Meet the Presenters

First Lady Jarrette Thomas is a proud native of Memphis, TN, and the cherished only child of Beatrice Kimmons and Gerald Buford. She received her foundational education within the Memphis City Schools system before going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Women's Studies from Mercer University in Macon, GA. Her passion for the field led her to Towson University in Baltimore, MD, where she earned a Master of Science in Women's Studies with a concentration in Women's Health in 2006.

First Lady Jarrette began her professional career as a Reproductive Health Educator and went on to build an accomplished career spanning over 17 years in education and healthcare. Her experience includes serving as an Adjunct Professor in the Women's Studies Department at Towson University, a Transplant Assistant at UPMC Central PA, guiding patients and families through the renal transplant process, and as an Education Project Specialist at UPMC Central PA, where she supervised medical students and Advanced Practice Provider students.

Her commitment to service is equally evident in her church and community involvement. Within the church, she leads the Destiny Women's Ministry, serves as a Discipleship Facilitator, and has contributed to the Music Ministry and Fine Arts Ministry. Within the community she serves as an Advisory Council Member for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and has been a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for over two decades.

First Lady Jarrette and her husband, Rev. Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr., were united in holy matrimony in 2009 and are the blessed parents of two children, Lillian Grace and Walter III.

A woman of deep faith and purpose, First Lady Jarrette Thomas is a living testament to a life of service. She strives each day to embody the spirit of the words, "If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain."

Dr. Toni Boulware Stackhouse is the Co-Founder of A New LIFE Ministries alongside her husband Elder Samuel Andrew Stackhouse III. John 10:10 is the foundation of New Life Ministries and their mandate is telling others about the abundant life that Jesus came to ensure for us all! Dr. Stackhouse has great faith in God and believes in His power to transform lives for His glory!

Dr. TABS, which she is also known as is a Counseling Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for the state of Maryland, currently seeking multistate licenses in DC, Paand the state of Virginia. Her passion for ministry is outreach and this passion extends to the marketplace where she has been serving those experiencing homelessness and mental health concerns in many different capacities for the last twenty-five years. Dr. TABS is currently the Founder and Operator of Life Matters Wellness, where she specializes in helping individuals, couples and families experience healing from past and current trauma, anxiety, and depression so that they can live an abundant life. Her treatment approach is Person Centered, and she is certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR both are evidence-based treatment models. Other models used by Dr. Tabs include Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused therapy and Prepare and Enrich for couples. Dr. Tabs believes that therapy is both healing and empowering for those who are willing to engage in the process.

Dr. TABS is passionate about helping others discover God’s vision for their lives and she finds fulfillment and purpose in assisting individuals in developing strategies to manifest their God given vision. Manifest Your Vision NOW, with Dr. TABS and this book is being published currently! She is the author of “It Don’t Make Sense Not to Trust God”, this is a documented journey of her Faith in action and how God responds when we trust in Him! She also published “Trauma Informed Care for Caregivers” for those individuals who find themselves caring for their loved ones and omitting their own self-care. Dr. Tabs has also published a mental health journal helping others to experience healing through writing. She along with her mom Rev. Dorothy Scott Boulware has recently released a prayer journal for families to document their prayers and answers to prayers for their children and grandchildren to understand the importance and power of prayer. Dr. Tabs can be described as passionate, relatable, and authentic! Dr. Tabs is highly sought after to conduct mental health workshops and presentations for churches as well as marketplace industries. She is a Preacher, Teacher, Intercessor, Author, Counseling Psychologist, Life Coach, Entrepreneur, Conference and Retreat Host, and her only desire is for God to use her for His glory!

Dr. TABS has a Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University, a Master of Human Services Degree with a concentration in counseling from Lincoln University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Nyack College, and an Associates of Arts Degree in Human Services from The Community College of Baltimore County. Dr. TABS is a graduate of The Leadership Baltimore County class of 2021. She has a passion for both learning and teaching. She is currently an adjunct faculty member for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where she teaches Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling for new clinicians.Dr. TABS is a member of the Board of Directors for The Family Crisis Center in Maryland, who houses families experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence. She is also a member of the Patient Advisory Committee at The Upper Chesapeake Hospital in Bel Air, Maryland. 

Dr. TABS, along with her husband Elder Samuel A. Stackhouse III have two adult children, Trenae’ L. Watson and Son in Love Arlen L. Watson and Stepson Marcus Stackhouse. They also have two grandsons AJ and Ayven. In her spare time, she loves traveling, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.

Fun Facts about Dr. Tabs, she is an avid Baltimore Raven’s fan; she loves football and during the football season she can be found watching the lineup of games on any given Sunday.   

Dr. TABS has been a caregiver for her husband for seven years now and she understands both personally and clinically the demands of caregiving and the necessity for self-care. It is most important for caregivers to understand this concept otherwise the greater sacrifice is of themselves which is detrimental for everyone involved. Trauma Informed Care for Caregivers her newest publication has been written with you and your needs in mind. Take a moment for yourself to be restored and restructured, it will bless your life!  

Delayna Watkins is an award-winning registered nurse, menopause wellness practitioner, and women’s health advocate dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women across the lifespan, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked transition through perimenopause and menopause. 

As Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Wellness Lounge, Inc., Delayna leads community-based initiatives designed to close gaps in women’s healthcare through education, prevention, advocacy, and culturally responsive wellness programming. Her work centers on ensuring that women have access to trusted information, supportive resources, and informed care throughout their midlife health journey.

A recognized voice in menopause education, Delayna develops and facilitates programs addressing menopause awareness, symptom management, healthy aging, weight and metabolic health, sexual and reproductive wellness, and menopause in the workplace. She is also the visionary behind Menopause Unveiled, an initiative created to bring menopause out of the shadows through education, expert conversations, storytelling, community engagement, and advocacy.

As a speaker and educator, Delayna is known for making complex health information relatable, practical, and empowering. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, The

Dr. Oz Show, Fox 45, Charm City TV, and The Steve Harvey Morning Show.

Through her clinical, community, and educational work, Delayna is helping reshape the conversation around menopause, so women are not simply expected to endure this stage of life, but are equipped to understand their bodies, advocate for their health, and thrive through midlife and beyond.

Ernestine A. Wright, M.D., FACP, is a Board Certified Primary Care Doctor with Mercy Personal Physicians Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Wright delivers compassionate and comprehensive individualized care to adults aged 21 years and upwards – providing advanced treatment plans, effective medication management and state-of-the-art diagnostic tools at Mercy’s Downtown Baltimore campus. 

Named as a "Top Doctor" by Baltimore magazine, Dr. Wright has a passion for delivering all-inclusive care to a wide range of patients. She enjoys treating and mentoring young patients as they transition to adulthood and beyond, while also striving to deliver exemplary care as an advocate for the elderly. Dr. Wright considers it an honor and a privilege to serve the needs of multiple generations within a particular family and she practices with the welcoming approach that “age is but a number!” 

Dr. Wright is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a nationally recognized mark of distinction and excellence for those in the field of Internal Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Wright served as Medical Director at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland, before joining Mercy’s Downtown Personal Physicians. In this role, Dr. Wright delivered comprehensive medical care to the elderly while developing the skills and experience that serve her well in her current position.

Dr. Wright is a member the American Geriatric Society and American Medical Directors Association. She is a Certified Medical Director and serves as a Clinical Tutor for both the nurse practitioner program and Geriatrics Fellowship Program at the University of Maryland.

In addition to her active profession, Dr. Wright enjoys reading and biking. She also finds time in her busy schedule to act as the leading director of a children’s Sunday school.

Dr. Wright earned her medical degree from the University of Manchester Medical School in Manchester, England. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at Western Pennsylvania Hospital and her Fellowship in Gerontology at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Karen Yvette Perkins is an experienced obstetrician and gynecologist who has provided comprehensive women’s health care for more than 35 years. Her practice focuses on reproductive health, preventive care, routine screenings, health risk assessments, and the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of gynecological conditions. She treats various women's health conditions including vaginal and vulvar cancers, vaginal discharge issues, and rectovaginal injuries. 

Dr. Perkins earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. She serves patients throughout Randallstown and Baltimore and is affiliated with several regional health care facilities, including Mercy Medical Center, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Northwest Hospital, and the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Perkins is committed to providing knowledgeable and comprehensive care to women throughout every stage of life.

Chikoti Mibenge Wheat, M.D., F.A.A.D., is a board-certified Dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Wheat earned her B.S. from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA, and went on to receive her Medical Degree from Duke University School of Medicine. She then completed her residencies at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ and The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. While at Duke Medical School, Dr. Wheat worked on the HIV vaccine design and studied vulvar cancer in women in Botswana. Dr. Wheat has a special interest in complex medical dermatology, including psoriasis, eczema, and sarcoidosis. She also treats acne, skin of color, hair loss and scalp disorders, skin cancer, cosmetic and pediatric dermatology.

Dr. Wheat resides in the D.C. metro area with her husband and daughter. She currently serves on the Columbia Association Board of Medical Directors.

Dr. Kirsten M. Adams was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology with a second major in Women’s and Gender Studies at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Adams then went on to receive her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. It was in medical school where she decided that wanted to pursue a medical field where she could advocate for women’s health and reproductive justice, especially for women in marginalized communities. She found her calling in Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a medical student, she co-spearheaded and led an anti-racist medicine curriculum committee where she helped develop research to assess anti-racist medicine in the curriculum of her school and co-led a lecture series that discussed topics including how racism and sexism impacts reproductive health. She also was an active member of the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) where she was a Course Director for the AMSA Reproductive Health Scholars Program. After medical school, she went to Boston, Massachusetts where she completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at Boston University Medical Center. There, she was able to serve a diverse population of patients at the largest safety net hospital in the city. She enjoys advocacy work as she has traveled to Washington, DC numerous times with AMSA and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology to advocate for legislation regardingaccess to reproductive health care to her congressional and senatorial representatives.

Dr. Adams is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated serving on the North Atlantic Regional Medical Response Team and she belongs to the Beyhive. In her free time, she loves to dance, watch basketball, and cheer for the Ravens.