2026 Black Church Health Summit Speakers
S. Jared Cook-Dormoh, EdD
Dr. Samuel Cook-Dormoh, EdD, NCSF-CSC, ACSM-PAPHS, ACSM-EIM is a rising voice in the field of chronic disease prevention in the United States. The founder of APEX Health, he is a certified strength coach through the National Council of Strength and Fitness, a certified physical activity and public health specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, and holds a Doctor of Education degree in public health education from the American College of Education.
Dr. Cook spent a decade in government service, serving as the City of New Orleans’ Fit NOLA program lead., where he managed more than 100+ weekly health promotion programs and group exercise classes at designated City of New Orleans facilities, including parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and libraries.
Prior to that role, he served as director of the 7th Ward Neighborhood Center, where he was responsible for directing community action around quality of life issues such as health and healthcare access, environmental conditions, economic stability, and education and literacy and organizing community members to rebuild the neighborhood post-Katrina.
The great-great-grandson of a Pentecostal pastor, Dr. Cook’s professional work centers around lifestyle medicine and Exercise is Medicine. He is passionate about assisting churches and other houses of worship to become hubs of congregational and community wellness.
A lifelong animal lover, he resides in Algiers Point with his Beagles, Leopold, Alexander, and Odysseus.
Master of Ceremonies
Dr. Alisha Reed
Dr. Alisha Reed is a licensed pharmacist, community health educator, and founder of Your Self Care Prescription, LLC.
After losing her husband to heart disease at 43, Alisha faced her own cardiovascular crisis when her blood pressure became dangerously uncontrolled — all while serving as a frontline healthcare provider during the pandemic. Her then 4-year-old son’s question — “Mommy, are you going to die too?” — became her catalyst for transformation.
Today, with her blood pressure at goal, Dr. Reed teaches Black women over 40 how to take control of their heart health through her signature REFILL Strategy™ framework.
Dr. Reed serves as Board Chair of the American Heart Association Greater New Orleans, Zone Director for the National Pharmaceutical Association, and a member of both the AHA Healthcare by Food Lived Experience Patient Advisory Board and the Women’s Health Advisory Council for HealthyWomen. She is the recipient of the 2025 Beverly Matheney Volunteer Service Award, honoring her service, leadership, and commitment to the AHA’s Go Red for Women movement.
Through Your Self Care Prescription, LLC, Dr. Reed positions strategic self-care as preventive medicine — addressing the health disparities faced by Black women, who experience significantly higher rates of hypertension than any other group.
Keynote SpeakerAnn Nealy, MSN, RN, MBA/HCM
Session Topic: Nurse Education ProgramAnn Nealy is a graduate of the University of South Alabama where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). She later attended the University of Phoenix where she completed a dual Master of Science in Nursing and a Master’s in business administration in Health Care Management.
Most of her nursing career was concentrated in community health, healthcare management and academia. Her clinical experience in the hospital clinical setting included acute care, medical-surgical, and intensive care units. Before her retirement,
Ms. Nealy worked as an administrative supervisor in the hospital setting and as a professor of nursing in an associate of science nursing program.
She has served as a faith community nurse in her church since completing the CNEP #7 class in 2002 then called The McFarland Institute of Baptist Community Ministries.
Ann is currently continuing to serve as the Academic Consultant for BCM with the Church Nurse Education Program (CNEP) program and in creating continuing professional development (CNPD) programs for the registered nurses.
Cynthia Berfect-Shelby, DNP, APRN, BC, FNP
Session Topic: Chronic Disease In ChurchesDr. Cynthia Berfect-Shelby is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). SHe has been a practicing Registered Nurse for 27 years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dillard University in 1992; a Master of Science in Nursing from Southern University A&M College in 1999; and a Doctor of Nursing Degree from Abilene Christian University in May 2019. Dr. Berfect-Shelby is a member of the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and New Orleans Verteran's Affairs Nursing Organization, the Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society and Alpha Chi National Honor Society. Moreover, she is the Co-Chair of the Research and Evidence Based Practice Committee at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System.
Session Topic: Nurse Education ProgramSharon Burel, BSN, RN, MBA/HCM
Ms. Burel (f.k.a. Burel-Hawthorne) has been a registered nurse (RN) for over forty (40) years. She received her first degree as an RN graduate from Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans with a Diploma in Nursing. She continued her education by completing the curriculum for a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Sharon later received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused in Health Care Management (HCM) from the University of Phoenix – Louisiana Campus.
She initially started her nursing career at Charity Hospital New Orleans in the Pediatric and adult Emergency Rooms and later transferred to the Operating Rooms. In the Operating Rooms, she progressed from staff nurse to Nurse Manager and was an integral part of the team that worked to secure the certification as a Level 1 Trauma Center for the hospital. She was also instrumental in the development of Same Day Surgery at the hospital, and pioneered the use of endoscopes, video equipment and interventional cardiac and vascular catheters in the Operating Rooms. These initiatives were the clinical precursors for the development of the GI Endoscopy and Cath Lab departments. She was also instrumental in authoring the Operating Room Standards and Policy Manual and other compliance initiatives that were the key to successful accreditation surveys by The Joint Commission (TJC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Operating Rooms and Perioperative Services.
In addition to her role at Charity Hospital/University Hospitals, she held similar administrative positions at other hospitals in the New Orleans Metro Area including Director of Nursing Resources, Director of Surgical Services, Quality nurse Analyst, Joint Commission Prep accreditation team member, and System Administrator for electronic nursing scheduling systems.
In 2006 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Mrs. Burel was hired to create a centralized nursing office at Touro Infirmary that became the Nursing Resources department. Responsibilities of this office also included hiring Nursing Managers, registered nurses and patient care assistants to staff the hospital as it re-opened after the hurricane.
When returning to state service, she was hired to manage a primary medical home clinic for the state of Louisiana in 2 locations on the East and West banks of the Mississippi River. Her last in-hospital role was at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (SLVHCS) in New Orleans where she was the Nurse Manager for the Operating Rooms, Recovery Room and Outpatient GI lab. During this employment, she was also instrumental in inspecting and approving the construction of the Operating Rooms in the new VA facility.
In 2014, Ms. Burel joined the team at BCM as the Nurse Manager for the Faith Community Nurses network and faculty for the Church Nurse Education Program (CNEP). Her duties include providing professional development to the registered nurses (RN) in the network, serving as faculty for the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing curriculum, creating continuing education programs for the RNs and participating in community events as a nursing leader. With the recent retirement of the long-time Vice-president of Congregational Wellness, Ms. Burel is currently in the role of interim Vice-President.
Ms. Burel is a member of several professional organizations including the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nurses, American Nurses Association (with associate membership in the state and local chapters (LSNA and NODNA), Health Ministries Association (HMA) and the Association for Professional Nursing Development (ANPD). She is also an active member of several community organizations including but not limited to Charity Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association (CHSNAA) for her first alma mater. In 2019, she was recognized at the “Great 100 Nurses” program for her contributions to the profession of nursing.
Ms. Burel is a member of The Asia Baptist Church pastored by Rev. Dr. Kenneth G. Thibodeaux. She has served in several activities and is currently a member of the Trustee Board, Health Ministry and the Women’s Ministry.
Session Topic: Mental Health and the ChurchDéJeuné Green, PLPC, CMPC
DéJeuné Green, PLPC, CMPC (she/her/hers) earned a Masters in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans in 2023, a Masters in Sport Psychology from Florida State University in 2010, and a Bachelors in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 2008. DéJeuné grew up in the New Orleans area and is happy to call New Orleans home. DéJeuné has provided mental training for high school and collegiate individual athletes, teams, and retired professional athletes. She has provided academic advising support for college students as well. She has also provided professional development and educational presentations for mental training to athletic administrators and coaches and served as a panelist for a discussion on athlete mental health. DéJeuné is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and serves as a committee chair. She enjoys sports, food, and spending time with family and friends.