It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Harold Paul Freeman. Dr. Freeman established the patient navigation concept and model, aiming to reduce disparities in access to timely diagnosis and treatment, especially for individuals with low socioeconomic status or without insurance. He played a significant role in the lives of many people. Dr. Freeman passed away on August 11, 2026; he was 93.
The Patient Navigation and Community Health Worker Training program (PNCT) teaches about Dr. Freeman’s pioneering work, including his development of the 9 Principles of Patient Navigation, which are guiding factors for building navigation programs. He is considered “the father of patient navigation,” initially identifying social determinants of health and other factors that were barriers to breast cancer screening, follow-up, and initiation of treatment, based on conversations he had with his own patients at a free clinic he established at Harlem Hospital Center.