Cummings Foundation Professor of Global Health Equity

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 0.25FTE) 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.

Harvard University is committed to fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive and experience a sense of inclusion and belonging. Community members are encouraged to model our values of integrity, responsible mentorship, equity, and excellence no matter where they are.
To support this commitment to our values of inclusion and excellence, the external finalist for this position will be required to complete a conduct questionnaire – specifically regarding findings of violation, on-going formal complaint investigations, or formal complaint investigations that did not conclude due to the external finalist’s departure concerning: harassment or discrimination, retaliation, sexual misconduct, bullying or intimidating/abusive behavior, unprofessional relationship, or misconduct related to scholarship, research, teaching, service, or clinical/patient care.

Harvard will also make conduct inquiries to current and former employers of the external finalist regarding such misconduct. To facilitate these inquiries, Harvard requires all external applicants for this position to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled “Authorization to release information for external applicants” as part of their application. If an external applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and, as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

If visa sponsorship is needed, Harvard retains the discretion to determine which visa status is appropriate and whether a visa sponsorship application will ultimately be submitted, including payment of any applicable fees.

Note: We anticipate that the finalist for this position may be considered external to Harvard and therefore subject to the conduct inquiries. In addition, in the tenure review process that will follow selection of the finalist, the candidate, whether internal or external, will be reviewed for their record of integrity and professionalism in addition to their scholarly, teaching, and administrative qualifications.

Note: Reference letters are not needed by the application deadline; only the contact information for the reference letters.

Applicants for this position must submit the “Authorization to Release Information” document below as part of their application.
To submit the authorization document, do the following:

Download “Authorization to Release Information”

Rebecca Grow
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
641 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115 USA

Salary is highly competitive and commensurate with experience. The minimum starting salary is $230,000, with the potential for a higher offer based on candidates’ qualifications and experience.

Global health equity, global health, social medicine, implementation science, Rwanda, sub-Saharan Africa