National Cancer Institute (NCI) shared on LinkedIn:
“NCI joins the cancer community in mourning the passing of Dr. Harold P. Freeman (1933-2026), a pioneering leader whose work fundamentally changed how we think about access to cancer care.
Dr. Freeman devoted his career to ensuring that where we live and our upbringing did not prevent people from receiving timely cancer diagnosis and treatment. In 1990, he established the nation’s first patient navigation program in Harlem-an approach that has since transformed cancer care by helping patients get the cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment they need in their own communities.
As the founding director of NCI’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, Dr. Freeman brought his vision and leadership to America’s national efforts to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes. His conviction was clear: advances against cancer must reach the people who need them. His legacy lives on in patient navigation programs and in the generations of researchers, clinicians, and advocates continuing this work.
We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Freeman’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.”