9 Initiatives Keeping Paul Farmer’s Name and Legacy Alive 

On February 14, the longtime vision of the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence will become reality, as the doors open to its first patients. Formally named in honor of Partners In Health (PIH) late Co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer, the facility will dramatically expand services and set a new standard for care—two aspects that guided his life’s work and are part of his legacy.

Over more than three decades, Farmer dedicated his time and talent to furthering the field of global health and ensuring the right to health care for all. Through his words and actions, he left behind countless lessons that continue to guide us today. At PIH, we are deeply committed to carrying forward his legacy and vision.

Below, learn about a select handful of initiatives, awards, and other efforts—by PIH and partners—honoring Farmer:

1. Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence

The Maternal Center of Excellence on PIH-supported Koidu Government Hospital’s campus is a state-of-the-art teaching and referral facility in Kono District, Sierra Leone. The facility reflects Farmer’s lifelong commitment to health care as a human right and belief that hospitals should be spaces of both health and beauty.

2. Paul Farmer Collaborative of the University of Global Health Equity and Harvard Medical School

This 10-year grant supports joint activities between the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and Harvard Medical School, including student and faculty exchange programs, support for research, and clinical training for medical students and residents.

3. Paul E. Farmer Scholarship Fund

The scholarship fund is dedicated entirely to students attending UGHE in Rwanda. It covers tuition, room, board, and expenses for 3,000 medical students and global health delivery master’s degree candidates over a 25-year period.

4. Paul Farmer Symposium on Global Health Equity

The annual event convenes experts, partners, and supporters to advance Farmer’s vision for health equity. Each year, the event is centered around a different theme, such as mental health—watch the 2025 recording.

5. Paul Farmer Mausoleum and Glade in Rwanda

The memorial site, which includes a nondenominational chapel and mausoleum, is Farmer’s final resting place in Butaro, Rwanda.

6. Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution

PIH, alongside Congressional global health champions, developed a “north star” for global health politics: the Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution, which can guide policy and practice for decades to come.

7. The Paul Farmer Lectureship and Award for Global Health Equity

The award, presented by McGill University, recognizes an individual who models and demonstrates Farmer’s vision of a “preferential option for the poor” to achieve equity in health. Before his passing, Farmer received an honorary doctorate from McGill University.

8. The Paul Farmer Award

The award recognizes bold, transformative leadership in advancing justice, equity, and economic and social rights. It was developed by the activist organization Partners for Dignity & Rights, of which Farmer was a founding board member.

9. The Paul Farmer African Initiative for Research

The initiative, developed by the University of California San Francisco, supports African scientists through mentorship, sustainable research, and international exchange.