Reclaim the Bench

Jamal and Megan, our co-hosts introduce themselves, our podcast, what our podcast's name signifies and delve into what we are all about.

In the 19th Century, a plantation physician named James Marion Sims is said to have revolutionized the medical discipline of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As such, Sims has been proclaimed the "Father of Modern Gynecology", and idolized for over one hundred years by numerous statues erected in his honor. However, this depiction only highlights one side of the story. Listen as we uncover the true cost of Sims' pioneering work in the field, through the painful and humiliating exploitation of enslaved African-American women, and learn how this legacy affects the health of Black women in the US today.

Please tune in on September 13th 10 AM (EDT) for Episode 1 "Did the End Justify the Means"

Megan and Jamal look back at the controversial actions of the so-called "father" of modern gynecology and discuss how deep of an impact systemic racism has had in science and medicine.