Dr. Apostle Chris T. Pernell - "A Peculiar People"

Dr. Chris T. Pernell, a dynamic physician-leader and health and wellness visionary, has labored to heal and transform souls. In her public health practice, she concentrates on community-based health promotion and advocacy, and worksite wellness programs, emphasizing a holistic approach to total well-being. Specializing in vulnerable populations, she has sought-after expertise in health and wellness consultancy, and prevention strategies.

A cum laude graduate of Princeton University, she attained her medical degree at the Duke University School of Medicine, and an Executive Master of Public Health in Health Services Management from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. Pernell trained clinically before segueing from medicine to population-based health promotion. Recently, she began the Johns Hopkins General Preventive Medicine Program where she helps facilitate local, regional and national public health and preventive medicine projects.

Dr. Chris, as she is affectionately known, founded My Body & Me as a faith-based initiative to combat overweight and obesity, and associated chronic illnesses. My Body & Me has expanded to include diverse audiences, spearheading the use of novel prevention practices for engaged, healthful living. In particular, the program was adapted for the public school setting with workshops for parents of school-aged children, and a series for the residents of the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Dr. Pernell was selected as a contributing writer for "Health Care Rx" - an online expert panel conducted by the Washington Post where she submitted weekly blogs on the health-care reform debate. AOL highlighted one of her pieces as the best of the web in their weekly series. In her first book entitled, "Letters to My People: Inspirational Essays, Poems, and Affirmations," she hopes to spark a renaissance of the heart and mind and empower others to tap into their highest calling and abundance. Through creative genius, faith, and profession, she aspires to make world changers out of the sea of humanity.

Dr. Apostle Chris serves as an ordained leader in the fivefold ministry of Bet HaShem YHWH Worldwide Ministries, Inc. From North Carolina to South Africa, she has advanced the mission of personal and community empowerment alongside her passion for worship as Director of Bet HASHEM (the Praise & Worship Ensemble), and founder of YAHSpeak, an inspirational spoken word performance group. Raised in East Orange, New Jersey she has made Newark her home, and purposes to raise her city to the standard of global beacon and urban gem. In these efforts she ran for the local school board, and vows to use the pulpit of public service to agitate for social change and justice.

In the words of Dr. Chris, she has made "the pursuit of cultivating whole, well, and equipped souls" her life's work and enduring legacy.

"Letters to My People" can be purchased at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CQROQNW.