Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College.

Pastor Faison is the proud father of three amazing children: John (Jr), Ajah, and Jaden.

Bishop Rudolph McKissick

Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr., is Senior Pastor of the Bethel Church, located in Jacksonville, Florida. Bethel is the oldest existing Baptist church in the state of Florida, being founded in 1838. Under Bishop McKissick’s leadership, the church has experienced exponential growth to over 10,000 active disciples. Bishop McKissick has established himself not only as a prolific proclaimer but also as an academician, teaching as an adjunct professor at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Religion at Virginia Union University. Bishop McKissick is also the author of several books as well as an accomplished musician with several national, critically acclaimed music projects.

Bishop McKissick has been afforded many national platforms for proclamation, among them being the morning preacher at the prestigious Hampton University Ministers and Musicians Conference as well as the featured conference preacher in the evening; the conference preacher at the John Malcus Ellison Convocation at Virginia Union University (Now the John Ellison/Miles Jones Convocation) and being inducted into the Morehouse School of Religion Board of Preachers.

Bishop McKissick also serves on various boards, which include being a board member of the National Action Network, founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, the Board of Trustees of Florida State College at Jacksonville and the Advisory Board to the President at Virginia Union University.

Bishop McKissick holds a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University with a double major in the field of music: one in Opera and the other in Sacred Church Music, with a minor in pipe organ performance. He holds the Master of Divinity Degree from The School of Theology at Virginia Union University, now the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Religion at Virginia Union University, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary. Bishop McKissick has been awarded the honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from both Bethune Cookman University as well as Virginia Union University. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., as well as Sigma Pi Phi Boule (pronounced BOO-LAY).

He is married to the former Kimberly Joy Nichols and they are the proud parents of three beautiful children; Jocelyn, Janai (pronounced JANAY) and Joshua.

Dr. Charles Jenkins

Dr. Charles Jenkins is widely known for his innovative leadership and diverse service as an influential renaissance man. For 20 years, he served as the senior pastor of the historic Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. Jenkins has served as a Commissioner on the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, as a member of The Board of Trustees for The City Colleges of Chicago, as an Advisory Board Member for The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, The Illinois State Treasurer’s Advisory Board, The Illinois Department of Transportation Advisory Board, and as Chairman of the Rainbow Push Coalition’s PUSH BOARD, just to name a few. He was also a pivotal leader in the passing of Chicago’s Big Box Ordinance which led to Walmart and Target Stores arriving in Chicago. He was also the conduit for Uber’s arrival in Chicago, leading to thousands of jobs and dynamic revenue for the city. Additionally, Jenkins was also instrumental in helping to restore nearly 30 million dollars to the Illinois state budget which led to the expansion of Walgreens and affordable medication for senior citizens in Illinois.

Jenkins is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has received countless awards and citations for his service including being inducted into Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers and Scholars. He is a recipient of BET Networks ICON Man of Change Award, Black Enterprise Magazine’s Urban Business Game Changer Award, and Illinois’ Gift of Hope Lifesaving Partner Award for leading thousands of African Americans to become organ donors, and inspiring a nationwide campaign saving countless lives. Jenkins is a film executive, and a fashion executive with an atelier in Paris, France. Jenkins is a celebrated hitmaker, label head, and music mogul with 8 BMI top songwriter awards, 17 Billboard #1 honors, 9 Stellar Awards, Grammy recognition, a Soul Train Music Award nomination, and 7 Dove Music Award nominations. Jenkins is married to Dr. Tara Rawls Jenkins and has 3 beautiful children Princess, Paris, and Charles III.

Rev. Dr. Renita Weems

Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems is a distinguished biblical scholar, author, academic administrator, public intellectual, and ordained elder in the African American Episcopal Church (1984). Her esteemed and insightful publications, commentaries, and articles on modern faith, race and religion, womanism and social movements, make her a widely sought-after inspirational speaker and academic lecturer. Rev. Weems was the first African American woman to give Yale University’s prestigious Beecher Lectures in 2008. She also serves as the Co-Founder and Co-Pastor of Ray of Hope in Nashville, TN, alongside her husband Reverend Martin L. Espinosa.

She is the author of several acclaimed books, among these, Just A Sister Away, I Asked for Intimacy, Showing Mary: How Women Can Share Prayers, Wisdom, and the Blessings of God, and What Matters Most: Ten Passionate Lessons from the Song of Solomon. Listening for God: A Minister’s Journey Through Silence and Doubt (Simon & Schuster) won the Religious Communicators’ Council’s prestigious 1999 Wilbur Award for “excellence in communicating spiritual values to the secular media”. Her beautifully crafted and compelling words invite and strengthen audiences to explore their hopes and fears, call upon women to support and empower one another, and show them pathways to do so.

Born in Atlanta, Ga and ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Renita received her Ph.D. from Princeton Seminary in 1989 and was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in Old Testament Studies. Dr. Weems has taught at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Spelman College, and has served as Academic Dean at American Baptist College in Nashville, TN. She received her M.Div. From Princeton Seminary and her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College.

Finally, check out the book Black Stars: African American Leaders, a collection of bibliographies of some of the most important Black Religious Leaders over the last 200 years, and you will see Rev. Renita featured along with such impressive figures as Adam Clayton Powell, Elijah Muhammad, Sojourner Truth, Howard Thurman, and Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

Crystal Aiken

The incomparable Crystal Aikin is a world-renowned Gospel singer-songwriter from Tacoma, Washington, and the winner of the first season of BET’s Sunday Best.

Crystal’s musical journey began way before Sunday Best with her participating early in the choirs and singing groups at her local church. Eventually she found herself taking on more and more lead singing and directing duties. She credits her musical influence to gospel artists like Yolanda Adams, Lisa Paige-Brooks, The Clark Sisters, The Winans family.

Her energy and charismatic presence wows audiences worldwide. Crystal travels extensively leading worship and sharing her ministry. Additionally to her musical journey, she is still a Registered Nurse.

You can stream Crystal Aikin’s new single “He Can Handle It” on all digital media platforms.

Bishop Bryan D. Moore

Bishop Brian D. Moore is a native of Mt. Vernon, New York. In September 1989, Bishop Moore relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he founded the first-ever African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in that city. The church, Abundant Life Tabernacle A. M. E. Zion Church, is located in historic downtown Charleston.

Since 2000, Bishop Moore has served as the Senior Pastor of the Life Center Churches in Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC. He is also the presiding prelate of The Life Center Fellowship of Interdependent Churches and Ministries, Inc., a fellowship of interdependent churches and ministries in the southeastern United States.

Bishop Moore also serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Inc.

Bishop Moore is married to Jametta Chandler Moore, and they have two children, Chandler David and Chayla Danielle.

Pamela D. Price

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 disparities.

In addition to her role as Deputy Director, she also serves as the Director for The National Brain Health Center for African-Americans.

As the Center’s director, she co-developed a six-part educational curriculum for nurses and allied healthcare professionals aimed at addressing knowledge gaps related to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias affecting African Americans. She also co-authored and facilitates an accredited training for healthcare providers and clinicians; aimed at increasing cultural competencies related to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia in African Americans among providers.

Mrs. Price holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Public Health and has more than 20 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, and healthcare. She has served as a member of the U.S. Army Nurse Corp and excelled in both government and non-governmental agencies providing leadership and guidance on program management, quality improvement, and project development. Mrs. Price has conducted hundreds of training sessions across the country with various nursing associations, healthcare organizations and conferences.

Cary L. Goodman

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 programs, outreach and development. For over 16 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 communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnership to impact sustainability.

Currently, Cary is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc. where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases the impact African American communities. A highly skilled strategist and national speaker adept at leading relationship building and engagement opportunities, he has forged various faith based and public health community partnerships and coalitions. With a sincere passion to empower black men, Cary founded Black Men’s Wholeness, an initiative designed to engage black men in conversations focused on areas that reassures wholeness such as trauma, emotional and mental health, and fatherlessness.

An ordained minister, Cary deems himself a “connector” where he focuses on the significance of outreach and engagement, establishing coalitions, collaborating, and relationship building in order to increase accessibility and sustainability to strengthen congregations and communities.

Stacy A. Johnson, MD, PhD

Dr. Stacy Johnson is an Associate Medical Director in Clinical Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA. Prior to joining Vertex, Dr. Johnson worked as an Assistant Professor in the division of nephrology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center UTHSC) in Memphis, TN. While at UTHSC, Dr. Johnson helped to train medical students, residents and nephrology fellows. She served as the medical director for the acute dialysis unit and plasmapheresis service at Regional One Hospital – Memphis’ only level 1 trauma center and main safety net hospital, catering to many uninsured patients. Dr. Johnson has over 10 years of experience practicing nephrology in diverse clinical settings.

Savannah Perry, RN, MSN, AG-ACNP

Savannah Perry is a passionate and highly trained clinician with 12 years of experience within malignant hematology. She is an Adult Gerontology and Acute Care board-certified nurse practitioner. She received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Saint Louis University and went on to complete an accelerated bachelors’ program in Nursing from Auburn University before returning to SLU for her master’s degree. After completing college, she began her malignant hematology and stem cell transplant career at University of Louisville in Kentucky. As an NP she continued to grow her career at the University of Colorado within their transplant program. In 2019 she moved to Winston-Salem, NC and started at Novant Health where she helped develop their autologous transplant program and lead the education initiative for CAR-T cell therapy.

Richard Browne, MD, FACC

Dr. Browne is the Senior Medical Executive, Health Systems Strategy and the Leader of the Health Equity Advisory Council for Janssen Cardiovascular and Metabolism Medical Affairs. In his role, Dr. Browne leverages his deep knowledge and expertise to lead collaborations with executive leadership at US healthcare systems in their efforts to achieve the quintuple aim (i.e. improving the quality of cardiovascular care, promoting cost effectiveness, enhancing the patient and health care provider experiences and striving to eliminate health disparities).

Dr. Browne graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Medicine. He then completed an internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He remained on staff as an attending physician at Harvard Medical School before completing his fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia, where he served as chief cardiology fellow in his final year.

After finishing his fellowship in cardiology, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin his career as a clinical cardiologist at Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute and Atrium Health. During his tenure there, he served as Medical Director and was directly involved in the planning and execution of strategic plans for the cardiovascular division of the organization. He also participated in several cardiovascular clinical trials during that time. His role involved spending a significant amount of time educating and lecturing to medical residents and students on all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Browne then became a senior cardiologist at Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dr. Browne previously served as the team cardiologist for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association for several years. During that time, he worked with the National Basketball Association on the formulation of protocols to ensure the safety of their athletes.

Dr. Browne currently serves as a council member of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. In this position, he is actively involved in the formulation of strategies to reduce health care disparities in cardiovascular patients.

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