By now, you have likely heard the news of the untimely passing of our beloved friend, mentor, and transformative leader, Dr. Paul Farmer.  It is impossible to enumerate the contributions that Paul made to medicine around the world, the number of lives he touched and the impact his tenacious belief that every person is deeply and unassailably human and deserves love, compassion and care. It is such a gaping loss in our firmament to have lost such an exceptional person.  

 

To the students and alumni, know that the Masters program, while one of his uncountable achievements, was one of his proudest.  Paul knew that your work, your commitment and your passion for justice would seed the world as his own work did.  And like the trees he planted, would yet reforest the planet healing the scars of injustices from Myanmar to Navajo, from Columbia to Nigeria, Boston to Bejing.  You brought great joy to Paul and held great promise. 

 

We will let you know as further details are available.  But I wanted to write this brief note to send deep gratitude to all of you, for amidst our sorrow, Paul’s legacy shines so brightly through you all.

Love and solidarity

Joia

 Dear Members of the HMS Community:
 
 I am heartbroken to share the news that Paul Farmer died early this morning in Rwanda, where he was working and teaching at the University of Global Health Equity, which he co-founded. Paul passed quietly in his sleep, pursuing to his last day his mission of bringing exceptional medical care to regions of the globe in greatest need. He was 62.

A compassionate physician and infectious disease specialist, a brilliant and influential medical anthropologist, and among the greatest humanitarians of our time—perhaps all time—Paul dedicated his life to improving human health and advocating for health equity and social justice on a global scale. I am particularly shaken by his passing because he was not only a consummate colleague and a beloved mentor, but a close friend. To me, Paul represented the heart and soul of Harvard Medical School.

Paul was the Kolokotrones University Professor and head of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS, and chief of the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He earned his MD and PhD from Harvard. He was co-founder and chief strategist of Partners In Health, an international nonprofit that since 1987 has provided direct health care services and undertaken research and advocacy activities on behalf of the sick and those living in poverty. Paul co-founded PIH while still a medical student here at HMS, which speaks to his drive and his spirit.

Our hearts go out to his wife, Didi Bertrand Farmer, their three children, and all who knew and loved him.

We are planning a community gathering via Zoom and will share the details as soon as they are confirmed. There are many in our community who will feel the burden of his loss. Please know that grief counselors are available through Harvard’s 24-hour, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 877-EAP-HARV (877-327-4278). Students can reach out to Harvard Counseling and Mental Health Services at 617-495-2042.

Paul’s presence brought great honor to Harvard Medical School. His life’s work and teaching have been an inspiration to countless colleagues and trainees who will carry on his legacy. In closing, I would like to share one of Paul’s poignant quotes that is meaningful to me and represents what Paul stood for and fought for:

Sincerely,
 
 George Q. Daley
 Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
 Harvard University 

 

 

Tu tiempo, tus palabras, tus consejos

Nos enseñaste que cada vida cuenta, que todas deben importarnos por igual

Tu ejemplo nos inspiro desde todas las partes del mundo sin importar idioma, religión o sueños

Y decidiendo seguirte nos convertimos en una familia global

Aunque ya no estés con nosotros, tus consejos, tu amor desinteresado por el otro y la forma de como viviste tu vida siempre vivirá en nuestros corazones 

Somos el reflejo que como tocaste nuestra alma y nos enseñaste que soñar vale la pena, nos demostraste que esos sueños si se cumplen.

Somos tus semillas, llenas de ilusiones y determinación

Somos las semillas que llevaremos a nuestros paises y regiones

Nos plantaremos en tierra firme, nos rodearemos amigos y juntos creceremos

Echaremos raíces y con el tiempo floreceremos, nos convertiremos en flores y arboles

Somos tus semillas, germinaremos y con el tiempo esperamos poder pasar generación en generación tu legado de determinación, amor, compasión.

El cielo nos dio un regalo

Y ese regalo fuiste tu" SOV

"Heaven gave us a gift,
Your time, your words, your advice.
You taught us that every life counts, that we should all care equally,
Your example inspired people from all over the world, regardless of language, religion, or dreams;
And deciding to follow you, we become a global family.

Though you are no longer with us, your advice, your selfless love for others, and the way you lived your life will always live in our hearts.

As you touched our soul and taught us that dreaming is worth it, we are the reflection that you showed us that those dreams do come true.

We are your seeds, full of illusions and determination
We are the seeds that we will bring to our countries and regions
We will be in fertile soil, surround ourselves with friends, and grow together
We will develop roots, and in time, we will blossom; we will become flowers and trees
We are your seeds, we will germinate, and in time we hope to pass on generation to generation your legacy of determination, love, compassion.

Heaven gave us a gift,

And the gift was you." SOV

 

After two days he felt like family.  Like this was one meeting of many lifetimes.  He gifted me a copy of To Repair the World and signed it with the message: “With gratitude for your teaching – especially teaching clinicians! – and with high hopes of working together in Rwanda and beyond.”  I’m now grieving the beyond and the work we were planning to do together, having collaborated and conspired since we met in Dubai.  

 

I’m so grateful for all that has been shared.  Thank you for unabashedly committing to love as deeply as he did.  With love to all of you, Maxine Burkett