Dr. P On The Pod

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

On this episode, we are excited to welcome Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, legendary basketball player, committed social activist, and award-winning writer to speak with us about his journey with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib). Kareem was diagnosed with AFib after he initially ignored his symptoms and is now sharing his story to help others learn from his experience. 

We are also joined by Dr. Andrea Phillips, a family medicine doctor from Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Phillips has been in practice for more than 20 years and is passionate about ensuring people of all backgrounds have access to the medical care and information they need, and work with a healthcare professional to get the care they need.

Dr. Phillips does not personally treat Kareem. This podcast episode was sponsored by the BMS-Pfizer Alliance 'No Time to Wait' campaign, for which Kareem and Dr. Phillips are paid spokespeople.

The Reverend Doctor Ayo Jordan, a native of Washington, DC, was raised and educated in Virginia. Her spiritual relationship began when she accepted the Lord as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at Hungary Road Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Virginia. Dr. Ayo received and acknowledged the consecrated opportunity to be used by God and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 2005. Dr. Ayo accredits her ministerial introductions to her initial sermon which was a eulogy for her uncle and politician at the South African Consulate in Chicago, Illinois. That moment was the trajectory of Ayo’s call to congregational ministry and community leadership.

Embracing but not negating her Pentecostal roots, Ayo joined the Baptist church for spiritual growth, formation and educational experience in 2008. It was at the historic Gravel Hill Baptist Church, where Dr. Ayo became the youngest and 2nd ordained female minister in its history. In 2016, Dr. Ayo became the Associate Pastor of Congregational Care. An advocate for women, youth and young adults, Dr. Ayo is a popular preacher with a powerful voice and agent of change for the Body of Christ.

Educated in the Henrico County School system and committed to education, Dr. Ayo attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; where she was an honor student. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University; a Masters in Science Degree in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Doctor of Ministry Degree at United Theological Seminary where her doctoral cohort and focus group was 21st Century Congregational Development & New Faith Communities.

 Dr. Ayo has served in a bi-vocational role along with her ministerial duties. She has a demonstrated history of working in multi-faceted roles in diverse populations of the community; including funeral homes, cemeteries, hospitals, churches, assisted living communities, hospice and crisis-stabilization facilities. Her love for the underserved, grieving and brokenhearted makes her no stranger to the Death-Care Industry with over 18 years’ experience. Dr. Ayo is a Virginia Licensed Cemeterian, committed to providing excellent care to families while assisting with cemetery arrangements both Pre-Need and At-Need. Because of her rich skillset and professional relationships, Dr. Ayo is a sought-after consultant, working at several historic funeral homes and managing cemeteries in both the Richmond and Tidewater areas. Dr. Ayo is the CEO of Life Vault & Memorials, a company where she provides quality memorial options and services for both traditional and cremation. Further, she is a trained chaplain experienced in Patient Counseling and Pastoral Care. Currently, she is employed with an Organ Procurement Organization in their Transplant Services Division advocating for organ, tissue and eye donation; as well as a Spiritual Support Coordinator for Children of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk VA.

 Dr. Ayo is active in her community, receiving many honors and recognitions in her lifetime. Dr. Ayo is honored to be a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a faithful sister in the Order of the Eastern Star. She is humbled by her spiritual gift of “humor” and the prophetic mandate for ministry that God has placed on her life which is a divine call and passion for the healing of the broken-spirited. She is passionate about her purpose, which is to laugh, love, lead and labor and is unashamed to use her life as a teaching lesson to encourage, educate and empower to those she encounters.

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

Alongside his counseling practice, Dr. G is actively involved in education, conducting workshops and seminars on mental health awareness and self-care. He is a vocal advocate for promoting health and wellness initiatives within communities, aiming to foster a culture of resilience and positivity. He holds a deep commitment to helping others thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically, believing in the transformative power of compassionate support and personal growth.

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

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

Marvell was passionate about improving the health outcomes of Black gay and queer men in Memphis, that’s why he started his advocacy work by co-leading an HIV ministry at Christ Missionary Baptist Church, being an HIV tester and EIS at Christ Community Health Services, and volunteering on community task forces. Not long after, he answered a higher call to leadership by founding his own organization: The Red Door Foundation (2010). Marvell was recognized as the only Black gay man living with HIV to found and lead an organization for HIV awareness and engagement at the time in Shelby County. Doubling down on his commitment to community, he started the Saving Ourselves Symposium (2013), a one-of-a-kind conference in the South for the Black LGBTQ community to address health, wellness, and social injustices.

One of Marvell’s biggest thrills was expanding his impact to a national scale by joining the Young Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition Policy and Advocacy Summit as co-chair of the Organizing Committee (2014); the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) as an HIV Fellow (2015) and AIDS United as a Senior Program Manager of the Southern HIV Impact Fund (2018). He is known as a people-minded strategist: He established a leadership pipeline in the HIV movement by co-creating the HIV 360 Fellowship Program at the HRCF and improved grantmaking efforts and philanthropic funding sources within AIDS United to support organizations in the South working at the intersection of HIV and social justice.

Marvell is a former board member for Hope House (Memphis, 2022-2023), an advisory board member for Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and a founding member for the HIV Racial Justice Network. In September 2023, Marvell was sworn in as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS during the 78th Full Council meeting.

His published written works on HIV research and injustices can be found in the Journal of Health and Disparities Research and Practice, Rhetoric of Health and Medicine, TheBody.Com, and more. Marvell’s work unapologetically centers the lives, the culture and the resilience of Black folks. When Marvell isn’t on the ground engaged in HIV advocacy and education, he’s experiencing joy: grooving to the sounds of Fantasia, J.Cole, 6LACK, and JeRonelle or enjoying buttermilk pancakes with crispy edgesat any time of the day.

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

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

In observance of Memory Sunday on June 9th, which draws attention to the impact of Alzheimer's in our communities, Dr. P talks with Denisha DeLane.

Ms. DeLane has 20+ years of community engagement experience on a variety of social justice, health advocacy and social service initiatives. She is a serial entrepreneur and creative who enjoy mediums 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. 

Salathiel DeLoach is the President and CEO of the DeLoach Lupus Foundation Savannah, GA Inc. 
She obtained her bachelor’s degree in business and is currently a member of leadership in the capacity of a Human Resources manager. She enjoys the ability to change the stigma that most people have about those that work in this role. She believes it’s important to remember the basics of the title “Human Resource”. We are all humans and with this accepted assignment, we are tasked with being a resource to those we serve. As the CEO of this charity, she embodies this same mindset, enjoys serving others and she has a heart for the people.

In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on  May 18th, Dr. P and Louis Shackelford discuss the search for an HIV vaccine. 

Louis Shackelford is the Director of External Relations in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Leadership and Operations Center at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. 

As External Relations Project Manager, Louis’ primary focus is implementing stakeholder engagement strategies in HIV vaccine clinical trials domestically and globally.