# Students Highlight Women’s Voices in Maternal Health Poster Gallery March 16, 2026 This spring, the Global Health Education and Learning Incubator (GHELI) was excited to host the Women’s Voices Gallery, a poster viewing event for [Professor Jessica Cohen’s](https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/jessica-l-cohen/) course, GHHP20: “Maternal and Reproductive Health and Health Policy: What Do We Know? How Do We Know It? What Are We Doing About It?” In this General Education course, Harvard undergraduates analyze and discuss the dominant issues in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, how evidence regarding health policy is generated, and explore how research is translated into policies with real impact. The poster gallery event served as the capstone of the first section of the course, which introduced key challenges in the field. Subsequent sections of the course focus on quantitative methods of measuring and evaluating health research and programs, as well as how policy shapes maternal, reproductive, and newborn health outcomes. The poster assignment was designed to highlight the role of personal narratives and digital storytelling in bringing attention to maternal and reproductive health challenges—and contributing to scientific understanding of them. Students were asked to pick one narrative on a maternal or reproductive health issue of their choice from a provided bank of first-person video reflections and digital storytelling examples. Students were then tasked with creating a poster that explores their topic and identifies possible policy interventions, using insights from the narrative and academic research or reports. Chosen issues covered a wide range of topics, including informed consent, hemorrhage, eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, post-partum care, culturally competent care for immigrant and indigenous populations, and others. In conjunction with Professor Cohen and Teaching Fellow Marema Gaye, GHELI assisted with the design and preparation for the poster assignment and event. The Incubator also provided advice and equipment for students to practice a 1- to 2-minute elevator pitch using the [“studio in a box” technique](https://gheli.harvard.edu/studio-in-a-box-initiative), which utilizes smartphone cameras and tripods to film oneself presenting. During the gallery event, each poster was hung up throughout the GHELI space. Students rotated in groups to present their posters to their classmates, alumni, family, friends, and GHELI staff. Presenting students then fielded questions and comments from their peers, as well as from GHELI’s faculty director, [Sue J. Goldie](https://gheli.harvard.edu/people/sue-j-goldie-md-mph). ![A student from GHHP20 gestures to their poster, presenting to their classmates.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-03/20260302_GHELI_WmnsVoice%20Stdt%20Ev_369.jpg?itok=H72gJ100) ![A student from GHHP20 presents their poster in the GHELI space.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-03/20260302_GHELI_WmnsVoice%20Stdt%20Ev_017.jpg?itok=rGzW3k6f) ![A group of students from GHHP20 watching their classmate present their poster.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-03/20260302_GHELI_WmnsVoice-Stdt-Ev_409.jpg?itok=v1gKb4iF) Professor Cohen’s purpose for holding this poster session event had several aims: to simulate the experience of presenting a poster at an academic conference, to encourage students to engage with one another’s work, and to elevate women’s voices and experiences as a form of evidence in maternal and reproductive health. By holding the event at GHELI, Professor Cohen also hoped to make students who might be interested in pursuing global or public health studies aware of the Incubator and its resources. The event was a great success, with students and non-students alike sharing that the presentations, themes, and constructive dialogue were thought-provoking and community-building. “It was remarkable to see the students present and discuss maternal health with such complexity and motivation,” said Professor Cohen, reflecting on the gallery's accomplishment. “GHELI was the perfect partner for this inspiring event.” Examples of student-made posters exploring [Indigenous maternal morbidity](https://gheli.harvard.edu/blog/fatal-cost-not-listening-medical-mistreatment-and-indigenous-maternal-morbidity) and [midwives in the U.S.](https://gheli.harvard.edu/blog/midwife-shortage-across-us) have been added to our [online student gallery](https://gheli.harvard.edu/gallery). To explore more about maternal, reproductive, and newborn health, check out our resource packs on [Global Maternal Mortality](https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository/collection/resource-pack-global-maternal-mortality/) and [Maternal Mortality in the U.S.](https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository/collection/resource-pack-us-maternal-mortality/) ![Professor Jessica Cohen giving opening remarks.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10866/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-03/20260302_GHELI_WmnsVoice%20Stdt%20Ev_106.jpg?h=2ae0f378&itok=vBn2JaaA) It was remarkable to see the students present and discuss maternal health with such complexity and motivation. GHELI was the perfect partner for this inspiring event. The Global Health Education and Learning Incubator at Harvard University supports interdisciplinary education about world health through the production, curation, and dissemination of educational public goods. Our digital [repository](https://repository.gheli.harvard.edu/repository) is a searchable library of reputable resources that support learning and teaching about interdisciplinary global health challenges. The repository includes both general resources, such as reports, articles, country profiles, and data, and teaching resources, such as teaching cases and lesson-based teaching packs. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)