As the Call and Response exhibition comes to a close, we invite you to celebrate the show’s impact with artists, organizers, and fellow community members. 

Call and Response: A Narrative of Reverence to our Foremothers in Gynecology

Countway Library is proud to have hosted this exhibition, on loan from the Resilient Sisterhood Project, from October, 2025 through mid-January, 2026.

Call and Response sheds light on the exploitation of enslaved Black women in the origins of modern gynecology, centering the lives of Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, three women subjected to repeated experimental surgeries by Dr. J. Marion Sims in the 1840s. Curated by the Resilient Sisterhood Project with artist Jules Arthur, the exhibition blends past and present, honoring these foremothers while highlighting generations of Black women who transformed medicine. This powerful narrative invites us to unearth history, confront the present, and imagine a more just future for reproductive health. Learn more about the exhibition and its artists and origin at countway.info/call. 

The closing ceremony will feature a panel of artists and organizers, light refreshments, and space for community conversation and reflection.

All are welcome! Please register below. 

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Panelists: 

Jules Arthur

Jules Arthur is a St. Louis–born visual artist based in New York City. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, he trained at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop and continues studies at the Art Students League. His work, praised by The New York Times for its deft draftsmanship, explores the human form and lived experience.

Dr. Michele David

Dr. Michele David is a Haitian-born artist whose quilts weave African and Haitian traditions with themes of resilience, identity, and healing. She is also Chief of Clinical Quality and Safety at MIT Health. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists and the New England Quilt Museum.

Dr. Yvonne Gomez-Carrion

Dr. Yvonne Gomez-Carrion is a board-certified OB/GYN who practiced for decades at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A Princeton and Columbia alum, she now focuses on community and medical education, advancing reproductive justice, health equity, and human-centered care for Black and Brown birthing people. 

Michelle Hartney

Michelle Hartney is a Chicago-based artist and activist whose multidisciplinary work centers on reproductive justice, gender equity, and healthcare. Using fiber, ceramics, embroidery, and social practice, she addresses issues including maternal mortality, obstetric abuse, and gender-affirming care, creating spaces for public dialogue and advocacy.

Lilly Marcelin

Lilly Marcelin is a community activist and the Founder and Executive Director of the Resilient Sisterhood Project, which empowers women and young adults of African descent around reproductive health. A Wellesley and Tufts alum, she works in partnership with Black women to address systemic racism, health equity, and reproductive justice.

Dr. Rose Molina (Panel Moderator)

Dr. Rose Molina is an OB/GYN and scholar-activist focused on language, immigration, and equity in maternal health. An Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, she also cares for patients at The Dimock Center and Beth Israel Deaconess and leads multiple initiatives advancing health equity and inclusive care.

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We are committed to making this event accessible to all participants. The space is wheelchair accessible, microphones will be used for speakers, and assistive listening devices are available for use. Please reach out to countwayoutreach@hms.harvard.edu if you have any accessibility needs or questions.