Nadeem Kasmani, MD, MMSc
Lecturer on Global Health and Social Medicine
I began my career as a medical doctor. My journey in Global Health started in 2016 with the Global Health Delivery Intensive (GHDI). During GHDI, I had the opportunity to meet many leaders forging the path to address healthcare holistically. One encounter stands out for me: when I heard Dr. Joia Mukherjee speak about global health challenges. Joia spoke with such passion and commitment that she inspired me to commit my own career to Global Health.
In medicine, we learn about the biology of the body and the science of treating disease and promoting health. While medical interventions have greatly improved health, not everyone can access these interventions. A biosocial approach to addressing health and disease expands the view beyond the biomedical to include social forces that affect access to care. Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine faculty strive to use a biosocial approach to address issues and improve health. Faculty, including Paul Farmer, MD, PhD and Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH, established the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery (MMSc-GHD) in 2012 to educate practitioners across the world to implement programs using this biosocial approach.
I can speak about the MMSc-GHD program from three vantage points – as a student, alumnus, and faculty member. As a student in the MMSc-GHD program, I was pleasantly surprised that the faculty valued student ideas – no idea is too small – and I appreciated how the faculty accompany students on their academic path. MMSc-GHD alumni work worldwide, utilizing the knowledge gained from the program to develop solutions to various global health challenges. I continue practicing global health, focusing on maternal care access in the Subcontinent. In 2019, Drs. Paul Farmer and Joia Mukherjee graciously invited me to join the department as a faculty member. One of the highlights of this program is that Paul and Joia and all the faculty have created a culture of inclusion. You always have a seat at the table regardless of your academic or intellectual standing.
In February 2022, we lost Paul, and this loss sent shockwaves in the department and around the world. Paul drew a roadmap for us: he led from the front and continued to press forward despite obstacles to meet the mission of improving health for the most vulnerable. Paul planted deep-seated roots in the belief that healthcare is a human right and every individual deserves complete access to this right regardless of their social or economic standing. Paul’s legacy lives on through the work of the people he inspired.
Every year a remarkable group of global health advocates joins us as students in the MMSc-GHD program. Together we embark on a journey, creating a culture of empathy, learning, passion, and drive to understand how to improve health care delivery. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MMSc-GHD program launch, Paul’s legacy and Joia’s advocacy and passion continue to inspire me and a new generation of students to join our faculty and alumni in advocating for improved health worldwide.
August 28, 2022
Return to the MMSc-GHD 10th Anniversary page.
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