Remembering Dr. Paul Farmer

I was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health and lifelong advocate for health equity, passed away February 21, 2022. Paul’s death is a profound loss, not just for the global health community, but the entire world.

In a recent note to the Exemplars in Global Health community, I wrote about becoming an expert from lived experience. Paul was someone who heartily embraced that concept, allowing all of us to benefit from his life’s learnings. He, like all of us at Exemplars in Global Health, believed that we can learn essential lessons from positive outliers.

Paul was himself a positive outlier, someone who pioneered the idea that disease treatment among the world’s poorest communities is integral to human rights. He spent a lifetime emphasizing the importance of addressing not just diseases themselves, but the social and economic circumstances that affect overall wellbeing.

I encourage you to learn more about his inspiration life and legacy, and this Partners in Health tribute is a good place to start. In reflecting on their friendship and Paul’s legacy, Bill Gates said, “I have never known anyone who was more passionate about reducing the world’s worst inequities in health.” It’s with a heavy – and also proud – heart that I echo the sentiment.

I will miss Dr. Farmer intensely – as will all of us on the Exemplars in Global Health team. My hope is that by carrying his torch forward, we ensure his impact is forever felt.