Chelsea Clinton Reflects on Dr. Paul Farmer's Legacy

In a time of US retreat from global health, Clinton honors her mentor's lifework and calls for renewed commitment to health equity.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In a Vanity Fair essay, Chelsea Clinton reflects on the life and work of her mentor, the late Dr. Paul Farmer, and his lasting impact on global health. She discusses how Farmer's principles of accompaniment, partnership, and persistence in the face of injustice continue to inspire her, especially as the US retreats from funding critical health programs worldwide. Clinton highlights Farmer's co-founding of Partners in Health and the University of Global Health Equity, and how his legacy calls us to stand up for health equity in the face of political decisions that widen the gap between moral clarity and material reality.

Why it matters

Dr. Paul Farmer's work and philosophy on global health equity have had a profound impact, especially as the US government has recently cut funding for crucial global health initiatives. Clinton's reflections on Farmer's legacy serve as a reminder of the human cost of retreating from this vital work, and the importance of maintaining a steadfast commitment to health justice even in the face of political headwinds.

The details

Chelsea Clinton first encountered Dr. Paul Farmer's ideas as a college student, and their subsequent correspondence and friendship shaped her own views on health, justice, and responsibility. Clinton highlights Farmer's core principles of accompaniment, partnership, and refusing to accept the status quo, and how these principles continue to guide the work of Partners in Health and the University of Global Health Equity that Farmer co-founded. She also notes the real-world impact of policy decisions that undermine global health progress, such as the Trump administration's cuts to USAID funding that are projected to result in over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030.

  • In 2022, the Trump administration decimated funding for USAID, with research projecting over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030 if the cuts remained in place.
  • Last month, the University of Global Health Equity, an institution Farmer helped found, graduated its first medical degree class.
  • This month, Partners in Health opened the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone.

The players

Chelsea Clinton

The daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who reflects on the life and work of her mentor, Dr. Paul Farmer.

Dr. Paul Farmer

A renowned global health advocate and co-founder of the international public health nonprofit Partners in Health, as well as the University of Global Health Equity.

Partners in Health

An international public health nonprofit co-founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, which continues his work in global health equity.

University of Global Health Equity

An institution co-founded by Dr. Paul Farmer to train the next generation of global health leaders.

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What they’re saying

“I think about him in moments when the scale of suffering in the world feels overwhelming, when the distance between what we know how to do and what we are willing to do feels painfully wide.”

— Chelsea Clinton (Vanity Fair)

“This is clear every day in the continued work of Partners in Health (PIH), the international public health nonprofit he cofounded. In Sierra Leone, for example, PIH and thousands of supporters helped hasten one of the fastest declines in maternal mortality and this month opened the Paul E. Farmer Maternal Center of Excellence, a large, cutting-edge facility with the country's first neonatal intensive care.”

— Chelsea Clinton (Vanity Fair)

What’s next

The continued work of Partners in Health and the University of Global Health Equity will be crucial in carrying on Dr. Farmer's legacy and advancing global health equity, even as the US government retreats from funding these vital initiatives.

The takeaway

Chelsea Clinton's reflections on Dr. Paul Farmer's life and work serve as a powerful call to action, reminding us that health justice is not an inevitability, but rather requires sustained commitment and advocacy in the face of political decisions that prioritize self-interest over human lives. Farmer's principles of accompaniment, partnership, and persistence in the face of injustice remain essential guideposts for those seeking to honor his enduring legacy.