Mary Bassett, one of the nation’s most distinguished public health scholars, is out. She previously served as the director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. Acting Dean Andrea Baccarelli of the Harvard School of Public Health made the news official. As a result, it has ignited a firestorm of controversy and outrage among the university’s students, faculty and faculty members. Bassett is perhaps best known for her pioneering work on racial justice, poverty, HIV and global inequality. Professor McKenzie will remain active in her role as a professor in the behavioral and social sciences department.
The announcement of Bassett’s removal has understandably raised eyebrows, because of the way and when it came about. This comes on the heels of a series of public essays and statements she released decrying Israeli aggression in Gaza. Her clear, passionate frankness about the health and human rights of Palestinians has garnered national attention and a growing following. This increase was especially pronounced following the escalated conflict that began on October 7, 2023. Critics point out that her ouster is just the latest example of institutional cowardice under political pressure from the right.
Background on Mary Bassett’s Work
Mary Bassett has forged an extraordinary career focused on public health priorities. She has led the development of 169 peer-reviewed studies, 137 among them evaluating the health impacts of political violence and structural inequality. Her passion and dedication to solving these issues has made her a top authority and influential voice in the arena.
Under Bassett’s leadership, the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights produced research that changed the discourse around health equity. Within their advocacy often lies the ugly truths about how health, politics, and social justice intersect. The center’s work included investigating how political decisions impact vulnerable populations, regardless of whether these findings aligned with the interests of donors or government officials.
Bassett’s position on the Palestinian cause is further evidence of her deep academic interests. It didn’t come in a vacuum, but through her extensive background research on the subject. Her essays in places like The Nation often fire the starting gun on big debates. In particular, they draw attention to the intersection of public health and geopolitical conflicts. In these articles, she unflinchingly denounced what she termed Israeli atrocities against Gaza’s health infrastructures, medical providers, and patients.
“Because even a compromised universalism provides a vocabulary for demanding equality that authoritarian politics cannot tolerate.” – Eric Reinhart
Reaction from the Harvard Community
Her decision to remove Bassett has not gone unchallenged. Hundreds of faculty and students at Harvard are raising their protests against the Harvard ouster. They might call it censorship and cowardice. They argue that her removal is a capitulation to external pressures that seek to silence critical discussions around contentious global issues.
Critics point out how Bassett’s groundbreaking work at the FXB Center decisively confronts contentious taboo topics. More importantly, he addresses the health impacts of political violence in conflict-affected regions explicitly. This removal and the subsequent backlash against her removal is about more than one person. It points to deep, systemic issues with academic freedom and the integrity of the institutions we charge with protecting human rights.
Supporters of Bassett commend her leadership for pushing a courageous and unprecedented look at health disparities. Her commitment to tackling systemic inequities has produced a remarkable legacy. They make the case that this holistic approach is essential. Today, we know that political will determines who lives and who dies, and too often marginalized communities are left without power.
Institutional Integrity at Stake
Mary Bassett’s removal as director represents more than just a personnel change. It raises questions about Harvard’s commitment to academic freedom and integrity. During that time, Bassett and the FXB Center have come under increasing fire. Their predicament underscores a larger pattern of self-censorship by scholarly organizations caught in the crossfire of outside political pressure.
Harvard’s recent decision to suspend its partnership with Birzeit University, which has come under intense criticism by public intellectuals such as Larry Summers, throws fuel on this fire. It indicates an institutional unwillingness to take on difficult topics that might raise the ire of well-connected players. In response, critics contend that this reluctance severely compromises the university’s role in promoting critical inquiry and open dialogue.
Even as she takes on this new role, Bassett will continue as a professor. Her ouster will no doubt rock Harvard and the broader academy. The incident serves as a reminder that institutions must navigate the delicate balance between academic freedom and external pressures, particularly as they relate to issues of justice, equity, and human rights.