Reflections on the MMSc-GHD Program

Christina Lively, MEd
Program Manager, MMSc in Global Health Delivery

Back in 2011, I traveled to the offices of Partners In Health in Boston, MA. The walls were adorned with larger-than-life images of people from all over the world: women in brightly colored clothing waiting at a clinic in rural Haiti, a community health worker walking along a dirt road to a building with a metal roof to visit a patient there, health care workers with stethoscopes extended, listening intently to those in need of care. In some of those photos, I recognized Paul Farmer, one of the founders of Partners In Health.

In the office, I met Joia Mukherjee. Joia Mukherjee is a physician, scholar, and advocate who, in 2011, had 20 years of experience in global health delivery as Chief Medical Officer of Partners In Health. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and underprepared when you are meeting people who are so accomplished. I remember feeling that way. But Joia told me everyone could contribute their talents and energy to the work. Joia talked about the vision she and Paul Farmer had for a new master’s program: to bring those working with vulnerable populations to Harvard Medical School to help them build on their previous work, learn more, and help them improve global health delivery. 

I was grateful to be hired as Education Coordinator working with Joia as Program Director. In 2012, we launched the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery (MMSc-GHD) in Harvard Medical School’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine.

The concept of accompaniment is central to the work of Partners In Health - traveling with and supporting people during their journey. Accompaniment is also central to the MMSc-GHD program. The program is structured so that faculty work closely with students to help them develop their thesis projects. Faculty help students develop thesis projects that allow students to make a meaningful impact at their research site. Faculty impart knowledge through courses that help students gain skills to answer questions and make change. Faculty take time to meet with students and discuss topics despite busy schedules- even Paul Farmer, whose schedule was quite busy, made time to meet with students.

MMSc-GHD cohorts are small, so students get to know each other very well. They study together, support each other through challenges and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. During the first year of this two-year program, students delve deeply into the course material and have many discussions about how they can apply this to their future work. Students enjoy participating in academic and social events at Harvard Medical School and across Harvard University and can network with many people during their time in the program. During the second year of the program, students complete research projects and then return to Boston to analyze and write their thesis papers. The May thesis presentations are a joyous time, as is graduation - a time to reflect on everything the students have learned and accomplished during their time in the program. Then we stay connected with alumni as they continue on their careers and make great contributions to global health. Our alumni are generous with their time and willing to be a resource for students and for each other.

In the fall of 2021, we were excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the program’s launch. To prepare for the anniversary, we assembled a report on the program’s accomplishments. This report listed the names of all the alumni, their thesis projects, all of the articles they have written about their work, the roles and organizations that alumni work with. Joia presented this report in January 2022 so Paul, who was the department chair, and the other faculty in the department of Global Health. We celebrated Paul and Joia’s vision for the program, the work of all the faculty, staff, supporters and students who contribute to the MMSc-GHD program, and all we have accomplished in these 10 years.

Paul was planning to meet with MMSc-GHD students again to discuss their thesis projects right after he returned from Rwanda.

On February 21, 2022, Paul Farmer died of heart failure in Rwanda at the age of 62.

Department of Global Health and Social Medicine faculty, staff, students, and alumni came together to mourn this loss. Joia led a meeting on zoom so MMSc-GHD alumni from around the world could gather to remember Paul. One after another, the MMSc-GHD students and alumni said, “we will continue this work.”

I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Paul and to continue to work with Joia and our faculty, staff, students and alumni, who are dedicated to improving global health delivery. We find inspiration in the work of our colleagues; we impart that knowledge to others as we accompany each other in improving the delivery of health care for people worldwide.

Mountains Beyond Mountains
By Christina Thompson Lively
Mountains Beyond Mountains is a proverb from Haiti and the title of a book about Paul Farmer’s work. This song is a tribute to Paul and those he inspired to accompany others during times of need.

There will be mountains beyond the mountains.
Paths will be steep before us every day.
I will walk with you on your long journey.
I will accompany you on your way.

Some just see numbers impossibly high.
But we see people and you are the reasons why

though there are mountains beyond the mountains,
though paths are steep before us every day,
I will walk with you on your long journey.
I will accompany you on your way.

Raising our voices to tell our stories.
Bending the long arc ever towards justice.

There will be mountains beyond the mountains
Paths will be steep before us every day
I will walk with you on your long journey
I will accompany you on your way.

April 3, 2023

Return to the MMSc-GHD 10th Anniversary page.
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