Genesis of the PFC
Announced January 10, 2023, this initiative is the result of a $50 million gift from the Cummings Foundation, split evenly between Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda .
It was launched to honor Dr. Paul Farmer, who tragically passed away in February 2022 while teaching at UGHE. Farmer was a key professor at HMS, chancellor of UGHE, and co-founder of Partners In Health .
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- Carry on Farmer’s Legacy
- Strengthen the enduring partnership between HMS and UGHE through ongoing research, teaching, and clinical collaboration
- Advance Global Health Equity
- Focus on social medicine and the broader social determinants of health, with a shared emphasis on delivering justice through equitable care
- Empower Underserved Communities
- Support sustainable health systems targeting marginalized populations in Rwanda, East Africa, and beyond
Core Activities & Commitments
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- Faculty & Student Exchanges
- Swapping clinical and academic talent between Boston and Rwanda
- Joint Research & Education
- Co-developing programs focused on global health delivery, social medicine, and health equity
- Annual Conference
- Hosting a yearly gathering to discuss global health systems, equity, research, and education
- Endowed Professorship
- Establishing a Cummings Foundation Professorship of Global Health Equity at HMS to perpetuate Farmer’s vision
- Clinical Training & Surgical Innovation
- Launching medical training rotations for students and residents with an initial focus on surgery, later extending to specialties like mental health, OB/GYN, pediatrics, anesthesia, etc.
Historical Context & Broader Impact
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- Deep Roots in Rwanda–Harvard Collaboration
- As early as 2005, PIH began working with the Rwandan Ministry of Health on HIV and maternal-child health initiatives
- In 2012, Harvard participated in a global health delivery training program at Rwinkwavu, later evolved within UGHE
- The Collaborative aligns with efforts like the Center for Equity in Global Surgery at UGHE and other HMS–Rwanda projects exploring tools for global health delivery
Paul Farmer Collaborative 