Our Story
Three Doctors. One Mission.
Founded by physicians who overcame the very barriers they now work to dismantle, P3 connects overlooked students with mentors who can open the right doors.
The Beginning
Born from lived experience
In 2018, three board-certified physicians — Dr. Maxime Madhere, Dr. Joseph Semien, and Dr. Pierre Johnson — launched the Pulse of Perseverance Project. What began as a memoir about perseverance became a movement — a free mobile platform that gives every ambitious student access to the mentors, guidance, and opportunities they deserve.
Their shared journey from underserved communities to the top of medicine revealed a systemic truth: talent is universal, but access is not.
Dr. Maxime Madhere
CEO & Co-Founder
Dr. Joseph Semien
Co-Founder
Dr. Pierre Johnson
Traction & Proof
The numbers speak
Real impact, measured in the outcomes that matter.
1,200+ Students & mentors connected on the platform
+90% Mentorship retention rate after 90 days
4.9★
App Store rating from real students
$2M Raised since inception through grants & donations
Leadership Team
The people behind P3
Operators, builders, and mission-driven leaders working to close the access gap.
Dr. Maxime Madhere
CEO & Co-Founder
Leader dedicated to expanding access to mentorship & opportunity via tech/partnerships. Board member of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge.
Thomas Paris
Chief Operating Officer
15 years scaling EdTech platforms across the US, Asia, and EU. Leads operations, partnerships, and grant strategy at P3.
Alex Strand
Chief Revenue Officer
BD leader with experience scaling startups from pre-seed to Series B. Leads all four revenue pillars driving P3's sustainability.
Platform Team
3Advance
Full-stack product team that owns day-to-day engineering and delivery for the P3 mobile platform.
- Darren Gibney, Chief Technology Officer
- Mark Evans, Senior Director of Delivery
- Heather Hayes, Product Manager
- Kieran Holden, Design Lead
- Paul Swail, Director of Engineering
- Sandip Chaulagain, Mobile Lead
Board of Directors
Guided by purpose
Advisors, advocates, and co-founders who keep P3 mission-aligned and growth-ready.
Dr. Joseph Semien
Co-Founder
Board Certified OB/GYN. Youth advocate, fatherhood speaker, and health equity leader in Louisiana.
Dr. Pierre Johnson
Board Certified OB/GYN. Community health volunteer, mentor pipeline builder, and Chicago civic leader.
George Christo-Baker
Board Member
Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo. Chicago youth development advocate dedicated to expanding P3's commercial impact.
Vondale Singleton
Founder of CHAMPS Male Mentoring. CEO, Brilliance & Excellence NFP. MBK Chicago backbone leader.
Kristen Carter
Award-winning TV executive producer. Founder of Trust Your Magic. Hofstra University.
Orelia Lawdins-Trent
Legal Liaison
Litigation Attorney, Lawdins Law & Associates. Ensures P3 operates with legal integrity and compliance.
Dr. Andrea Madhere
Secretary
Owner, Chiropractic Concierge. Foundation Chair, Jack and Jill of America, Baton Rouge chapter.
Stanley Savage
Treasurer
Manager of Financial Audit at Blue Cross Blue Shield. VP Finance, 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge.
In the Press
Making headlines
National coverage from outlets that recognize P3's impact on the next generation.
3 Doctors Share Journey from Poverty to Practicing Medicine
The P3 founders share their powerful story of perseverance on the TODAY Show, inspiring millions of viewers nationwide.
2026 Webby Awards — Belonging & Inclusion
P3's Impact Film nominated for a Webby Award in the Branded Content category for Belonging & Inclusion.
Three Black Doctors Tell Their Story of Perseverance
The New York Times covers the P3 founders' memoir and mission to break barriers in healthcare and education.
VERSUS & SixDegrees.org — Matching Nonprofits with Emmy-Winning Agencies
AdWeek covers how Kevin Bacon's SixDegrees.org connected P3 with VERSUS to produce their Emmy-winning Impact Film.
Doctors Share Their Pulse of Perseverance
Doctors Share Their Pulse of Perseverance
P3 at Advertising Week New York
Steve Harvey Show
P3 Founders on Steve Harvey
Kevin Bacon's SixDegrees.org Partner
P3 Founders Featured on GMA
P3 Founders on Sister Circle
Three Black Men Become Doctors Against the Odds
P3 Founders on Windy City Live
Our Partners
Powered by community
Institutions, organizations, and industry leaders who fuel the P3 mission.
Academic Partners
- Chicago Public Schools
- Chicago State University
- Langston University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- NYU
- LEO Catholic High School
- Olive-Harvey College
Community & Foundation Partners
- MBK Chicago
- CHAMPS Male Mentoring
- 100 Black Men
- BUILD Chicago
- Project H.O.O.D.
- Salute 1st
- Gilead Foundation
Knowledge & Industry Partners
- MENTOR
- Louisiana State University
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Michigan
- University of North Texas
- Lurie Children's Hospital
- 3Advance
Media & Recognition
- VERSUS
- ABC News
- The New York Times
- TODAY Show
- SixDegrees.org
- Advertising Week NYC
Ready to Re:Frame what's possible?
Whether you're a student seeking mentorship, a professional ready to give back, or an institution looking to drive outcomes — there's a place for you at P3.