April Woodard, Moderator
Morning Show Co-Host, COAST LIVE, WTKR News 3
April is an Emmy Nominated Co-Host of Coast Live, a daily lifestyle show on WTKR. She also serves as a professor at Norfolk State University. She was a correspondent on the nationally syndicated newsmagazine, Inside Edition for 15 years. On BET and BET International networks she hosted Mad Swagg, Music Around the Globe and covered The Oscars, NAACP Image Awards, The BET Awards, BET Honors, and Black Girls Rock among others. April created and produces the web based show, Conversations in Chaos and has contributed as an expert on MSNBC, HLN, CNN, and Fox News.
Woodard is highly committed to giving back to the community. She has been honored with The Trailblazer Award, The Network Journal's 40 under 40, and The YWCA's Woman of Distinction Award.
Carla Hall, Panelist
Celebrity Chef
Carla Hall first won over audiences when she competed on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef: All Stars” and shared her philosophy to always cook with love. She is currently featured on the Food Network in shows such as “Thanksgiving, Holiday and Halloween Baking Championships” (judge), and “Worst Cooks in America”. Her latest cookbook, Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration, was published in 2018, landing on annual "Best Cookbook" lists across the country and receiving an NAACP Image Awards nomination.
Frankye Myers, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Panelist
Senior Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Riverside Health System
Frankye brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the coordination of patient care, quality, education, and clinical operations. In addition to her role at Riverside, Frankye is the former VNA Chapter 5 President Elect and the former Commissioner of Nursing Practice Elect and she is Board Certified as a Nurse Executive.
Frankye has a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Nursing Administration from Barry University. She completed her Nursing Administration internship at Coral Springs Medical Center in Florida. Prior to her internship, Frankye earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She is currently completing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Old Dominion University.
Dr. Mekbib Gemeda, Panelist
Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Dr. Mekbib Gemeda serves as the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) leading efforts to advance health equity and enhance diversity and inclusion in the healthcare workforce. Since joining EVMS in this inaugural role, Mekbib Gemeda has implemented diversity and inclusion strategies that have enhanced inclusion training and doubled matriculation of underrepresented groups into the medical program.
Mekbib’s efforts to advance equity nationally include serving on the steering committee of the Group on Diversity and Inclusion of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). He is the inaugural chair of the Health Professions Chapter of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) and serves on the State Board of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities in addition to a variety of other community boards.
Dr. Felicia Mebane, PhD, MSPH, Panelist
Executive Director, Center for Public Health Initiatives, Norfolk State University
Dr. Felicia Mebane is the Executive Director of the Center for Public Health Initiatives at NSU. From this leadership position, Dr. Mebane collaborates with faculty, staff and students to enhance NSU’s role as a community-inspired academic and economic engine in Hampton Roads. Dr. Mebane also facilitates NSU’s development of public health programs, including a joint School of Public Health with ODU and EVMS, research initiatives, community engagement and more. Dr. Mebane earned a Ph.D. in Health Policy from Harvard University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Public Health degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her expertise centers around health policy analysis and communications. She is also the host of the radio program Health, Healing and Hampton Roads produced in partnership with WNSB.
Jill Comess, DHSc, MS, RDN, Panelist
Program Director, Food Science and Nutrition, Norfolk State University
Jill Comess is the Food Science and Nutrition Program Director at Norfolk State University (NSU), Norfolk, VA in the Department of Nursing and Allied Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology. Her experiences and interests are in lifecycle nutrition, minority health, and obesity. She is a member of the NSU Center of Excellence in Minority Health Disparities, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the VA Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is Co-President of the Tidewater Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Mark Johnson, Panelist
Vice President, Community Development Manager, Truist
Mark is the Vice President & Community Development Manager at Truist. In this role, Mr. Johnson is responsible for overseeing the Community Development activities in the state of Virginia. An exemplary steward of community service and champion of philanthropic efforts in the Hampton Roads community, he is consistently working to align the bank with charitable organizations and initiatives that promote positive change within the community. Mark’s continued efforts have been recognized through a number awards, such as the Hampton Roads Inside Business Top 100 Power List and the Urban League of Hampton Roads Silver Star and MLK Community Leader Awards, which recognizes leaders who have made a difference in their communities.
Quetel Sellers, Panelist
VCU Graduate Student, Administrative Resident, Riverside Health System
Quetel Sellers is a Chesapeake native with a bachelors in Public and Community Health. Quetel is currently a 3rd-year Master of Health Administration candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University completing his year-long residency at Riverside in the Lifelong Health Senior Living Division. Quetel is very passionate about population health and aims to utilize his influence to bring about actionable and much needed change in combatting health disparities.