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Oakwood University's Eva B. Dykes Library Hosts Traveling Exhibit on African American Surgeons (1782 hits)

by Paulette McLean Johnson, director of Library Services, Oakwood University

The Eva B. Dykes Library hosted the national traveling exhibit entitled OPENING DOORS: CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AMERICAN ACADEMIC SURGEONS from March 12 to April 13, 2018.

Developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, the exhibit "celebrates the achievements of African American pioneers in academic surgery and those who continue the tradition today."

Approximately 6,000 visits were made to the exhibit by students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, academy students, library colleagues and friends of Oakwood University.

Several students commented that they didn’t know of the surgeons profiled. One student was so inspired that she took a photo of each panel displayed so she could keep it for herself. Another wanted to know if the surgeons highlighted would be visiting Oakwood University. Another student who is interested in pursuing trauma surgery as a career indicated she knew of the trauma surgeons featured, Dr. Sharon M. Henry, and wanted to know how to contact her. Others remarked on the Alabama roots of Dr. Levi Watkins, while others observed that the late Dr. Claude Organ had no choice but to live up to his name.

An OU alum physician shared that she knew one of the surgeons profiled and congratulated the library for hosting such an exhibit. A library director colleague admitted that he would like to bring a traveling exhibit to his library in the future. Several visitors commented that Dr. Benjamin Carson was absent from the exhibit. While this is true, they were informed that Dr. Carson is featured in another version of the same exhibit. Visitors included recruiters from Auburn University Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In general, all visitors found the exhibit interesting, informative and inspiring. The exhibit is particularly meaningful to Oakwood University as it (Oakwood) is a leading producer of African American applicants to medical school.

Pictured: Mrs. Prudence Bryant, left, retired reference librarian at Alabama A&M University, visits with Paulette Johnson.