News Article
January 31, 2012
Farmer Fund Seeks to Inspire, Activate Students
Applications now being accepted
In post-earthquake Haiti, humanitarian and Duke alum Paul Farmer says he remains optimistic in the face of seemingly endless challenges because of the commitment he sees in our young people. In a recent visit to Duke, Farmer stressed that students and universities play a major role in the future of global health.
Aligned with this priority and in honor of his contributions to global health, the Paul Farmer Global Health Fund offered through DGHI provides up to $5,000 for a Duke undergraduate global health student to conduct fieldwork and research which embodies Farmer’s commitment to serving the 
world’s poorest populations.
Farmer is a founding member of DGHI’s Board of Advisors and co-founder of Partners in Health. He has dedicated his life to improving medical care and social services in the world’s most challenging places, including in Haiti.
Through March 5, DGHI is accepting applications for the fund’s first recipient.
“Clearly, today’s world needs more Paul Farmers, and I hope that the Paul Farmer Global Health Fund enables more Duke students to experience fieldwork in global health,” said Dave Gendell, a Duke alumnus, member of the DGHI Board of Advisors and fraternity brother of Farmer. A gift from Gendell was used to establish the fund. “It is imperative to continue to invest in the people who are the next leaders and innovators in the global health field.”
“I am proud of the Duke community’s commitment to global health—and proud to be a part of it, through the Duke Global Health Institute,” said Farmer. “Having had the great benefit of early opportunities to engage in fieldwork, I know that this fund will offer valuable and transformative experiences to undergraduates, and I’m grateful to Dave Gendell for making it happen.”
The Paul Farmer Fund is part of a growing portfolio of offerings by DGHI for students at all levels to develop and conduct research-based fieldwork projects in global health. Other opportunities include the Master of Science in Global Health, Undergraduate Student Research Training Program, the Aalok S. Modi Global Health Fieldwork Fund and Independent Project Fieldwork Grants, the Third Year Global Health Study Program for medical students, and the Doctoral Scholars Program.
For students interested in the Farmer Fund, apply here. Refer to DGHI’s independent fieldwork grants FAQ’s for additional information.
Make a gift to the Paul Farmer Fund to ensure more students can experience global health using the world as their classroom.