Harold P. Freeman: key obituary facts
Is Harold P. Freeman dead? Yes. Harold P. Freeman died on August 11, 2026, at age 93.
Cause of death: Harold P. Freeman's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Harold P. Freeman known for?
He was an African American medical researcher on poverty and cancer; founder of patient navigation.
More about Harold P. Freeman
Gender: male.
Occupation: physician.
Education: The Catholic University of America, Howard University College of Medicine, Dunbar High School, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Employer: Harlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, North General Hospital, National Cancer Institute, Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention.
Awards: Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Also known as: Harold Freeman, Harold Paul Freeman.
Harold P.
Freeman, an American physician and patients’ rights advocate, died on August 11, 2026, at age 93. A leading figure in the study of race, poverty and cancer, he focused much of his career on the ways economic disadvantage and cultural barriers affected cancer incidence and cancer-related deaths in underserved communities.
His work in Harlem helped shape the field of patient navigation, a model in which trained staff assist patients in overcoming obstacles to timely diagnosis and treatment. Freeman also held appointments at Harlem Hospital Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, North General Hospital and the National Cancer Institute, and he was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.