Mechelle Taylor-Moragne, M.D. Shares Her Heart Health Journey on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers  embody, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

On Saturday, February 27, 2016, we will continue our series on Hearth Health with Mechelle Taylor-Moraane, M.D., a heart attack survivor.  Dr. Taylor-Moragne will share events prior to heart her attack and her lifestyle since that faithful day.

Dr. Taylor-Moragne, a graduate of Fisk and Meharry, will share how being a doctor prepared her to be a patient and how her medical training became an asset when requesting tests while in the hospital. As she is recovering and adjusting to the new norms in her life, we will hear how her attack has affected her emotional, physically, and spiritually. She will also share a few moments from the ER that will leave you  with a smile about the ironies in life.

This is a must hear interview!

 Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In,  military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.


More about Mechelle Taylor-Moragne, M.D., Ph.D., FAAFP

Dr. Mechelle Taylor-Moragne is a family practice physician and Medical Director of the East Jackson Family Medical Center in Jackson, TN. She has been practicing at East Jackson Family Medical Center for 13 years.  She takes care of women, men, babies, children and elderly patients. She is particularly interested in women’s health because of the disparities that women especially African American women face in health care.

Dr. Taylor-Moragne was born in Memphis, TN and attended the historic Memphis Central High school.  After high school, she earned a BA at the historic Fisk University. During her time at Fisk, she participated in the Summer Research Program at Meharry Medical College sparking her interest in the field of Science and Medicine.  Dr. Taylor-Moragne later earned her Ph.D and M.D. at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Taylor-Moragne became the first female to earn both degrees of M.D. and Ph. D. from Meharry when she graduated from the School of Medicine in 1998.  

During her tenure at Meharry Medical College, Dr. Taylor had been active in several activities involving the underserved and underrepresented community of Nashville, TN.  She served as a lab coordinator and designed research activities for high school and college students participating in the NSF Summer Research Program and Science Motivation Program (a STEM Project).  She served several years in the Pre Alumni Association’s Community Day Activities which provided stimulating activities and physicals to the children from the local neighborhood and housing projects in Nashville, TN.  She organized Career Day Programs for high school students during her graduate school tenure at Meharry Medical College.

Dr. Taylor Moragne had many role models at Meharry Medical College, especially Dr. David Satcher who served as the President of Meharry Medical College from 1982 to 1993 while she was a student.  Dr. Stcher went on to hold post as Director of the CDC and appointed as 16^th Surgeon General of the United States and 10^th Assistant Secretary for Health.  Dr. Taylor-Moragne has admired Dr. Satcher’s stance for eliminating  health disparities for minorities, poor and disadvantage groups.   

Dr. Taylor-Moragne went on to complete a Family Practice Residency Program at Rush/ Illinois Masonic Family Medical Residency in Chicago, Illinois.  Her desire to serve an underrepresented population did not stop in Chicago.  She participated in a Community Health Program to provide medical care to a population of homeless patients at the Pilsen Homeless Center.  

After completion of her Residency Program, Dr. Taylor-Moragne came to Jackson, Tennessee to continue her mission of serving an underserved population in Jackson, Tennessee at the East Jackson Family Medical Center which is a designated Rural Health Center and safety net clinic for a population who would otherwise not have access to medical care.  Her work has been fulfilling to her.  

Dr. Taylor-Moragne has two sons, Reuben Moragne (17 years old) and Dallas Moragne (15 years old) who are great students at Madison High School. 

Dinner and Discussion Book Club: Postcards from Cookie

I received a copy Postcards from Cookie in March and fell in love with the author's, Caroline Clarke Graves, journey. I recommended the book to the book club I am in, to listeners of Living Your Best Life Radio and several friends in women groups. I have read the book several times since March and with each sitting, I felt as if I was turning the pages of the book for the first time.

I knew the book was a hit when I got an email from Diane Hines who simply stated "I loved Postcards From Cookie." I immediately called her and we spent the afternoon sharing our favorite stories from the book. A few days later, Joyce Searcy emailed me from London and said, "I read the book while I was on the plane." I also recieved a postcard from her which I thought was a great lead up to our book club meeting. When Cathy Ramsey called she said, "I have something to share but will wait until we see each other."

With so many positive comments, I could not wait for our meeting to hurry up and get here. The anticipation to fellowship with fellow book lovers and natural story tellers and hear their feedback had me counting down the days until I could see the ladies of club share more of their thoughts about Postcards from Cookie. While waiting to meet with them, I sent emails to the Caroline, letting her know the popularity of the book and how I could not wait to see her in person soon.

The Dinner and Discussion Book Club met at Sunset Grill to discuss Postcards From Cookie.
The afternoon spent together over diner and drinks was truly a special time. Cathy put our discussion questions on postcards that she made from photographs of student life at Palmer Memorial Institute. During dinner, Cathy revealed that she had attended the school at one point and understood the mindset of many of the women like Maria Cole who graduated from the school.

As usual, Cathy's questions were thought provoking and lead to follow up questions and sharing of individual stories that mirrored some of the family dynamics that were told in the book. As Veronica and Anessa shared from chapters of their lives, I felt the strong pull of Postcards from Cookie bringing women closer together as we read Caroline peeling back layers of her life one page after another while giving readers a glimpse of how life was in the inner circle of Black Royalty through Cookie's life.

Postcards from Cookie is rich with history, heritage, and mayhem that have helped shaped African American communities from North to South and East to West over several generations. It mingles the past with the future while having you reaching for your latest issue of Black Enterprise. After my first reading, I reached out to old friends that I met at BE Conferences and Events over years. Several places mentioned in the book during Caroline's travels regarding BE, I was there with other entrepreneurs. Oh, the fund memories. Those calls to friends had me searching for thank you notes from Mr. and Mrs. Graves that I saved. I was reminded of the power of sending notes and thank you cards and how special I feel when I receive one for any reason.

As Caroline reveals in Postcards from Cookie and my biggest take away from reading it, God does not make mistakes and we are all "uniquely and wonderfully" made.



Photo Credits: Genma Holmes, Harper Collins

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee held its annual selection meeting today and elected seven individuals to the Class of 2014. Bringing the total number of members in the Hall of Fame to 287 are linebacker Derrick Brooks, punter Ray Guy, defensive end Claude Humphrey, tackle Walter Jones, wide receiver Andre Reed, defensive end Michael Strahan, and cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams. - See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2014/2/2/pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-2014-elected/#sthash.jtyMmoEW.dpuf

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee held its annual selection meeting today and elected seven individuals to the Class of 2014. Bringing the total number of members in the Hall of Fame to 287 are linebacker Derrick Brooks, punter Ray Guy, defensive end Claude Humphrey, tackle Walter Jones, wide receiver Andre Reed, defensive end Michael Strahan, and cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams. - See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2014/2/2/pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-2014-elected/#sthash.jtyMmoEW.dpuf

Lipscomb University's LIFE on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations and leaders who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations and leaders embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Throughout 2013, listeners have heard from presidents of organizations who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods to learn and serve others.

On Saturday, December 21, 2013 tune in to hear Dr. Richard Goode discuss Lipscomb University's LIFE  (Lipscomb Initiative For Education) recent graduation held at Tennessee Prison for Women (TPFW). Lipscomb recognized it's first associate degree earners.

Listen to Dr. Goode share about Lipscomb University's Associate of Arts degree offered exclusively for inmates at TPFW and is the only college degree in the region, and one of the few in the nation, offered to prison inmates. Listen to the journey of some of the inmates who started the program in 2007 and hear how Lipscomb's traditional students who took classes with the inmates lives were effected after completing the class. Each semester 15 on-campus students enroll in the LIFE course travel once a week to the prison, along with their professor, to study together with the inmates.

In an interview Dr. Goode stated, "Studies have shown that the percentage of prison inmates who return to prison with a new charge drops dramatically when the inmate has some college education, and drops to almost none if the inmate has a complete bachelor’s or master’s degree." Hear him discuss how LIFE helps not only the inmate get an education but the economy but reducing the repeat offender rates.

We will also hear the spiritual impact of LIFE on the faculty, staff, traditional and non-traditional students.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In, Inspirational Networks, military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.

More About Dr. Goode

Dr. Richard Goode has taught at Lipscomb for nearly 25 years. He has also taught for the Vanderbilt Divinity School and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. At Lipscomb he teaches such courses as U.S. History I, U.S. History II, Colonial America, Foundations of 20th Century America, the American Civil Rights Movement, Religion and American Culture, and Freshman Seminar. Additionally, Dr. Goode coordinates the Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) programs, which offers Lipscomb courses at Nashville area prisons and at Room in the Inn. He also enjoys research and writing, and has published three books with Will D. Campbell.

B.A., Lipscomb University M.A., Vanderbilt University Ph. D., Vanderbilt University

More About LIFE

Established in 2007, Lipscomb’s LIFE Program introduced an innovative education format that brought Lipscomb’s traditional students out to the prison each week to study with the inmates in for-credit classes. Faculty also travel to the prison to teach inmates face-to-face.

 

The LIFE Program strives to enhance the lives of the TPFW inmates – both in prison and when they are released – by helping them develop better self-confidence, expanded life experience and good study habits. Lipscomb’s traditional students are afforded an eye-opening experience to get to know and befriend the inmates, an encounter that many students say has affected their life choices well after completing the class.

 

The program began by offering an 18-credit hour slate of courses in the liberal arts arena. TPFW students have studied judicial process, art history, Christian ethics, negotiation and conflict management. In the last four years, LIFE inmate students have compiled three literary journals, held a theatrical production in the prison and are by far among the faculty’s most dedicated students.

 

More Lipscomb University

 

Lipscomb was founded in Nashville, Tenn., in 1891 by two individuals–David Lipscomb and James A. Harding–who believed that a truly educated individual of their time could not be so without attention given to spiritual growth as well as academics. So in addition to its role as the most important guidebook in a Christian’s life, the Bible was also given an academic position along with, we suppose, the works of Aristotle, Ovid and other hallmarks of a classical education.

The school opened with men, women and children attending (the beginnings of our 1,300-student pre-kindergarten through grade 12 campus school) and has grown into a consistently top-ranked university. Sure, things have changed from that October day in 1891, but what grounded the university then grows it to this day. The university is still a place of academic rigor and spiritual growth with more than 4,500 students enrolled at the university. Students can choose from eight bachelor’s degrees in 78 majors or 145 areas of undergraduate study, several pre-professional programs and an accelerated evening and online adult degree program for those who wish to complete their undergraduate degrees. Lipscomb also offers 25 master’s degrees, four education specialist degrees and three doctorate degrees in 58 fields of study.

 

Photos provided by Lipscomb University

Brown is Genma Holmes New Black

I am known for donning black...often. Ten thousand pairs of black pants, skirts, blazers, and evening dresses galore it seems. I do not recall when the color of black took over my closet but I believe somewhere between raising teens and owning a business, I started wearing black. Lots of black.

After a health scare in the spring of 2013, I took assessment of life and decided to make sure I am doing things that I truly enjoy. Getting back to blogging about great finds for the fashionistas who love clothes and who love great deals has been on my must do list for sometime. I am collector, not a shopper, of timeless pieces that can flow effortlessly from day into evening and would be appropriate in the boardroom, volunteering in a school, in a radio studio, and of course, running a pest control company.

Brown has become my new black. Almond, amber, bay, brandy, bronze, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, copper, mocha, and rich gold tones clothing and accessories have made their way to the check out counter with me since the day after Labor Day. Here is one of my new favorites outfits.

In WTST studios getting ready to interview Travis McVey

The Anne Klein gold silk blouse, the brown leather belt with gold embroidery, and the gold knotted necklace were from a wonderful store called The Sugar Pea in Old Hickory, TN.

The Bergdorf Goodman brown boulce skirt woven with gold metallic thread has a little swing action and can be paired with an evening jacket for a night on the town. This beautiful skirt is from Couture for a Cause in Brentwood, TN. The blouse and skirt look as if they were made for each other. My leopard print velvet tee is over twenty years old and felt brand new when I paired it with the skirt and blouse.

The tan flower bracelet with topaz gemstones peeping from under the cuff of my blouse is from my own line of jewelry that is debuting soon.

At the Southern Region IABC Conference with Diane Chase

I wore a pair of black boots and brown tights with this outfit. Compliments galore!

For more great finds like my ensemble above, visit The Sugar Pea and Couture for Cause. These boutiques are owned by women with wonderful hearts and are on a mission. They champion women with causes and I love them dearly. Tell them Genma sent you!

Pro Photos by Lawrence Taylor of  www.chicagraphyimages.com

"Friends of Bridgett" on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".

Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty with her daughter, Laura

On Saturday, April 27, 2013, tune in to hear from two friends on a journey to beat cancer. Listen as Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty share with listeners her on going battle with cancer.  Bridgett, who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 33 years, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Inflammatory Breast Cancer in March 2012. After twelve rounds of chemo, a single mastectomy, additional chemo, and radiation she was pronounced free of cancer in November 2012. However, in January of 2013, cancer reared its ugly head once again as Stage 4 cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.

Bridgett has many family, friends, and legions of fans who are praying for her to kick cancer's butt. Listen to one of her closest friends, Lisa Florian, share about the fundraiser, sponsored by hope-4-health, that will help raise money to defray the staggering cost of Bridgett's medical bills.

Join us as we continue to bring people and causes to the airwaves that are "Living and Giving" throughout the year.This show will empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life while helping others as well. 

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires and motivates one to live their BEST life, can heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST. This show will also be aired on WTST, a member of the HBCU radio network.

More About Bridgett's Financial Needs

After the loss of her job due a downturn in the economy, God blessed Bridgett with a new job shortly before her first diagnosis. This provided much needed income and health insurance just in time!

While health insurance covers a large portion of the medical expenses, the deductible and uncovered co-pays mounted into thousands of dollars over the first diagnosis before she was hit with the second diagnosis.

Additionally, being a single mother with two children in college is a struggle in and of itself.  Her employers have been very generous with her treatment schedule and are going far above and beyond what would be expected to assist her, but she has had to miss a lot of work due to treatment and hospital admissions, which is very stressful for her.

Her need for treatment is great, and her friends have rallied around her to form “Friends of Bridgett” to help with the medical costs. The motto of Friends of Bridgett is: 

Call it a clan, call it a network,

call it a tribe, call it a family.

Whatever you call it, whoever you are,

you need one.

~Jane Howard

The first official fundraiser, sponsored by hope-4-health, began this week and runs through the end of May.

Bridgett's children:

Evan is a Junior at University of TN, Chattanooga and Laura Brennan is a Sophomore at St Louis University.

Fitness Expert Jimmy Duggans, Jr. on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we start January 2013 focused on a healthy mind, body, and spirit to help make this year your best year yet. The first month of the New Year is usually filled with new resolutions that are often discarded after a few weeks. In 2013, let's jump start the new year by making small changes that will net big results that will help you be successful year long.

On Saturday, January 12, 2013, join us to hear from author, entrepreneur, fitness expert and Pastor, Jimmy L. Duggans, Jr,. as he shares essential tools to staying fit and healthy as a lifestyle. Duggans' book, Faith and Fitness After 40, approaches health care and exercise from a biblical foundation.  Duggans will talk about the three areas that he feels are necessary for optimum health benefits; resistance weight training, cardio, and nutrition. 

Here why others believe Faith and Fitness After 40 "is about developing a lifestyle of fitness, it’s about bending and not breaking, learning how to enjoy yourself by maintaining good health all life long, and not for the sake of just looking good for a vacation. Fitness is more than just a passing fad, it’s a life-style, an avenue where one can vent their anger, and focus it in a positive direction."

This show will help you to take another look at exercise and fitness with keys to help you stay faith to working out year round. 

 Living Your Best Life can be heard on 760 AM in the Middle-Tennessee Region, military bases, and streamed live on U-Stream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Jimmy L. Duggans Fitness Boot Camp

Jimmy at Hermitage Fitness Center

Genma's first day working out with Jimmy.

BOOT CAMP with JIMMY DUGGANS begins SATURDAY, JANUARY 19th @7:00am! This is a 6-WEEK RESULTS-DRIVEN Class including a Nutritional class and a Personally Sculpted Workout just for YOU! $169/Members of Hermitage Fitness Center & $199/Non-Members. Sign-up today jleed65@gmail.com OR call 615-983-2822!

“Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1.

Many classify faith as a noun, when in actuality; it serves as both a noun and a verb. Faith and Fitness After 40 focuses on the noun and the verb, meshing the spirituality and the practicality of faith, health and fitness. As a Pastor, I have had many people come to me asking me to pray for preventable health issues, that cannot be solved by prayer alone. Why, because they have no intentions upon applying the corrective action to manifest their prayer request. Yes, faith without works is dead, but as it pertains to your health, faith without work(ing) out, equals death. Faith and Fitness After 40 will show us that the bible is not only a book of faith, but also a book of practical application to coincide with our belief in the word. Jesus paid a lofty price for us to be healthy and I pray this book will help us to begin to experience the health he desired for us to have.
 JLeeD