Overview

• Chris Pernell earned an M.D. from Duke and completed a Johns Hopkins residency but has not treated patients since her postgraduate training.
• She now serves as director of the NAACP’s Center for Health Equity, where her work centers on diversity, equity and inclusion rather than frontline clinical care.
• On CNN, Pernell warned that President Trump’s chronic venous insufficiency could progress and increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis if not managed.
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the president’s diagnosis as a benign, common condition with no evidence of thrombosis.
• Observers question the network’s credibility after highlighting Pernell’s DEI background and apostolic church role instead of active clinical credentials.