The Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) community join our colleagues at The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) in mourning the sudden loss of Dr. Paul Farmer, who passed away early this week in Rwanda at the age of 62. An advisory board member for CISWH and a pioneer in fighting for health equity, Dr. Farmer helped guide the Center’s work on global health equity initiatives and strategic partnerships in Africa.
Excerpt from “Remembering CISWH Advisory Board Member Dr. Paul Farmer,” originally posted on the CISWH website:
A medical anthropologist and physician, Dr. Farmer dedicated his life to improving health care for the world’s poorest communities. He co-founded international non-profit Partners in Health (PIH) in 1987 to provide quality health care and advocate for those living in poverty. Dr. Farmer led teams in 13 countries over the past 26 years, developing sustainable, community-based strategies for global health care.
“Paul was a humanitarian, an innovator with a relentless commitment to addressing human rights to improve the lives of the most impoverished populations around the world,” said Dr. Jorge Delva, dean of the BU School of Social Work and Paul Farmer Professor and director of CISWH. “He was a person with a great sense of humor and kindness.”