This week on Dr. P on the Pod, Dr. P sits down with Mr. Jefferson to discuss why we must keep talking boldly and loudly about Black Health Equity. Tobacco is one of the leading causes of death among African Americans. NO Menthol Sunday is coming up on May 16th.Delmonte Jefferson is the Executive Director of The Center for Black Health & Equity (formerly known as NAATPN, Inc.), a national organization that facilitates public health programs to benefit communities and people of African descent.

For National Minority Health Month, Dr. P interviews former NBA player and coach Don Chaney and his wife, Jackie, about his diagnosis of hereditary transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (hATTR-CM). ATTR-CM is a type of amyloidosis (a group of diseases in which certain proteins change shape, or “misfold,” and can build up in different parts of the body) that affects the heart and is associated with heart failure – it's also underrecognized and underdiagnosed even by doctors. Don and Jackie are working to raise awareness of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of the condition, including how the Black/African American community is disproportionately affected. They are urging others who have heart failure, are experiencing unresolved symptoms and have a family history of heart disease to talk to a doctor or cardiologist. Visit www.yourheartsmessagewithdon.com to learn more and fill out a doctor discussion guide to help you at your next doctor’s appointment. The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare provider.

Discussing our feelings about the conviction of the policeman who killed Brother George Floyd, Dr. Robinson gives us an in-depth look into her thinking and vision on how the church must begin to tackle real life issues – hard core issues – issues that matter to our everyday lives.The Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson serves as the newly appointed inaugural Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Religion at Wiley College – “the home of the Great Debaters” – in Marshall, TX. She is the founder of iHomiletic™, a groundbreaking homiletic that employs social media linguistics and technology as a methodology to reconnect millennials to the Church. Dr. Robinson has preached the Gospel across the United States and abroad in Guyana, South America, Barbados, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago.  Her life’s goal is to fuse her doctrine, discipline, and testimony to be an effective advocate and ally for those who are marginalized.

This week's Dr. P on the Pod, we are revisiting a podcast in which Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, shared her thoughts on health disparities as it relates to COVID-19. Her 35-year career placed her on the frontlines of health care as a clinician, educator, researcher, and leader in the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries. Dr. Lewis-Hall provides us with a frank discussion on why African Americans must become engaged in all stages of vaccine development, including COVID-19.

The Balm In Gilead and The Black Church Food Security Project is launching the African American Church Community Garden and Food Security Project in South Carolina this week. Food insecurity, food deserts, food inequity are real issues for the Black community. Churches with land to grow food can make a difference!!About My Guest: ShaVon Terrel, Deputy Director, Black Church Food Security NetworkA rising voice in the Black Food and Land Sovereignty Community. Sha’Von Terrell is a child of the Deep South, freedom dreamer and a strategic good systems planner

As we celebrate the mystical, transformative days of Holy Week, Bishop-Elect McRae and Dr. P discuss the crossroads of the Black Church one year into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Debra Peek-Haynes gives us much to think about regarding why some of us consistently eat so poorly. She gives us 10 things that we must do now to move our personal health in the right direction.Debra Peek-Haynes is an entrepreneur, health and wellness advocate, host of the podcast “Debra’s Healing Kitchen”, author, “The Beginners’ Guide to Healthy Living” and “The Simplified Guide to Healthy Living”. She is the president of DHK Wellness Strategies, Inc. a non-profit organization committed to the addressing health disparities in the African American and Hispanic communities. Debra became interested in holistic and nutritional healing when she and her husband had difficulty conceiving a child. More than twenty-five years ago, she was introduced to a holistic physician who exposed her to a new mindset for a healthier lifestyle. She spent countless hours learning from holistic practitioners, reading books and creating healthy recipes. After transforming to a healthy lifestyle, Debra was able to conceive and birthed a beautiful daughter.

Having been a guest speaker at age 6 for the Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS in the early years of this national movement, Hydeia discusses her extraordinary life, so far, living with AIDS. Now 36, Hydeia has much to say to teens and young adults living with HIV and AIDS.Hydeia Broadbent is an long-long AIDS Activist. She was born in 1984 with HIV. Hydeia Broadbent began her debut as an HIV/AIDS activist and public speaker at six years old. By 12 years old, Hydeia appeared on many national television programs including Oprah, 20/20, Good Morning America, “A Conversation with Magic Johnson” on Nickelodeon. She has been featured in prominent publications to include; New York Times, People, Essence, Ebony, Health Quest, POZ, National Geographic, and Real Health. Hydeia also co-graced the cover of TV Guide.

This week, Dr. P will be joined by Joanna Pearson, a Patient Education Liaison (PEL) from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, to discuss a rare, genetic condition that disproportionately affects African Americans. Known as hereditary ATTR amyloidosis, or hATTR amyloidosis, the disease is more common for people of certain ethnicities, including those of African (West African: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone) and Afro-Caribbean descent.For more information about hATTR amyloidosis, and to request to speak with an Alnylam PEL who can answer questions you may have about hATTR amyloidosis, please visit www.hATTRbridge.com.Content sponsored and provided by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.ABOUT OUR GUEST: JOANNA PEARSON, RN, BSN, CPRHJoanna Pearson is a Patient Education Liaison at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. In her role, she is responsible for educating individuals and their families about hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis – a rare, life-threatening condition. Joanna received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University and has worked in patient education at all levels of her career.

This week, Dr. P honors the legacy, genius and contributions of Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. The Balm In Gilead owns all rights to the presentations of within this broadcast.