Creating a legacy of healing
Julia* was first introduced to Partners In Health (PIH) and Dr. Paul Farmer when she read “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder during college. At the time, she knew she wanted to work in global health in some capacity—enrolled in Siena College-Albany Medical College’s 8-year Science, Humanities & Medicine Program—but wasn’t quite sure how to have the greatest impact.
During her time in college and medical school, she traveled around the world for several medical missions which had a profound impact on her.
“I distinctly remember not being able to help a young mother who was watching her young child die of dehydration,” she reflected. “We had suitcases full of fluids that could save her child’s life, but no tubing. Since we were working in a remote area, no nearby clinics could help us either. All I could do was hold her hand and silently weep with her.”
She found an antidote to that despair when she read about Dr. Farmer and PIH’s work in Haiti.
“He was doing the impossible,” she said. “Not just in Haiti, but other overlooked places like Peru and Malawi. Dr. Farmer is obviously a brilliant physician who could have been immensely successful if he chose to work for profit, but his focus on the poor, forgotten, and neglected really impressed and inspired me.”
Julia ended up enrolling at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to pursue a Master of Public Health in global health and had the privilege of hearing Dr. Farmer speak several times. She also had the opportunity to work with Dr. Joia Mukherjee, at the time chief medical officer of PIH, to write an article about her experience in Malawi working with people with albinism.
Even today, Julia is guided by a quote from Dr. Mukherjee. Over a decade ago, she said, “You speak English, you have a passport, you have a responsibility to use these tools. Go see these places and talk about them. Write about them. Be an advocate. It’s a huge job, but the coolest thing ever is to change the world.”
Joining Tom’s Circle
Since Julia first met her husband, Adam, in 2017, they have been steadfast supporters of PIH. It was really important to her that the work of PIH be sustained. Instead of putting a band-aid on a gushing wound, she wanted to be part of the system that prevents the wound in the first place.
“I think it’s arrogant to think that we as outsiders know what is best for a community,” she shared. “Having people in the community help guide best practices is the most impactful and humane way to deliver health care. I think this is unique to PIH and something I am proud to support. I love that PIH also invests in the medical education of the local community, helping create future caregivers and inspiring the next generation of nurses and doctors.”
To ensure their support sustains PIH’s work for as long as possible, Julia and Adam chose to create a legacy with PIH by including the organization in their trust. As members of PIH’s legacy society, Tom’s Circle, they will have an impact on patients around the world for years to come.
“As part of the legacy that I would like to leave behind, I want to ensure PIH has the financial resources to sustain its important programs where the impossible is done regularly,” Julia said. “I am in my 40s now with two young daughters. I want them to grow up to be conscious world citizens as well.”
Tom’s Circle is named after Tom White, a PIH co-founder and PIH’s first donor. Legacy gifts sustain PIH’s work by allowing the organization to be agile, innovative, and financially resilient. Learn more about Tom’s Circle or share your gift intention and join the legacy society today: legacy.PIH.org, giftplanning@pih.org, 857-880-5717.
*Names changed by request