#260 Hello Healthy Churches Conference! Dr. P’s HC2030 Preview

Dr. P On The Pod

Dr. P On The Pod
#260 Hello Healthy Churches Conference! Dr. P’s HC2030 Preview
Nov 13, 2025
Pernessa C. Seele

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 38 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa to eradicate health disparities by promoting health education and services within their local communities.

Born in the heart of the south, this Lincolnville native always shares a special love for South Carolina. 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 is known for her work in forging public health & faith-based partnerships for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Time Magazine 100, who 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.

Dr. Seele is well known for her extraordinary vision and ability to create national and global partnerships among leaders of various cultures and religious doctrines in the areas of health. As a pioneer and community activist, Dr. Seele is known for her work in forging public health & faith-based partnerships for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions.

She has worked with three US presidential administrations on issues of health in the United States and abroad. Dr. Seele was an invited guest of former President and First Lady Laura Bush for the State of the Union Address representing a symbol of President Bush’s commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS in the world. In 2010, Dr. Seele was invited to participate in the Fortune TIME CNN Global Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, along with President William “Bill” Clinton and a host of international leaders and Fortune 100 chief executive officers to focus on challenges and solutions in the developing world.

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.

Episode Artwork #260 Hello Healthy Churches Conference! Dr. P’s HC2030 Preview 26:08 Episode Artwork #259 Living Your Best Life: Finding Joy and Balance This Holiday Season 29:18 Episode Artwork #258 The Healthy Communication GLOW 27:53 Episode Artwork #257 This is Legacy! HBCUs, Homecomings, and Connection 30:32 Episode Artwork Understanding Natural Healthy Food is Medicine! with Delores Fedrick 26:03 Episode Artwork #255 Decluttering for our Physical and Mental Well-Being 30:04 Episode Artwork #254 Carrying Legacy Forward 31:46 Episode Artwork #253 Our Connections, Our Spiritual Traditions 32:00 Episode Artwork #252 Summer Joy with S. Darlene Cheek 29:26 Episode Artwork #251 The Check In: For Black Men’s Health 24:40 Episode Artwork #250 Legacy and Light: Grounding for the Future 29:24 Episode Artwork #249 Preserving Our Sacred Spaces with Nolly Swan 36:35 Episode Artwork #248 Aging Vibrantly: A Celebration of Senior Health with Dionne Jones 21:45 Episode Artwork #247 Her Health, Her Voice: Strength, Resilience and Wholeness 22:22 Episode Artwork #246 Still She Rises: A Triumphant Lupus Warrior 26:44 Episode Artwork #245 Balance in LEVELS: Mental Health and Faith with Dr. Gregory Marcelle 25:16 Episode Artwork #244 How to Live Well with Parkinson’s Disease 25:46 Episode Artwork #243 Musing on Holy Week with Rev. JT Logan 21:31 Episode Artwork #242 Awakened and Aligned: A Journey in Holistic Well-Being 26:12 Episode Artwork #241 Black Women Bloom: Navigating Health, Healing, and Empowerment 24:32 Episode Artwork #240 Black Women are Women's History 23:42 Episode Artwork #240 Novel Emerging Therapies in the Targeted Protein Degradation space, CELMoDs in Multiple Myeloma Treatment 30:25 Episode Artwork #239 Healing Together: Embracing Life and Honoring Love with Rev. Lamont A. Wells in observation of the 37th National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS 33:21 Episode Artwork #238 Harriet Tubman’s Legacy in Health and Freedom with Victoria Smalls 36:16 Episode Artwork #237 Follow the North Star with Dr. P 34:14