Fund Named for Paul Farmer to Support Undergraduate Global Health Fieldwork

The Duke Global Health Institute announces the creation of a new global health fieldwork fund in the name of Paul Farmer, a global health pioneer, Duke alumnus and member of DGHI’s Board of Advisors. In his honor, The Paul Farmer Global Health Fund will support undergraduate fieldwork and research projects at Duke that exemplify Farmer’s commitment to serving the world’s poorest populations.

Farmer co-founded the organization Partners in Health in 1987 to provide medical care and social services to populations in need across 12 countries. For the past two decades, Farmer has worked to raise the standard of care in underdeveloped areas of the world, including his work to improve health care delivery in the central plateau of Haiti.

“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 and fraternity brother of Farmer, who established 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 Duke’s commitment to global health—and proud to be a part of it, through the Duke Global Health Institute,” said Paul Farmer, one of 15 founding members of DGHI’s Board of Advisors. “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 Global Health Fund, to be administered by the Duke Global Health Institute through its summer fieldwork program, will support one Duke undergraduate student to complete a fieldwork or research project in global health. Initially, travel grants will range from $2,500 to $5,000. The fund will be expanded to support additional students in the future as the endowment grows from additional philanthropic donations.

“The fund is open to contributions from anyone in the Duke community and beyond that cares deeply about global health and wants to encourage Duke undergraduates to pursue a Global Health Certificate,” said Gendell. “I am hopeful this fund will become one of the cornerstones of DGHI.” 

DGHI’s Global Health Certificate provides Duke students with a deeper understanding of the social determinants that contribute to global health disparities, while encouraging them to think about innovative ways to tackle these challenges. Students are required to complete a summer field experience for the certificate program.