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About the Panelists
Chaplain Kyrian Buba | Panelist
Rev. Kyrian Buba is a dedicated Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and currently serves as Lead Staff Chaplain at the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. Rev. Buba is a licensed and ordained Minister. He is a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCC) with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), holds ecclesiastical endorsement by the Coalition of Spirit-Filled Churches, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University and a Master of Science in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
Before relocating to the United States in 2014, Rev. Buba was a parish pastor for over 20 years in Nigeria and South Africa. He brings that experience to bear in providing skilled leadership and pastoral ministry that offers a nurturing presence and empathetic listening. He approaches his work with a sense of humility and grace. He preaches at revivals and conferences and is an author of 3 books.
Chaplain Meagan P. Downing | Panelist
Meagan serves as a Staff Chaplain at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she has been on staff since September 2022. Her clinical pastoral education (CPE) includes residencies at Riverside Regional Medical Center (June 2020–2021) and The Johns Hopkins Hospital (August 2021–2022).
Meagan is an ordained minister and holds ecclesial endorsement through the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. She is a Board-Certified Chaplain (BCC) through the Association of Professional Chaplains.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Hampton University (2014) and her Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School (2017). She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Ministry program at Duke Divinity School.
The Rev. Deborah Harris | Panelist
Rev. Harris is an ordained deacon in the AME Church, Rev. Deborah Harris has dedicated her life to spreading the message of love, compassion, and inclusivity. Her journey is a testament to grace and mercy.
She previously served on the ministerial staff at Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church. She served in various ministries including evangelism, social media, women’s ministry , and hospitality. Each role has allowed her to touch lives and foster connections, amplifying the voice of faith.
Rev. Debbie has a heart for chaplaincy and has served as a chaplain for many years including in local hospitals, hospice centers and for youth and young adult groups.
Chaplain Paulette McPherson | Panelist
Paulette A. McPherson, M.Div., BCC-APC, is the Assistant Director of Chaplaincy Services at Sibley Memorial Hospital (Johns Hopkins Medicine) and a board-certified chaplain with extensive clinical experience in acute care, palliative care, behavioral health, hospice, and staff support. She is the creator of the PEACE Spiritual Assessment Tool, a trauma-informed, spiritually inclusive framework designed to strengthen clinical documentation and whole-person care. Paulette has served in ministry for 40 years. She is completing her doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership at Lancaster Bible College & Graduate School, focusing on system-level innovation and chaplaincy integration. Originally from England and shaped by her West Indian heritage, she now proudly calls herself “Anglo-Jamerican.” She is the mother of two adult children and enjoys traveling, cultural exploration, and bringing a broad global perspective to her work and ministry.
The Rev. Dr. Alisha Wimbush | Facilitator
The Rev. Dr. Alisha Wimbush is passionate about building bridges across diverse communities and fostering meaningful relationships. As Program Director for Religious Leaders, she oversees ICJS programming for clergy, chaplains, and spiritual caregivers. Under her leadership, ICJS launched its chaplain outreach initiative following a statewide survey—conducted in partnership with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab—that identified chaplains as an underserved sector. She also leads Common Ground: Clergy | Conversation | Connections, a statewide program that brings together religiously diverse clergy to build lasting relationships through quarterly conversations over the span of a year.