Cummings Foundation Professor of Global Health Equity

Cummings Foundation Professor of Global Health Equity

Title
- Cummings Foundation Professor of Global Health Equity

School
- Harvard Medical School

Department/Area
- Global Health and Social Medicine

Position Description
- The Department of Global Health and Social Medicine (GHSM) at Harvard Medical School is an interdisciplinary department. Using methodologies from the social sciences, humanities, and quantitative sciences, our faculty teach and conduct research on health and illness, health care delivery, global health equity, and the professional culture of medicine. We are concerned with historical, social, and cultural antecedents and drivers of health care, poverty, and other adversities, their interconnectedness with disease, and the ethical dimensions that arise in the practice of medicine and care-delivery today.

Our teaching and research programs contribute to the education of undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, clinicians, and policymakers. In collaboration and through exchange of knowledge with clinicians, researchers, and implementers at many institutions, we work to promote more effective delivery of health care and equitable access to resources for prevention and treatment of disease for all, especially those who are in most need.

Our collaborations with physicians, quantitative researchers, and social scientists worldwide lead to research and interventions that promote better health.

GHSM is seeking candidates for the first Cummings Professor in Global Health Equity. Candidates will be considered for a tenured professorship as part of the review process. The candidate will have a robust research record to catalyze the development and understanding of equitable health systems that improve health care delivery to underserved populations in sub-Saharan Africa. The ideal candidate should demonstrate (1) scholarly excellence in global health research;

(2) expertise in disciplines relevant to global health equity (see below); (3) commitments to advancing health equity and training medical students, undergraduates, and postdocs as the next generation of global health leaders; (4) strong, ongoing records of research funding and publication in peer-reviewed publications; (5) collaborative roles in international research; (6) administrative leadership experience; and (7) in-depth experience in sub-Saharan Africa.

This position would spend a significant portion (at least 0.25

FTE) of effort leading the Paul Farmer Collaborative, a ten-year educational partnership between Harvard Medical School and the University of Global Health Equity that began in 2024. In addition, the Cummings Professor would continue their leadership role in global health research and would commit to teaching medical students and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and collaborators from implementing partner organizations. The position is based in Boston and would require spending time in Rwanda to support the Paul Farmer Collaborative.

Finally, the Cummings Professor would participate in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine executive committee and contribute to departmental activities.

Applications must be received by November 1, 2026.

Basic Qualifications - A doctoral degree (MD or equivalent, PhD or equivalent), or MD/PhD (or equivalent) degree

Expertise in a field relevant to global health and social medicine, that would enhance or complement current disciplinary strength in the department, i.e., anthropology, epidemiology, history, sociology, and/or study of global health delivery for infectious, noncommunicable, oncological, psychiatric/psychological, or surgical diseases.

Strong interdisciplinary interests across the medical social sciences

Record of scholarship relevant to global health and/or social medicine care delivery that has a focus on ensuring health care delivery to vulnerable communities

Significant experience working in sub-Saharan Africa

Additional Qualifications
- Demonstration of thought leadership as evidenced in seminal publications that influence fields, new theories, and/or methods, or in leadership of a large research consortium, such as a Lancet Commission Evidence of national or international reputation as an investigator through leadership positions in professional societies, invited presentations, and/or guest professorships

Continuous record of research funding with growing diversificationA record of excellence in teaching and mentoring of students and junior facultyA reputation for successful collaborations with organizations based in low-resourced areas

Demonstrated commitment to conducting research in and relevant to low-resourced settings

Experience in major administrative leadership roles

Special Instructions

- Note:

We anticipate that the finalist for this position may be considered external to Harvard and therefore subject to the conduct inquiries. In the tenure review process that will follow selection of the finalist, the candidate, whether internal or…